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Mark Pocan'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.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Mark Pocan 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.

  • "Madam Speaker, the leaked Supreme Court document shows a complete disregard by the Court majority for the fundamental right to control one's own body by having access to safe abortion care. In Wisconsin, the end of Roe v. Wade would drag us back to 1849, when our State law banning abortion was enacted and is still on the books. In 1849, in Wisconsin, the first telegraph was received, there was a 6\1/2\ cent tax on every vehicle drawn by a single horse, and railroad tracks were constructed going west for the first time outside of Milwaukee. My constituents, like the vast majority of Americans, don't want to go back. They want healthcare decisions to be made by laws that weren't passed when slavery was legal. They want women to have full access to modern healthcare, and that means access to safe abortion care." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "To be clear: abortion is still the law of the land and will remain available as a healthcare choice until any rulings are officially announced. The fight for reproductive rights doesn't end here. The Senate must codify Roe today and not a day later." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3755 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Social Security is critical to Americans' retirement plans, yet it is increasingly falling short for the millions of seniors who have paid into it and rely on it. Through the Strengthening Social Security Act, we can ensure that this program meets the needs of America's seniors and allows them to live with dignity and security when they exit the workforce," said Pocan. "Congress must take steps to protect Social Security, and through this legislation, we can give seniors the benefits they deserve while also making sure the program exists for future generations." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "As Congress negotiates the final Build Back Better package, we request you to prioritize the inclusion of expanding Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Expanding Medicare has support from overwhelming bipartisan majorities of the American people. A recent poll found that 84 percent of the participants, including more than three-quarters of Republicans, support expanding Medicare benefit coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "A decade after #CitizensUnited, outside groups have spent over $4.4 billion in federal elections. This isn't democracy—this is an auction. It's time the @SenateGOP stop protecting its wealthiest donors & pass #HR1 to make it clear that our democracy isn't for sale." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, the swamp in Washington took the most direct hit that it has experienced in decades when House Democrats voted to restore power to the American people, clean up the corruption in Washington, and reform our democracy," said Pocan. "With the passage of the For the People Act, House Democrats are making our government more ethical, expanding the right to vote, ensuring transparency by our elected leaders, and ending the out-of-control influence of big money in politics. These are concrete steps that will make a serious difference in our democracy and move us towards a system where government works for the public interest, not the special interests." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "A decade after #CitizensUnited, outside groups have spent over $4.4 billion in federal elections. This isn't democracy—this is an auction. It's time the @SenateGOP stop protecting its wealthiest donors & pass #HR1 to make it clear that our democracy isn't for sale." (twitter.com)
  • "There can be no police accountability as long as qualified immunity is allowed to continue. Proud to join @justinamash & @RepPressley in this necessary step forward to protect civil rights in the face of police violence. No more special treatment for police brutality." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "A year ago today, George Floyd was killed. It shouldn't have taken the murder of another Black man for Congress to take action on police violence. This isn't about just one murder—it's about a broken policing system. The least we can do is pass the Justice in Policing Act." (twitter.com)
  • "It's been one year since Jacob Blake was shot, and 15 months since George Floyd's murder. In that time, the House has passed a police reform bill not once, but twice. It's time the Senate take up the #JusticeinPolicingAct." (twitter.com)
  • "However, now more than ever, I am convinced that we spend too much on defense contractors and not enough on national defense. Pandemics, climate change, and cyber-attacks are real threats to our national security, yet little of the Pentagon's budget goes to these important items. Instead, we still operate on an old-fashioned model of enriching defense contractors in the guise of protecting jobs. We need a modern paradigm that protects Americans from real threats, not just the bottom lines of unaccountable defense contractors." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This is proof that the military-industrial complex is alive and well. We have serious threats facing our nation, like COVID-19 and climate change. Even just a small cut to the Pentagon's bloated budget could help fight these very serious threats. The fact that the Pentagon budget continues to grow year after year is an embarrassment. In fact, we spend more on our defense budget than the next 11-highest spending countries combined. I won't stop fighting to limit the Pentagon spending that's being used to fund the slush funds of defense contractors." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "We are facing a crisis in this country and billions of dollars in defense spending increases won't solve it," said Congressman Pocan. "Year after year, we see taxpayer dollars line the pocket of defense contractors instead of supporting the American public. The enemy we're fighting right now is COVID-19, so our sole focus should be on expanding testing, tracing and treatment, funding towards vaccine development, and relief for the American people. Increasing defense spending now would be a slap in the face to the families of over 90,000 Americans that have died from this virus." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I am proud to have secured $18 million in critical funding to rebuild South Central Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure," Congressman Pocan said. "For too long, we have failed to act boldly when it comes to investing in our infrastructure, and this has left us with unsafe bridges, congested roads, failing sewer systems, and many other critical structural issues. The INVEST in America Act would also help create millions of good-paying jobs and support U.S. manufacturing, while setting our country on a path toward zero emissions in the transportation sector. This bill takes a step forward in getting us on the right track to create economic opportunity for all in the 21stcentury and beyond." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Bipartisan Infrastructure bill along with the #BuildBackBetter Act will give the economy the jumpstart it needs and put America back to work. This bill repairs our crumbling roads & bridges, invests in public transit & rail, expands broadband, & secures clean water for kids." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "Direct cash assistance and increased unemployment insurance payments for low-income workers living paycheck to paycheck would have an immediate impact on our economy. Any assistance we get into the hands of these workers now will be directly spent, creating much-needed stimulus for our economy. Our focus should be getting, at a minimum, the same aid to families in a time of need and not treating low-income families differently than other families." