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Jeff Russell's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

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.

Jeff Russell has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2018 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Connecticut Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Unknown Position Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Pro- choice. no matter what rhetoric you hide it in, imposing your will onto what goes on inside the reproductive track of any woman who does not want you there is a form of rape. i am adamantly anti rape.
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
the budget should not be balanced. a balanced budget chokes growth. the only time a federal budget should be balanced is if the economy is healthy (ours is not) and it is neither expanding nor contracting. deficit spending on the federal level is needed economic stimulus. and that big number labeled 'national debt' is not a debt. what that number represents is the money supply. if you pay it off, there will be no U.S. dollars in circulation. that is part of the reason why every federal budget surplus has been followed by either a recession, or a depression.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
absolutely. it is a principle of the Green party to refuse contributions from anyone other than individuals.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
i see no evidence that lowering corporate taxes supports growth. i see abundant evidence that lowering corporate taxes increases income inequality.
No Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
not the ones that have come out of Washington this century.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Climate change is real, and a clear and present danger. if you don't believe me, believe the Joint Chiefs at the Pentagon and the entire insurance industry.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
the weapons of mass destruction were not even conceived of when the 2cd amendment was written. i have not heard anyone say that the right of the people to keep and bear arms should include thermonuclear explosive devices. i see it as a need to draw a line. a sane line. that keeps weapons of mass slaughter out of the hands of people willing to use them on fellow human beings.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
the ACA is better than nothing. it is deeply flawed. it is more of a bailout for the health insurance industry than a benefit to "We the People." i support single payer.
No Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
the wall along the U.S. Mexican border would be an environmental disaster. as for immigrants here without documentation, i think they should be afforded due process.
Yes Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
the statements of John Erlichman are on the record stating the Nixon administration increased criminal penalties marijuana in order to justify attacking groups Nixon felt were enemies. there never has been valid reason for the criminalization of cannabis. the prohibition against medical research of cannabis is a crime against humanity.
No Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
No Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
economic sanctions, international cooperation, and other nonviolent actions have proven more effective than military force. the big thing many in the U.S. miss is that much of the conflict in the middle east amounts to a dangerous family squabble. ceasing arms shipments to both sides would do more toward peace than any military action.
we need to do more about climate disruption. this is a clear and present danger. on the federal level, funding is not an issue. the United States has monetary sovereignty. as Allan Greenspan put it, "The United States government will never have a problem paying debt denominated in United States dollars." (see the works of Stephanie Kelton PhD, and Warren Mosler)

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