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Dave Loebsack'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.

Dave Loebsack has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2018 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 2018.

  • Rated 0% by Campaign for Working Families (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund (votesmart.org)
  • "Women have a fundamental right to make their own, private decisions about their health. These decisions are not the business of corporations or Washington politicians." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 15% by National Taxpayers Union (votesmart.org)
  • "Instead of increasing take home pay for all middle class families, the Ryan-McConnell plan focuses on slashing taxes for millionaires, billionaires and corporations. All of this is laying the ground work to cut Medicare and Social Security, gutting the benefits seniors have earned after a lifetime of work. It's just wrong." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • " Dave believes in investing in updating our infrastructure and creating thousands of new jobs in the process. From expanding rural broadband and green energy to building new roads and bridges, an investment in infrastructure is an investment in the American worker." (www.loebsackforcongress.org)
  • "To that end, I have worked on numerous measures that provide tax relief and assistance to small businesses and working families. I have helped provide tax relief for small businesses that hire and retain new employees; expand financing opportunities for small businesses; and crack down on offshore accounts for corporations that ship jobs overseas." (loebsackforcongress.org)
  • "...the Ryan-McConnell plan focuses on slashing taxes for millionaires, billionaires and corporations," Loebsack said. "All of this is laying the ground work to cut Medicare and Social Security... It’s just wrong." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by the National Education Association (votesmart.org)
  • "As the husband of a retired teacher, I am committed to increasing state and local flexibility balanced with strategic federal support and safeguards so that all Iowa students receive a top-quality education." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 93% by Environment America (votesmart.org)
  • "Technology, tax incentives and private investment work to strengthen the renewable energy sector's position in the free marketplace and power America's carbon-free energy policies forward." (votesmart.org)
  • "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the wind energy industry, the workers that it employs, and the clean energy it produces." (votesmart.org)
  • "We must also continue to invest in renewable energy like wind and biofuels that create jobs in Iowa." (www.loebsackforcongress.org)
  • Rated 93% by Environment America (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating "I strongly believe the RFS is working and is the right policy for Iowa, our country, our farmers, our rural communities, energy security and independence, advancing the biofuels industry, giving consumers choices, and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions." (loebsack.house.gov)
  • "Dave has worked to pursue an all of the above energy future that curbs greenhouse gas emissions and increases our domestic energy production while ending our reliance on foreign oil. Investing in alternative and renewable energy sources not only cuts down on pollution, but creates thousands of jobs for homegrown industries in Iowa." (www.loebsackforcongress.org)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "It is long past time for Replublicans, who have remained silent on this issue, to join us in sounding the alarm and work towards bipartisan solutions to gun violence." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by National Rifle Association (votesmart.org)
  • "If Congress wants to take healthcare away from millions, they need to have some skin in the game too. That's why I introduced a bill that will do just that, so that if Americans lose their coverage, members of Congress do too. Add your name to become a co-sponsor of the 'Holding Congress Accountable for Healthcare Act.'" (www.facebook.com)
  • "I remain committed to working to fix the ACA so that it works better for all Americans." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by the Federation for Immigration Reform (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by the Federation for Immigration Reform (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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.
b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester.
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) Dilation and extraction or "partial-birth" abortion procedures should be legal.
g) Medicare, Medicaid, and federal subsidies should be prohibited from being used on abortion procedures.
Abortions must remain safe, legal, and rare. A woman's right to choose must never be taken away, Roe v. Wade must never be overturned. However, we must do more to reduce unwanted pregnancies through improved education, increased access to health care services, and enhanced support for new mothers.

Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once.1) Budget Priorities2) Defense Spending3) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once.Family Income TaxesOther TaxesDeductions/Credits

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Arts
Maintain Status c) Defense
Slightly Increase d) Education
Slightly Increase e) Environment
Greatly Increase f) FEMA
Slightly Increase g) Homeland security
Maintain Status h) International aid
Slightly Increase i) Law enforcement (Federal)
Slightly Increase j) Law enforcement (State)
Slightly Increase k) Medical research
Maintain Status l) National parks
Slightly Increase m) Public health services
Slightly Increase n) Scientific research
Slightly Decrease o) Space exploration programs
Slightly Increase p) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Maintain Status q) United Nations
Maintain Status r) Welfare
s) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Armed forces personnel training
Slightly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Slightly Increase c) Military hardware
Slightly Increase d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Greatly Decrease e) National missile defense
Slightly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Maintain Status h) Research and development of new weapons
Slightly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Decrease a) Less than $12,000
Slightly Decrease b) $12,001-$40,000
Slightly Decrease c) $40,001-$100,000
Maintain Status d) $100,001-$180,000
Slightly Increase e) $180,001-$350,000
Slightly Increase f) $350,001 and above
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Charitable contribution deduction
Slightly Increase b) Child tax credit
Slightly Increase c) Earned income tax credit
Slightly Increase d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Slightly Increase f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
No 4) Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
Yes 5) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
6) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