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "In late March, Congress passed the CARES Act that provided a one-time economic stimulus payment to U.S. citizens, U.S. residents, and those with social security numbers. This payment was helpful in alleviating many struggles and challenges families experienced due to COVID-19. Unfortunately, those with ITIN were excluded and did not receive assistance when they should have. The House-passed Heroes Act included this provision and it is imperative that the next coronavirus relief bill also include ITIN filers as eligible to receive an economic impact payment." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "We just passed COVID relief that gets checks to the American people, invests in vaccine distribution & testing, ensures schools have the resources to open safely, expands food assistance, protects frontline workers & raises the minimum wage. Lot more left to do—let’s do it." (twitter.com)
  • "Democrats are putting #PeopleOverPolitics. From the American Rescue Plan, to the Infrastructure Bill, to the Inflation Reduction Act — we are working to lower costs, raise wages, and protect our planet." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7688 “Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "Yes! The Inflation Reduction Act is a great example of what it looks like to put #PeopleOverPolitics. I look forward to voting with @HouseDemocrats to send this bill to the president's desk." (twitter.com)
  • "A college education is essential for entering the middle class. However, more students than ever are graduating with crushing levels of debt, making it extremely difficult to get ahead. The #DebtFreeCollegeAct will help millions of students and I’m proud to introduce it." (twitter.com)
  • "As of today, student loan borrowers in the United States owe a collective $1.8 trillion. Imagine the amount of student debt we could cancel by choosing not to increase a bottomless Pentagon budget" (twitter.com)
  • "I joined @MehdiHasanShow tonight to talk about the newly unveiled student loan forgiveness program from the @WhiteHouse – and why I think it’s a great move." (twitter.com)
  • "When students graduate college, they should be focused on the exciting prospects of a new job, not mountains of debt. We must end the reliance on debt as a way to pay for college and the #DebtFreeCollegeAct is a strong step forward in making this a reality." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 4 “John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5746 “Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "Well, I disagree. We need national vote-by-mail for every state in this country. While the president pushes for racist voter ID laws and peddles conspiracy theories, some of us want to protect the health of the American people." (twitter.com)
  • Signed Letter to President Biden: "During your State of the Union address, you called for decisive action on clean energy and climate change. We were encouraged to hear you discuss how families will save an average of $500 per year on their energy costs through investments and tax credits. With your support, urging Congressional leaders to move forward with these climate provisions would mark the largest climate investment in our nation's history, setting the United States on course to meet our 50-52% greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by 2030, while creating millions of good paying union jobs, reducing energy costs for consumers, advancing environmental justice, investing in climate resilient housing and community infrastructure, and strengthening our economy." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "At the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment crisis and the impacts of a warming climate, we have a historic opportunity to make bold investments in our public lands, clean energy, and climate resiliency, all while creating good-paying jobs, building a diverse workforce, and strengthening career pathways. It is in the spirit of this conviction and dedication that we write to express our strong support for funding a Civilian Climate Corps in the upcoming reconciliation package." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019." (votesmart.org)
  • "We are concerned with the potential consequences of today's Supreme Court's decision, which could have a devastating impact on farmers and producers who are still fighting to recover from the volatile markets, unpredictable weather, and trade instability of the past several years. However, we are encouraged that the Environmental Protection Agency had reversed its position on small refinery exemptions prior to the Supreme Court's final opinion, and we urge the Administration to apply the same logic in deciding not to grant future waivers. Today's decision underscores the importance of the RFS Integrity Act; we will continue to fight for the enactment of this legislation to support family farmers and the clean biofuels industry." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 97% by League of Conservation Voters. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to President Biden: "During your State of the Union address, you called for decisive action on clean energy and climate change. We were encouraged to hear you discuss how families will save an average of $500 per year on their energy costs through investments and tax credits. With your support, urging Congressional leaders to move forward with these climate provisions would mark the largest climate investment in our nation's history, setting the United States on course to meet our 50-52% greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by 2030, while creating millions of good paying union jobs, reducing energy costs for consumers, advancing environmental justice, investing in climate resilient housing and community infrastructure, and strengthening our economy." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to President Trump: "As our nation reels from unprecedented health and economic crises and social unrest, your changes to the NEPA regulations would further endanger the very communities that have faced the greatest burdens of legacy environmental injustice and structural racism. And now these communities are also the hardest hit by the ongoing crises caused by COVID-19. Your unwarranted changes to the NEPA regulations represent an attack on these vulnerable communities when they are most in need of assistance. For more than 50 years, NEPA has served not only as our nation's preeminent instrument for protection of the environment, but also as a critical tool for civil rights. NEPA and its regulations mandate government agencies to consider the environmental impacts of projects, including any potential costs and consequences for nearby communities, before those projects are executed. Subsequently, NEPA has protected EJ communities by ensuring that all adverse impacts of projects are fully examined, and that public input from impacted communities is considered." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "As long as Congress fails to act, it is complicit in the deaths of innocent Americans. We must take commonsense actions like reinstating the assault weapons ban, ending the sale of high-capacity magazines, and closing loopholes in the background check system. For too long, Congress has rolled over when confronted by the NRA and the gun lobby and it's time to finally take a stand. Congress must act now." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7910 "Protecting Our Kids Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "My heart is with the Oneida Nation, Ashwaubenon & Green Bay communities, the injured victims, & the families of those whose lost their lives. Gun violence is an epidemic that will continue until every legislator treats it with the urgency the American people deserve." (twitter.com)
