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Daniel Webster's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
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Daniel Webster did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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.

  • "Every life is a gift, and is valuable at each and every stage," said Webster, R-Clermont. "I thank the SBA for recognizing my actions to protect the rights of our most vulnerable -- the unborn. Throughout my years serving Florida and my country, I have and will continue to fight for and defend the right to life. I will never waver." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This evening, I signed the discharged petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The right to life is our first God-given right. Its unimaginable that babies born alive after failed abortions can be denied medical care to save their life. #EndInfanticide" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 36 "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "For decades, seniors have paid into Social Security with their tax dollars. Now, when many seniors are on a fixed income and struggling financially, they are being double-taxed because of income taxes on their Social Security benefits," said Rep. Webster. "This is wrong and I'm pleased to once again co-sponsor this legislation to repeal this tax." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 11% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Administrator Verma: "Medicare Advantage offers care coordination, disease management programs, out-of-pocket spending limits, access to community-based programs, additional supplemental benefits such as vision and dental coverage, and often prescription drug coverage for no additional premium. Moreover, due to recent changes included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, an estimated 1.5 million beneficiaries will have access to expanded supplemental benefits such as adult day care services and in-home and caregiver support services. Other new flexibilities will foster greater competition and reduce costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Common Cause. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today, I voted against H.R. 1, which should more accurately be called the "Elect More Democrats" Act. This bill might be one of the most egregious attempts by D.C. to take over elections that are the responsibility of our states. This bill creates new spending mandates by creating a government match program of $1200 for every donation under $200. The last thing we need is a new Federal Government ATM for congressional and presidential races." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Center for Security Policy. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our freedom, our families, and our way of life would not exist were it not for our military. This bill builds on pay raises provided in recent years by authorizing another 3%. It supports our military families by improving oversight and accountability of government-owner family military housing and making improvements to military child-care centers." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "By rejecting President Biden's cuts to readiness and responsibly investing in our warfighters, training, maintenance, and critical capabilities this bill greatly improves our national defense. Further, it recognizes the threats posed by China and Iran and holds the Administration accountable for their disastrous and embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Throughout my time in public service, I have advocated for and worked to improve access and mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation held their first Access and Mobility for All Summit. This summit was the result of language that was included in the FAST Act at my request." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Water is critical for life and solid infrastructure is critical to Florida's economy which is dependent on moving goods and people efficiency and effectively," said Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont. "Throughout my public service, I have advocated for policies that support local projects and find solutions that preserve and protect Florida's precious natural resources, while balancing the needs of our growing economy." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "WRDA has passed the House! Water is critical for life and solid infrastructure is critical to Florida’s economy which is dependent on moving goods and people efficiency and effectively. This bill keeps our infrastructure moving in the right direction." (twitter.com)
