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Elaine Nekritz'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.
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.

Elaine Nekritz 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?
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.

Illinois State Legislative Election 1996 National Political Awareness Test

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.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be legally available.
X b) Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
c) Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or if the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should always be illegal.
e) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
f) Illinois government funding should not be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action in Illinois.

X a) Illinois government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sector.
b) Illinois government should provide no affirmative action programs.
c) Amend the Minority and Female Business Enterprise Act to assist business owners in obtaining state contracts.
X d) Illinois government should add sexual orientation to Illinois' anti-discrimination laws.
e) Illinois government should not add sexual orientation to Illinois' anti-discrimination laws.
Undecided f) Do you believe that Illinois government should recognize same-sex marriages?

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one number only.

Maintain Status a) Abortion
Maintain Status b) Affirmative Action
Slightly Decrease c) Agriculture
Slightly Increase d) Education
Maintain Status e) Environment
Maintain Status f) Health Care
Slightly Increase g) Law Enforcement
Maintain Status h) Welfare

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address child and family-related issues in Illinois.

a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
X d) Reduce child abuse and neglect by providing state funding to combat poverty.
e) Reduce child abuse and neglect by placing abused or neglected children in orphanages.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in Illinois.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
X b) Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
X c) Continue to enforce "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences without parole.
d) Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
e) Oppose the death penalty.
f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenses.
g) Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
h) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
X i) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentence.
j) Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
k) Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
l) Implement chain gangs, in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
m) Limit the number of appeals allowed for inmates on death row.
n) Implement "enterprise zones" in high crime communities to promote job-creating industries in those areas.
o) Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in Illinois.

X a) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
b) Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for first-time juvenile felons.
c) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X d) Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
e) Impose mandatory curfews for minors in high crime areas.
f) Allow courts to hold parents accountable for a minor child who possesses a firearm.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Illinois' economic development.

a) Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
b) Provide low-interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up or relocating businesses.
c) Expand legalized gambling (e.g. slot machines, video gambling).
X d) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
e) Remove state governmental controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.
f) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
g) Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
h) Initiate cost/benefit analysis of all Illinois laws and regulations to determine their economic impact.
i) Fund construction of a third metropolitan airport in the Chicago area.
j) Change the current Workers' Compensation Law by limiting the amount of damages for which a business may be liable to employees.
k) Support the use of state funding for the construction of sports stadiums and arenas in Illinois.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Illinois' education system.

a) Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
b) Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
X c) Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
d) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
X e) Support "charter schools" where teachers/professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
f) Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
X g) Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
h) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
X i) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
j) Fund public school education in Illinois by increasing state income taxes and decreasing local property taxes.
X k) Provide state funding for programs which increase Illinois students' access to the Internet and other telecommunications networks.
l) Increase state funding for school security (e.g. metal detectors, truancy officers).
m) Amend the Illinois Constitution to allow the state to fund at least 50% of costs related to Illinois public schools.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Illinois' environment and natural resources.

a) Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Illinois.
b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates immunity incentives for polluting industries to clean up pollution.
c) Require a cost/benefit analysis on the economic impact of any environmental regulation before it is implemented.
d) Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit use of privately owned land.
X e) Provide funding for recycling programs in Illinois.
X f) Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend Illinois' participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
X h) Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
X i) Support "right to know" information being made available to communities exposed to hazardous substances.
j) Support continuing Illinois' status as a host state for commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal.
X k) Oppose continuing Illinois' status as a host state for commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal.

a) Would you support amending the Illinois Constitution to limit the terms of the following Illinois officials?

No 1) State Senators and Representatives
No 2) Governors
No b) Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
Yes c) Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes d) Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes e) Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes f) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes g) Do you support imposing spending limits on political campaigns?
No h) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?

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

X a) Support expanding the nationwide ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
X b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
X c) Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
d) Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of a firearm.
e) Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
f) Allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms that are legally owned and registered.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Illinois' health care system.

X a) Expand funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
b) Provide tax incentives to small businesses which provide health care to their employees.
X c) Ensure that Illinois citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
d) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
e) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X f) Convert Illinois' Medicaid program to a system of Medicaid-funded managed health care.
g) Continue tax on Illinois hospitals and nursing homes to help fund health care for the poor.
X h) Support programs in schools and workplaces which provide Illinois residents with AIDS/HIV prevention information.
X i) Support legislation requiring health insurance providers to provide certain medical services (e.g. coverage for a 2 day hospital stay after childbirth).
X j) Enact legislation which allows citizens and small employers to pool their health insurance purchasing power.
X k) Enact legislation which assures Illinois workers will have portable health insurance if they lose their jobs.

Please indicate the changes you will support (if any) concerning Illinois' tax levels for the following categories.

Slightly Increase a) Alcohol Taxes
Maintain Status b) Business Taxes
Maintain Status c) Capital Gains
Maintain Status d) Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
Maintain Status e) Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
Slightly Decrease f) Property Taxes
Maintain Status g) Sales Taxes
Slightly Increase h) State Fees
No i) Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
No j) Do you support expanding property tax caps to all Illinois counties?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Illinois' welfare system.

X a) Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
X b) Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
c) Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
d) Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive benefits.
e) Limit the benefits given to welfare recipients if they have additional children.
X f) Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
g) Eliminate government funded welfare and advocate privately funded assistance to people in need.
h) Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
i) Require mothers age 18 and under to complete high school through mandatory "Learnfare" program.
j) Continue "Earnfare" as a voluntary program in which food stamps recipients work to earn money and pay off food stamps.
k) Make "Earnfare" a mandatory program for parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered support.
l) Require mothers to identify their child(ren)'s father in order to receive welfare benefits.
m) AFDC benefits for families with children in grades 1-6 should be tied to these children's attendance in school.
I want to bring together my skills as a small business manager, lawyer and activist to provide common sense representation for the district. My two main legislative priorities are (1) to maintain our quality schools and increase participation by business in education; and (2) to make government more efficient in delivery of services.

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