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Jamie Raskin's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (MD) - District 8

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Jamie Raskin is currently being tested through the 2024 Political Courage Test.

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What is the Political Courage Test?
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.

Maryland Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I am strongly committed to defending women's health care choices and reproductive autonomy.
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
The GOP tax law gave massive breaks to the wealthiest 1-percent and corporations, while doing little or nothing for middle class families. These cuts are projected to increase the deficit by over $1 trillion in the next ten years, which Republicans have already begun to use to justify drastic cuts to programs like Social Security. We clearly need to reduce excessive, profligate and wasteful spending in the Defense Department. A 2015 DoD study found that we could save taxpayers at least $125 billion with simple reforms like curbing contractor fraud and reducing bureaucratic bloat--and no layoffs or reductions in personnel.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Citizens United has tilted our nation's political system toward the demands of moneyed corporate power. We need to build strong political and economic democracy by enacting legislation to bypass Citizens United (H.J.Res.31); require disclosure of special interest spending (H.R.1134); and eliminate the intrusion of foreign corporate money in our politics.
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?
We need to invest in America's future, which means investing federal dollars in things like the life-saving medical research conducted at NIH and the crucial scientific research projects happening at NOAA and EPA; public transportation and other infrastructure projects; affordable housing and health care; environmentally-sustainable agriculture; and more. Republicans like to claim that corporate tax cuts will eventually 'trickle down' to workers in the form of increased wages and resulting economic benefits from increased investment, but there's no real evidence to support this theory. The recent GOP tax scam only generates greater skepticism.
Yes Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
I believe that education is the lifeblood of democracy and that every student has the right to a high-quality education. I support federal policies that protect students' civil rights and support federal standards that ensure every student in America receives an excellent education, tailored to meet individual needs.
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?
Given America's scientific leadership and technological prowess, we should be leading--not opposing--efforts to develop renewable energy and deal with the brutal warming of our planet. I favor rejoining the Paris Agreement and pursuing aggressive initiatives toward clean energy and systematic reduction of deadly carbon emissions. Climate change is a civilizational emergency and the whole context within which we must decide every issue, from energy and environmental regulation to education, housing, and infrastructure. We must dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to halt climate change, while also investing in clean energy technologies like solar and wind power.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
America faces an epidemic of gun violence but there are plenty of commonsense--and constitutional--laws that we could enact to make everyone safer. I support broadly popular measures like universal background checks, closing the gun-show and internet loopholes, and banning the sale of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
The ACA was an important step in extending healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured Americans and ensuring that insurance companies cannot deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions. We must continue to fight for universal access to affordable healthcare and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
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?
A border wall is a 14th Century solution to a 21st Century problem and an appalling waste of our taxpayers' money. I favor equipping border enforcement agents with resources and tools they need to combat drug smuggling and human trafficking, but let's work for hemispheric development and security. Let's develop this policy as part of comprehensive immigration reform.
Yes Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
I favor legalizing, regulating and taxing commerce in marijuana. This will put the drug dealers out of business, end the criminalization of our people, reduce mass incarceration, and free up law enforcement resources for fighting violent and white-collar crime.
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?
Before taking military action, the President must ordinarily obtain from Congress a declaration of war. The Constitution requires Congress to debate, deliberate and declare war before the President prosecutes it. We should use diplomatic means to promote arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament. As we have seen in Iraq, bloody ground wars in the Middle East are a lot easier to get into than to get out of, and we need serious Congressional analysis and deliberation if the President thinks we need military intervention.
Strengthen healthcare for all while reducing costs and lowering prescription drug prices. Fight climate change, the overarching crisis of our time. Renew political democracy by ending gerrymandering, adopting a national popular vote for president, defending voting rights, adopting universal voter registration, and curbing corporate money in our politics. Restore public integrity and honest government, an urgent imperative especially in my district where 80,000 people work for the federal government but have been subjected to constant political interference. As a member of the Oversight Committee, I'm defending federal employees against baseless partisan attacks, and continuing threats of salary and benefit cuts.

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