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Diane Black'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.

Diane Black has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 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 2016.

  • "By condoning the destruction of unborn life that could otherwise live outside the womb, the United States tragically fails to meet this most fundamental human rights standard. Basic decency and human compassion demands that something has to change.” (black.house.gov)
  • "I am a proud member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and maintain a 100% pro-life voting record from National Right to Life.” (black.house.gov)
  • "As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am proud to take their message with me to Washington as we continue to work towards a fairer, flatter, and simpler tax code." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our efforts led former Chairman Dave Camp to introduce a draft proposal last year outlining our vision for a fairer, flatter, and simpler tax code.” (black.house.gov)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Black is also a member of the House Budget Committee, and a co-author of the 2014 Path to Prosperity budget, which balances the federal budget within ten years, reduces federal spending by $4.6 trillion, saves Medicare for future generations and promotes private sector economic growth.” (black.house.gov)
  • "Congress must stand in the gap and work to rein in spending, cut waste, and tackle the unsustainable growth of key entitlement programs that pose our government’s greatest fiscal challenge.” (black.house.gov)
  • "All we have to do is bring the tax rate down and we will see people moving back into the country and bring spending back to our country.” (votesmart.org)
  • "One of my top priorities in Congress is to lower the tax burden on Americans and ensure that small businesses have the capital needed to grow and create jobs.” (black.house.gov)
  • "I am a proud supporter of the Student Success Act—House-passed legislation to overhaul the 'No Child Left Behind' program and protect local control in education.” (black.house.gov)
  • "Among Diane's key decisions included in the organization's score were her votes to BAN President Obama from forcing states into participation in Common Core (H.R. 5) and her vote to require the White House to submit a balanced budget to Congress (H.R. 444).” (www.votedianeblack.com)
  • "Additionally, I am a proud supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would carry an estimated 830,000 barrels of oil into the United States each day from our allied Canadian neighbor and create approximately 42,000 jobs.” (black.house.gov)
  • "Mr. Speaker, in the President's State of the Union Address he declared the need for ``21st century infrastructure.'' With today's legislation to complete the Keystone XL pipeline, we are offering him an infrastructure bill that would create jobs and promote energy security.” (votesmart.org)
  • "We need an all-of-the-above approach to energy, which includes more American produced oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear power, along with alternative sources that show a return on our investment.” (black.house.gov)
  • " Today Congressman Diane Black (R-TN-06) reintroduced H.R. 866, the Federal Land Freedom Act (FLFA) of 2015. […] The Federal Land Freedom Act empowers states to establish programs to lease, permit, and regulate the development of all forms of energy resources on federal lands, including renewables.” (black.house.gov)
  • "In short, Madame Administrator, we believe this carbon dioxide regulation – whose implementation is legally questionable at best – would do untold harm to the American people and our economy for decades to come.” (jeffduncan.house.gov)
  • "Last Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled 645 pages of burdensome rules on carbon emissions as part of President Barack Obama’s plan to push global warming — not jobs and the economy — to the forefront of his agenda.” (www.tennessean.com)
  • "As your representative, I am committed to doing everything in my power to safeguard Americans’ constitutionally protected freedom to keep and bear arms.” (black.house.gov)
  • "Our individual right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to America and a right guaranteed by our Constitution. I will always fight to protect our Second Amendment rights from those who would seek to weaken them.” (www.votedianeblack.com)
  • "hat is why our budget agreement repeals Obamacare in full, allowing us to start over with real reforms that put patients and their doctors in charge of health care decisions – not Washington bureaucrats.” (black.house.gov)
  • "Importantly for me as a nurse, this budget would also fully repeal Obamacare—giving us an opportunity to start over on health care reforms that put patients and their doctors in charge, not Washington bureaucrats.” (black.house.gov)
  • "Any immigration reform legislation that earns my vote must send a clear message that the only path to citizenship is through legal means.” (black.house.gov)
  • "To that end, the House acted this month by passing measures to ramp up border security efforts — including funding National Guard troops along our border — and to expedite the return of these undocumented children to their home countries. Our bill also freezes the Obama administration’s Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals — a government program that uses prosecutorial discretion to let select illegal immigrants obtain deportation deferrals and work authorizations.” (www.tennessean.com)
  • "Diane strongly opposes the Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and supported a House resolution demanding that DOMA be upheld in all instances.” (www.votedianeblack.com)
  • "The law of the land is the federal government defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense seems intent on circumventing this law.” (votesmart.org)
  • "There are groups all over the world who wish to destroy the freedoms we enjoy and the values that make America great. As a result we must continue to be an example to other countries of freedom and prosperity. In order to do this, we must make sure that our commanders on the ground are not hindered from achieving our objective by arbitrary timelines.” (votedianeblack.com)
  • "At a time when our nation is at war, we need federal leaders who are committed to winning this global war on terror. I am committed to a foreign policy that fights and defeats the terrorists where they live and train before they can come to our nation to kill innocent Americans. We need to support our military with the tools, equipment, and strategy that it takes to defeat terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and wherever else they may be training and plotting against our nation.” (votesmart.org)
  • "However, we cannot lose sight of the end goal. Congress must work to make Social Security stronger and sustainable, instead of seeking short-term gratification at the expense of the program.” (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.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
b) Abortions should always be legally available.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
X f) Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.State Budget Reform: Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address state budget reform.

Slightly Increase Funding a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase Funding b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Funding Status c) Environment
Maintain Funding Status d) Health care
Slightly Increase Funding e) Law enforcement
Maintain Funding Status f) Transportation and Highway infrastructure
Slightly Decrease Funding g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Greatly Decrease b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Slightly Increase e) Gasoline taxes
Greatly Decrease f) Inheritance taxes
Slightly Decrease g) Sales taxes
Slightly Increase h) Vehicle taxes
i) Other or expanded categories
Yes j) Should Internet sales be taxed?
k) Other or expanded principles
a) Implement a flat tax on income.
b) Implement a graduated income tax.
c) Implement a state lottery to help fund education.
d) Use a portion of the state's "rainy day" fund to help balance the budget.
Lower sales tax and remove designated sales tax exemptions

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Tennessee governors?
Yes b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Tennessee state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
No 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No e) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
No f) Do you support voting on-line?
Yes g) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes h) Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Tennessee are closed?
No i) Should Tennessee recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
Yes j) Should Tennessee restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
k) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

X a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
X b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
X c) Support the use of the death penalty in Tennessee.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
g) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
X h) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
X i) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
j) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
k) Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
X l) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X m) Increase state funding for additional security of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
X b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X c) Support charter schools in Tennessee.
X d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X e) Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
X f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
h) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
X i) Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
j) Provide public funding to implement a statewide reading program.
X k) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
l) Increase state funding to expand Head Start programs.
m) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
n) Support age-appropriate sexual education programs that teach about abstinence, contraceptives and HIV/STD prevention methods.
X o) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
p) Other or expanded principles

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
X b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding or relocating businesses.
X d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children of low-income working families.
f) Include sexual orientation in Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws.
g) Other or expanded principles
No a) College and university admissions
No b) Public employment
No c) State contracting
d) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
X b) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused or abandoned.
Yes c) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
No d) Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
e) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

a) Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
b) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
X c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
X e) Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
f) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
g) Legalize physician-assisted suicide in Tennessee.
h) Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
X i) Support tighteneing eligibility requirements for TennCare.
X j) Support requiring co-payments on prescription drugs for some TennCare recipients.
k) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

X a) Support current time limits on welfare benefits.
X b) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
X d) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X e) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
f) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
X g) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
h) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
i) Other or expanded principles
In a total of seventy-five (75) words or less, please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.

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