  • "These are tough times, these are unprecedented times, but it is in these times when we see the beauty of American ingenuity and community spirit. Americans are uniting together to serve each other. Young people are helping our seniors get groceries; private companies are voluntarily retooling their factories and production lines to produce millions of additional N-95 masks, ventilators and more. Actions like these, coupled with following the advice of the experts at CDC to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus will help our country get through this and come back better and stronger than ever." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6074 "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplmental Appropriations Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "At a time when we are experiencing the highest inflation in 40 years and Americans are struggling to pay for goods, Congress should be focusing on finding ways to cut federal spending. Instead, this out-of-control spending package would further drive inflation and prioritizes liberal initiatives that are out of touch with everyday Americans." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I ran for office pledging to do my part to stop the spigot of spending. I've supported and introduced legislation that prioritized and reduced spending. However, recent budgets passed by Congress have burst domestic spending caps or ignored them all together. I opposed this style of spending when Republicans were in the majority, and I oppose it today. Our economy is teetering on a recession, and inflation remains at a 40-year high. The bottom line is American's are hurting financially, out of control spending and far-left policies pushed by Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats have greatly contributed. I am committed to tackling these economic challenges, reducing federal spending, and putting the American people first." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I've supported and introduced legislation that prioritized and reduced spending. However, recent budgets passed by Congress have burst domestic spending caps. I have spoken out and voted against these spending levels and budgets. Our national debt, currently at $28.4 trillion, will increase by another $10 trillion by 2029. Borrowing gobs of money to spend today is effectively a tax on our children and grandchildren tomorrow." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "We write to you concerned with the massive executive overreach by President Joseph R. Biden to illegally cancel federal student loan debt. On Wednesday, August 24, President Biden announced that he would cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for individual Americans earning $125,000 or less per year or married couples making less than $250,000 a year. In addition, those who receive federal Pell Grants and make less than $125,000 a year would be eligible for total forgiveness of $20,000. Unfortunately, this policy will cost us over $300 billion and establishes a terrible precedent that will drive up the cost of higher education, exacerbating the very problem President Biden pretends to address." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4 "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Energy independence is a national security issue," said Rep. Daniel Webster. "Under President Trump's leadership America had achieved this independence, but President Biden's war on U.S. oil and gas production and transport has contributed to rising gas prices and limiting his options to sanction the Russian energy sector. Cancelation of the Keystone XL pipeline and adverse permitting decisions place the U.S. in an untenable and vulnerable position. This bill reverses President Biden's disastrous Anti-American energy policies." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "President Biden must reverse course on American energy policy. His cancelation of the Keystone XL pipeline and adverse permitting decisions place the U.S. in an untenable and vulnerable position. Energy independence is a national security issue." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019." (votesmart.org)
  • "For too long, unaccountable bureaucrats have weaponized the environmental review process to push a political agenda. President Trump knows from personal experience how damaging slow, burdensome red-tape can be to much-needed infrastructure projects. A streamlined process with deadlines will improve the review of critical road, bridge and water projects and save taxpayer dollars." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 94% by Independent Petroleum Association of America. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Chair Neumayr: "We write in support of the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) efforts to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This rulemaking represents the first comprehensive overhaul since the NEPA regulations were originally promulgated more than 40 years ago. These critical reforms will bring needed clarity to our nation's environmental laws, preserve the competitive edge that powers our economy, and foster continued stewardship of our environment and natural resources. Congress wrote NEPA with the straightforward, significant goal of establishing a review framework "under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans." However, over the years, through misguided regulation, and presidential directive, the NEPA process has strayed from these objectives. Now, unending litigation and mountains of paperwork define a permitting process that stretches along an indefinite timeline." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association (NRA). (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "These bills will not prevent criminals from acquiring firearms and would not have prevented any of the horrific mass casualty shootings we've seen, including the Pulse Nightclub Shooting and Parkland High School Shooting in our state. The possession of firearms is a fundamental right -- not granted - but guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the Bill of Rights and contributes to individual and public safety. For these reasons, I'm voting against both bills. I will continue to fight for our Second Amendment rights and work towards sensible solutions that will prevent further gun violence." