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Austin Page'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.

Austin Page has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Texas State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
Yes c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
Yes e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
Yes f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
No g) Do you support requiring a doctor to show a sonogram to patients seeking an abortion?
Yes h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
Yes i) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
I am strongly pro-choice. However, I do not support the use of government/public funds to fund any kind of abortion or abortion related agenda, be it pro-life or pro-choice. I believe this is an issue that should be between a doctor and a patient (and that patients guardian is the patient is a minor).

1) State Spending:Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State Taxes:Using the key,indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which of the proposals you support (if any) for balancing Texas's budget.

Greatly Decrease a) Education (higher)
Slightly Decrease b) Education (K-12)
Eliminate c) Environment
Greatly Decrease d) Health care
Maintain Status e) Law enforcement/corrections
Maintain Status f) Transportation/infrastructure
Greatly Decrease g) Welfare
Greatly Decrease h) Other or expanded categories:
Eliminate a) Alcohol taxes
Eliminate b) Cigarette taxes
Eliminate c) Gas/Oil taxes
Greatly Decrease d) Property taxes
Greatly Decrease e) Sales taxes
Greatly Decrease f) Other or expanded categories:
No a) Tapping into Texas's "rainy day" fund
Yes b) Increasing tuition rates at public universities
Yes c) Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
Yes d) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
Yes e) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
Yes f) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
Over the next 10 years, I support dramatic reductions in public/government expenditures in almost all areas. I believe that government is responsible for maintaining a judicial system and for protecting the public in terms of enforcing laws. I understand the reality that major changes of the nature I support cannot be done overnight due to the significant disruptions such changes would create. I support a plan of gradual change over a ten year period.
As mentioned above, I support the drastic reduction of public/government spending gradually over a ten year period,
I believe in the operation of the free markets.

a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) Political Action Committee
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Party
Yes b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes f) Do you support strengthening restrictions on the state's use of eminent domain?
g) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
Yes c) Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
No d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
Yes f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No g) Should municipalities be allowed to prohibit law enforcement from checking the immigration status of individuals in custody?
h) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
No c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
No d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
No e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
No f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
g) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
Yes b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
No c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
Yes d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
Yes e) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
No f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
No g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Texas high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
h) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
No b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
No c) Do you support state funding for improvements to Texas energy infrastructure?
No d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
No e) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
f) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
No b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
No d) Should a license be required for gun possession?
e) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
No b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
No c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
No d) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
No e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
Yes f) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
I think there is plentiful conclusive evidence that the Government is totally unable to administer any "public service" such as health care, postal services, transportation, and welfare. Costs have and will continue to spiral out of control because there is no accountability and no consequences for any level of cost overrun or fraud.
No a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Yes b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Texas's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Texas's anti-discrimination laws?
e) Other or expanded principles:
I support across the board cuts to the State Budget. Our deficit speaks for itself. I also support lowering the sales tax from its current level to 4% as a first step toward drastic cuts in government spending and cutting back wasteful and inefficient spending.

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