  • "#MedicareForAll saves lives—health care is a human right." (twitter.com)
  • "No one should have to choose between paying the bills and taking care of themselves. Thank you @SenSanders for reintroducing #MedicareForAll and understanding that healthcare is a right, not a privilege." (twitter.com)
  • "The best way to celebrate Medicare’s 56th birthday? Providing Medicare for All." (twitter.com)
  • "We need Medicare for All." (twitter.com)
  • "Paid family and medical leave will help countless families across the country. No one should have to choose between paying their bills or taking care of their loved ones. Not in the richest country in the world." (twitter.com)
  • "The Family and Medical Leave Act is a great stepping stone, but we need legislation to provide equitable and inclusive paid leave that is flexible enough to truly meet the needs of today’s families." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "We must give hardworking women and men the paid family and medical leave they desperately need. I'm proud to join my colleagues and support the #FamilyAct. It’s long past due for our workplaces to be more inclusive and welcoming for working families." (twitter.com)
  • "America pays the highest prescription drug prices in the world. It's time to lower the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiating with Big Pharma." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 3 “Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6833 “The Affordable Insulin Now Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "When Jodi’s son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her family did everything they could to keep up with the rising cost of prescription drugs needed to save his life. @HouseDemocrats are fighting to lower drug costs for families like Jodi’s across the country." (twitter.com)
  • "From conducting raids at garden centers and meatpacking plants, to breaking up families at churches and schools, ICE is tearing apart families and ripping at the moral fabric of our nation. Now is the time to #AbolishICE." (twitter.com)
  • "Last week, @realDonaldTrump visited McAllen, TX to show support for his border wall. I also visited McAllen, TX where I spoke with children in cages and mothers separated from their kids. We don’t need a senseless wall. End the #TrumpShutdown, Mr. President." (twitter.com)
  • "My colleagues and I toured the border patrol processing center in McAllen, TX. When I asked how frequently family could see their children, they couldn’t give me a direct answer. The immigration policies of @realDonaldTrump and Jeff Sessions are cruel and wrong." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Leader McConnell: "Following the Supreme Court's landmark decision rejecting President Trump's repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Senate has a responsibility to consider legislation to protect the young immigrants who are eligible for DACA. We call on you to immediately schedule a vote in the Senate on H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, legislation to give DACA recipients a path to citizenship that passed the House of Representatives more than a year ago. Eight years ago, following bipartisan requests from Congress, President Obama used his legal authority to establish DACA. DACA provides temporary protection from deportation on an individualized basis to immigrants who arrived in the United States as children if they register with the government, pay a fee, and pass criminal and national security background checks. The young people who are eligible for DACA, known as Dreamers, are American in every way except for their immigration status. More than 800,000 Dreamers have come forward and received DACA. DACA has unleashed the full potential of Dreamers, who are contributing to our country as soldiers, nurses, teachers, and small business owners, and in many other ways." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Today’s vote to sanction Turkey is one facet of a solution to fix Trump's disastrous policy. We can't protect our Kurdish partners in Syria through indefinite troop deployments. We need a multilateral diplomatic campaign to end the violence and create accountability in Syria." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6968 “Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "I stand with #Ukraine and its people. The US & our allies must continue to pursue peace, hold aggressors accountable & provide humanitarian relief to those impacted by unnecessary violence. The global community must work toward peace & avoid any escalation in military action." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • "I stand with #Ukraine and its people. The US & our allies must continue to pursue peace, hold aggressors accountable & provide humanitarian relief to those impacted by unnecessary violence. The global community must work toward peace & avoid any escalation in military action." (twitter.com)
  • "President Zelenskyy's call for peace has never been more urgent. War begets war. We must continue pressure on Russia in order to ensure a safe Ukraine." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S. 3522 “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 8% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "@realDonaldTrump promised the #GOPTaxScam would give workers a $4k pay raise, but wages have remained flat while corporations are making record profits. We need a tax system that helps working families and makes corps pay their fair share. #WorkersDeserveMore" (twitter.com)
  • "Tax Day is a great reminder of our desperate need for a tax system that rewards work – not wealth. It's beyond time the wealthiest individuals and corporations paid their fair share, just like the rest of us. #TaxTheRich" (twitter.com)
  • "This isn’t a fight between moderates & progressives - it’s a fight between the special interests who don’t want to pay their fair share and Building Back Better for the American people." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Public Citizen. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Unfortunately, I cannot be confident that this trade deal would heal the wounds inflicted by NAFTA including, rampant outsourcing of American jobs, the closing of factories and manufacturing facilities across the country, and decades of harm to working and middle-class communities. The deal also fails to take a once in a generation opportunity for North America to take bold, collective action to address the climate crisis that threatens the future of our entire planet. Assuredly, this trade deal will provide some certainty to Wisconsin farmers and dairy producers, struggling in our current economy. However, this is not a wholesale solution to the issues of dairy or other segments of agriculture in the Midwest. I call on the administration to cease their chaotic tactics and trade war by tweet that have put family farmers in harms way and contributed to the closing of over 1900 dairy farms since the start of Donald Trump's presidency." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Farmers in Wisconsin are reeling from a trade war that has put their entire livelihoods at risk. Doug—a farmer in Janesville, WI—talked to us about the pains his farm and family are feeling from tariffs he didn’t ask for." (twitter.com)
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) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
h) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