a) Support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
X b) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
c) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
d) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
X e) Support prohibiting ads containing candidates' name that are paid for by third parties from airing 60 days before a primary and 30 days before a general federal election.
f) Support instant run-off voting (IRV).
X g) Support designating Election Day as a national holiday.
h) Support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations.
X i) Support limiting the President's use of signing statements in order to prevent an alternative interpretation of the bill.
X j) Support a federal shield law to protect reporter-source privilege.
k) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
e) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
f) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X g) Support strict penalties for internet crime (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
X h) Require that crimes based on sexual orientation be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support the federal government funding universal pre-K programs.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
X e) Increase funding for the Pell Grant program.
X f) Decrease interest rates of Stafford Loans.
X g) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
X h) Ban university financial aid officers from owning stock in or accepting gifts from student loan lenders.
X i) Require universities to disclose financial relationships with lenders.
j) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
k) Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
l) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector.
X c) Encourage employers to offer child care services, flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
X d) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X e) Support the right of workers to unionize.
f) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X g) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
X h) Include gender identity in federal anti-discrimination laws.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X d) Strengthen emission controls on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
X e) Strengthen fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
f) Support domestic oil exploration in areas that are currently restricted.
X g) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels.
X h) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
i) Support research and development of nuclear reactors as an alternative energy source.
X j) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits under "cap and trade" laws.
X k) Support international mandatory emission targets to limit global warming.
X l) Support international voluntary emission targets to limit global warming.
We are in an energy crisis that is hurting Iowa families, businesses, and farmers. We must work together to find a comprehensive solution that reduces gas prices and our dependence on foreign oil. To change our nation's energy policy we must begin by clamping down on speculation; expediting drilling and pipeline development in Alaska's Energy Reserve; cracking down on price gouging by big oil; expanding the development of energy sources in an environmentally responsible manner; and increasing investment in renewable energy, including homegrown fuels so we can also create new jobs in and bring increased economic development to rural areas.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.On (c) and (d), indicate what levels (#1-6) you support for the following categories.

a) Allow individuals to carry concealed guns.
b) Ban the sale, ownership or possession of handguns except by law enforcement and other government officials.
Maintain Status c) Enforcement of existing restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Maintain Status d) Restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Implement a universal healthcare program to guarantee coverage to all Americans, regardless of income.
b) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
X c) Allow the importation of prescription drugs into the United States.
X d) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X e) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X f) Support expanding child healthcare programs.
g) Providing healthcare is not a responsibility of the federal government.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
c) Support a temporary worker program.
d) Support harsher financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States.
f) Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship.
g) Illegal immigrants should be given a pathway to citizenship.
h) Support merit-based visas over family-based visas.
Repairing the immigration system in our country is a priority for our national security and our economy. A comprehensive and truly bipartisan debate on immigration is needed in order to move forward with systematic reform that protects American jobs, workers, and wages.

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international aid.International PolicyIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international policy.International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

X a) Support the United States granting aid to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Support the United States granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
c) Eliminate United States aid for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid granted by the United States should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
Yes b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes c) Should the United States impose greater international sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
Yes d) Should the United States support the Lebanese government against insurgent forces?
No e) Should the United States maintain its troop levels in Iraq?
Yes f) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
g) Discuss your proposals for Iraq.
Yes h) Should the United States apply greater economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea if it fails to abide by its agreement to suspend its nuclear program?
Yes i) Should the United States increase financial support for Afghanistan?
Yes j) Should the United States increase military support for Afghanistan?
No k) Should the United States trade nuclear fuel to India for civilian purposes?
No l) Should the United States decrease financial support for Pakistan?
Yes m) Should the United States decrease military support for Pakistan?
Yes n) Should the United States be involved in bringing an end to the violence in Darfur, Sudan?
Yes o) Should the United States be involved in bringing an end to the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Yes p) Should the United States provide economic and military support to the Transitional Government of Somalia?
Yes q) Should the United States use sanctions to encourage the government of Zimbabwe to end its human rights abuses?
Yes r) Should the United States support the creation of an independent nation of Kosovo?
s) Other or expanded principles
a) Do you support the United States imposing economic sanctions on China?
b) Do you support the United States imposing trade sanctions on Venezuela?
c) Do you support the United States involvement in free trade agreements?
d) Do you support the United States involvement in intergovernmental organizations dedicated to trade?
Responsible trade agreements are essential to our national economy. However, I strongly believe that free trade agreements must not come at the expense of American jobs; must include built-in labor and environmental protections; and must not condone the "offshoring" of American companies that would otherwise pay American taxes. Free trade agreements must benefit America's workers and America's economy.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
No b) Should law enforcement agencies have greater discretion to monitor domestic communications, to prevent future terrorist attacks?
Yes c) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes d) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
No e) Do you support pre-emptive military strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to United States national security?
No f) Do you support the creation of a federal identification card system?
Yes g) Do you support long-term use of National Guard troops to supplement the armed forces in assignments overseas?
No h) Should the United States expand its missile defense shield?
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
No b) Do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman?
Yes c) Do you support federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem cell lines?
Yes d) Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?
Yes e) Should the federal government consider race and gender in government contracting decisions?
Yes f) Should the federal government continue affirmative action programs?
Yes g) Should the federal government regulate internet gambling?
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts that they manage themselves.
X b) Ensure the viability of Social Security by increasing the payroll tax.
c) Decrease benefits paid to retirees.
d) Support proportional increases of Social Security benefits based on the cost of living index.
e) Raise the retirement age for individual eligibility to receive full Social Security benefits.
f) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
X c) Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
d) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
e) Other or expanded principles
Please explain in a total of 100 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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