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7910 "Protecting Our Kids Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "This week, Democrats on the Congressional Ways and Means committee held a hearing on their one-size-fits-all, "Medicare for all" proposal. With this move, they are fully embracing the government takeover of healthcare. The promises of "free" education and "free" healthcare touted by Democrats sound good, but they come at a steep price. The cost of this lower-quality, less-choices program is high -- so high that doubling everyone's income taxes would still not generate enough money to pay for it. But then beyond the monetary cost and lower quality of care, the unsaid component of a system in which the government has total control is the loss of freedom itself." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "ICYMI - good news for those of us who care about border security! FL was among the states that sued to stop the Biden Administration from ending Title 42. I have and will keep fighting to force this administration to secure our border and build the wall." (twitter.com)
  • "I will continue to support and advocate for funding for comprehensive border security that includes a physical barrier, additional technology, and the roads, and tactical infrastructure needed to secure our borders. Our system should reflect that we are a nation of laws with compassion for those who seek to escape danger and poverty to breathe America's promise of liberty." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "There is more work to be done. I welcomed hearing the President reiterate his commitment to tackling tough issues, fix broken systems, and stand up for our most vulnerable. I hope my colleagues -- Democrat and Republican alike -- will put aside politics and work together to invest in our country's infrastructure, improve border security and reduce and prioritize spending." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Just voted to pass Kate's law and No Sanctuary for Criminals Act to close loopholes and increase penalties for violating federal law." (twitter.com)
  • "This bill is a commonsense solution that allows us to both enforce our laws and show compassion to families by not separating children from the loving arms of their parents," said Congressman Daniel Webster. "It ensures the abuse of the law under "Catch and Release' ends and individuals are not incentivized to use children as shields against prosecution for illegal border crossing." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3003 "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3004 "Kate's Law." (votesmart.org)
  • "President Putin is an evil dictator and his invasion into Ukraine must not succeed," said Rep. Webster. "The travel sanctions outlined in this bill expand on sanctions announced by President Biden and ensure Russian elites feel the pain for Putin's unconscionable attack on Ukraine and its people." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today, President Trump has announced he is reimposing all the sanctions that had previously been lifted under President Obama's terrible Iran deal. These sanctions target the Central Bank of Iran and other key financial institutions. This will cut off Iran's access to funds they use to bankroll terrorist groups, support nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and enrich their leaders. The sanctions also target key Iranian-related individuals who have known ties to Iran's terrorism support, weapons program, engage in human rights abuses and other criminal activities." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4695 "Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "I voted for this bill because I believe taxpayer dollars do not belong to Washington. They belong to hardworking Americans. Americans -- not Washington bureaucrats -- best know how to spend it. After the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, unemployment is at a historic low, job openings are at record highs, paychecks are growing and wages are rising -- along with economic optimism. Today, we took the next step by passing this bill to make the tax cuts for individuals, families and small businesses permanent in law." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "More than 80% of filers in Florida's congressional district 11 claim the standard deduction each year, thus the vast majority of my constituents will keep twice as much money without doing anything different. Combined with lower tax rates for income above the newly raised standard deduction, Florida's 11th district stands to be among the biggest winners in the nation." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5377 "Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Replacing the outdated NAFTA, USMCA lays a solid foundation for the future of North American trade. It includes new, cutting-edge rules on digital trade that will help American businesses & innovators continue to thrive in the modern economy. It also contains many significant wins for American ranchers, businesses and workers. Under this agreement, hardworking Americans will have the opportunity to achieve more growth, more exports, more jobs and rising wages." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)
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.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

