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Mike Trout's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2022.

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Voters should vote for me because I and some other forward thinking candidates want to once and for all scrap our bloated 75000 page tax code, and replace it with a fair, automatic, and simple tax (FAST) that eliminates all the special interest carve-outs and tax giveaways to corporations, and creates a system in which everyone pays their fair share." (miketroutforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "PUBLICLY FUNDING ELECTIONS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT STEP WE CAN TAKE TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF FUTURE ELECTIONS. We MUST eliminate the Campaign Industrial Complex altogether." (miketroutforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "?Voters should vote for me because I will always vote for peace over war, and choose to focus our defense budget on actually defending the homeland, and not running off to military mis-adventurism at every turn." (miketroutforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Voters should vote for me because I will support efforts to repeal Obamacare, and simultaneously and seamlessly implement Medicare for All, which achieves immediate administrative savings of 25% - 35%, by eliminating the profiteering insurance companies who contribute nothing productive to the health care market except exclusion, while preserving the free market of doctors and other providers, and vastly simplifying the bureaucratic burden on those who’s mission in life is to practice medicine in the best way they are trained to do, universally accessible by all." (miketroutforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "?Voters should vote for me because I will always vote for peace over war, and choose to focus our defense budget on actually defending the homeland, and not running off to military mis-adventurism at every turn." (miketroutforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Absolutely, I support progressive taxation. Specifically, I support the FAST Fair Automatic Simple Tax, which is best described as a hybrid of progressive and flat taxation. Corporations and wealthy Americans will pay a little more, and those living in poverty will be the only ones elibible for federal tax exemption.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
The only way to achieve free, fair, and open elections is through a publicly funded General Election system, and for elections to be driven by Debate. Internal party polling should be conducted exclusively by the parties; the public should not finance primary elections. Since the most important aspect of an election is public/voter education of the various choices of candidates and platforms, existing election authorities should publicize (required) candidate websites. Candidates should be required to disclose planned agendas, and be required to debate their opponents, if challenged. Debating public policy is what any elected official does, after all.
No Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
No Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
Substance abuse is a healthcare issue, and should be treated as such. The best practice model should be Portugal, which by decriminalizing even the hardest drugs in 2001, and simultaneously expanding access to substance abuse treatment, has proven to be the most sane model. Of course marijuana, with it's medicinal potential and nonexistent addictive profile has been successfully legalized in many states and nations around the world, and even serves as a contributor to the tax base where it has been regulated.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
I support federal, state, and local spending on targeted projects that serve the public good in such areas as infrastructure and public health, (affordable) housing, education, transportation and general commerce activity. With regard to enterprise, there is certainly a proven case that programs to incubate new businesses temporarily through tax incentives can be the drivers of some remarkable successes. I don't see a need to subsidize already successful and wealthy enterprises in the absence of any pressing public interest that might be served.
Unknown Position Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
Yes, and educational administrators in the states should have a voice in deciding what education reforms are viable and useful.
No Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
Fossil fuel consumption is a threat to survival of life on the planet. Renewable (and freely available) energy should be the standard, not the "alternative." Chemical fracking, as it is better described, presents immediate and proximate dangers wherever it is practiced, and should be halted completely.
Yes Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Local, state, national, and international authorities should be engaged in regulating and measuring the success of all environmental efforts.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
I support replacing the ACA with a single payer, general revenue funded Medicare for All model that would finally guarantee universal access to healthcare. In this age of emerging infectious diseases, and even the return of some thought to be long eradicated, it is at our own peril that we allow anybody within our borders to be excluded from access to healthcare services.
Unknown Position Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
As a candidate who qualified by the petition method, I have come to appreciate the value of having this public test of viability in the election process, although thresholds are set too high in many states. I propose that as a primary process in the immigration process for prospective immigrants in their own countries, and in lieu of deportation for undocumented immigrants already in country, that a requirement of a substantial number of character vouchers be used in the determination of immigration eligibility, with more weight given to this type of qualifying exercise than has been previously relied on.
Yes Do you support same-sex marriage?
As far as I know I am the only LGBT candidate in my contest, and I support full equality for all Americans, including constitutional amendment to guarantee those rights, not only for the question of marriage, but also in employment, healthcare, housing, education, and marketplace access situations.
Yes Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?
I will always choose to vote for the pursuit of peace as the best national foreign policy. That said, it is Congress that makes declarations of war, and in the case of imminent threats I would vote for military action to defend the nation, up to and including full scale war. It would be among the most difficult decisions that I would ever have to make, and possibly one of the most necessary, under the direst of conditions.
Yes Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
I could support a small allowance (probably less than 5% for diversion, especially for funds or bonds invested in the infrastructure, energy, science and medicine, and affordable housing markets.

SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Slightly Increase a) Agriculture
Slightly Increase b) Arts
Slightly Decrease c) Defense
Slightly Increase d) Education
Greatly Increase e) Environment
Greatly Increase f) Homeland Security
Slightly Increase g) International aid
Greatly Increase h) Medical Research
Greatly Increase i) Scientific Research
Slightly Increase j) Space exploration
Slightly Increase k) United Nations
Slightly Increase l) Welfare
m) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase b) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status c) Small business taxes
Slightly Increase d) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Slightly Increase e) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Slightly Increase f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (low-income families)
Slightly Decrease h) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Greatly Increase i) Income taxes (high-income families)
Slightly Decrease j) Inheritance taxes
Slightly Decrease k) Payroll taxes
l) Other or expanded categories
Because of it's life and death implications, I have stated that my top legislative priority is Police Reform, as well as custodial (Prison, Sentencing, and Juvenile Justice reform). My next priority is for broad social security issues, like protection from predatory financial schemes, protection of the primary home, universal access to healthcare and education, and support of an adequate minimum wage.

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