Greatly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Emergency preparedness
Slightly Increase d) Environment
Slightly Increase e) Health care
Maintain Status f) Law enforcement
Slightly Decrease g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase h) Welfare
i) Other or expanded categories
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
h) Property taxes
i) Sales taxes
j) Vehicle taxes
k) Other or expanded categories
Yes l) Should the state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
m) Should accounts such as a “rainy day” fund be used to balance the state budget?
n) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
o) Other or expanded principles

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 candidates?

No a) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Wisconsin governors?
No b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Wisconsin state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
No g) Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Wisconsin are closed?
Yes h) Should Wisconsin recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
Yes i) Should the Ethics and Elections Boards be merged to form a non-partisan Government Accountability Board?
j) Should all voters be required to show valid photo identification on Election Day before voting?
No k) Should Indian gaming compacts negotiated by the governor require legislative approval?
l) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Implement the death penalty in Wisconsin.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X f) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
i) Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
X j) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
k) Strengthen sex-offender laws.
l) Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
m) Other or expanded principles

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

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

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding 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 retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X f) Support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Wisconsin’s anti-discrimination laws.
X g) Increase the state minimum wage.
h) Other or expanded principles
a) Public employment
Yes b) State college and university admissions
Yes 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.
b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
X c) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
d) Increase funding for improvements to Wisconsin's power generating and transmission facilities.
X e) Support funding for open space preservation.
X f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
g) Require Wisconsin service stations to sell gasoline that contains 10 percent ethanol.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
f) Require a license for gun possession.
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer current Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
e) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Wisconsin.
X g) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X h) Require companies with at least 10,000 employees to pay 80 percent of the employee premiums of health insurance.
X i) Continue to allow embryonic stem cell research in Wisconsin.
j) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
X b) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
d) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
X e) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
f) Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
g) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
h) Other or expanded principles
Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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