1. Which of the following tax measures, if any, will you support if elected to the Congress in 1992?

X Reducing the capital gains tax rate on profits from the sale of stocks, bonds and real estate.
X Permitting tax-free withdrawals from IRAs in limited circumstances.
Providing some kind of middle-class tax break.
Increasing the income taxes of those with incomes over $100,000.
X Providing a tax credit for first-time home buyers.
X Repealing luxury taxes on limited items.
X Providing a temporary investment tax credit.
Other

Please evaluate the following general program areas and indicate the level of federal funding that you will support if you are elected to Congress.

Keep Spending The Same Health Care
Keep Spending The Same Unemployment
Increase Spending AIDS Research
Increase Spending Environment
Decrease Spending Defense
Increase Spending Education
Increase Spending National Debt Payments
Keep Spending The Same Drugs

If you are elected to Congress, how will you confront the issue of the national debt?

X Reduce governmental defense spending.
X Reduce governmental domestic spending.
Raise personal income taxes for all citizens.
Raise personal income taxes for citizens with incomes over $100,000.
Raise corporate taxes.
Do nothing at the present time.
X Other
Stimulate growth.

Which of the following measures designed to address the issue of unemployment do you support or oppose?

Support Extending unemployment compensation further.
Support Federal support of job retraining programs.
Support Federal grants to states for creating jobs in inner cities.
Support Mandating workfare for welfare recipients.
Oppose Minimizing governmental intervention and letting the market take a more natural course.
Support Federal investment in America's infrastructure.
Other

Which of the following policies, if any, should be pursued by the federal government in the area of the United States/Japenese trade?

Restricting the overall volume of goods entering the United States from Japan.
Imposing tariffs on goods entering the United States from Japan.
Requiring Japan to eliminate its trade surplus with the United States over a period of five years.
X Requiring reciprocal trade agreements between the United States and Japan based on equal dollar values.
Imposing no restrictions on trade between the United States and Japan.
X Other
Make America competitive.

Which of the following defense proposals do you support or oppose?

Support Reduction of the number of American military troops.
Oppose Continued funding of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

Do you consider the fact that many Americans do not have health insurance to be a problem, and if so, please note which of the following proposals you favor?

Elimination of private insurance in favor of a program administered and paid for by the federal government and run by the states, similar to the health care system in Canada.
Offering tax incentives to all small employers in return for guaranteed health insurance coverage of all employees and their families.
Implementation of a "play or pay" program where employers must enroll their employees and families in a basic health plan or contribute to a public fund that will provide health care for everyone without coverage.
Creation of a fund designed to provide health insurance to the unemployed and supported by additional tax levies on large employers.
A system of tax credits and vouchers to provide health insurance for the working poor and people of moderate income.
No reform necessary at this time.
X Other
See answer to top priorities.

If elected to Congress, which of the following proposals designed to change our nations' public education system will you support?

X Increased federal funding.
X Increased state and local funding.
X Improved teacher recruitment and training.
National curricula and standards.
X Smaller classes.
Increased national testing.
A "choice" or "vouchers" program.
No major changes are necessary at this time.
Other

If elected to Congress, how will you confront the War on Drugs?"

X Provide federal funds to educate people about the dangers of drugs.
X Provide federal funds to help drug addicts overcome their addictions.
X Work with foreign governments to stop the export of drugs to this country.
X Impose mandatory federal jail sentences for drug dealers.
Impose mandatory federal jail sentences for drug users.
Legalize the possession and use of drugs.
Other

What is your opinion on the following environmental proposals?

Strongly Oppose Opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.
Don't Know Amending the Clean Water Act's section on wetlands to provide landowners with greater rights.
Support Reauthorization of The Endangered Species Act in its current form.

Please indicate which of the following positions you support or oppose.

Oppose Parental or spousal notification prior to permitting an abortion.
Oppose Abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
Support Federally funded abortions should be permitted.
Oppose Women should be able to get abortions if they want no matter what the reason.
Oppose Abortion should be legal only in limited circumstances, for example, when the life of the mother is endangered or in the case of rape or incest.

Which of the following anti-crime measures do you support or oppose?

Support Expansion of the number of federal crimes punishable by death.
Support A mandatory waiting period before the purchase of a handgun.
Support Increased federal spending for state and local police programs.
A ban on the sale and possession of assault-style semiautomatic weapons.
Support A limitation on habeas corpus appeals for death row inmates.
Other

['Whare are your two top priorities if elected to the Congress?']

b. How will you finance (when necessary) each priority?
1. The skyrocketing cost of health care is perhaps the most critical problem facing this nation. The cost of our health care in America per person is basically double that of other industrialized nations Americans and American companies are finding it too expensive to purchase medical health care insurance for their families and employees, and the high cost is substantially undermining the competitive position of our nation in the global markets -- which is causing us to lose jobs. In order to reduce the sky-rocketing costs and make high quality, affordable health care accessible to all Americans, health care reform on a national basis is necessary. Health care reform must focus on the cost and should include four basic elements: Preventive Health Care, Insurance Reform, Tort Reform and Cost Containment....These reforms will save money. Reform Congress - saves money.

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