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Matt Gaetz'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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Matt Gaetz 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.

  • "I applaud the courage of the Supreme Court in standing up for our most vulnerable in the face of violent intimidation from leftist agitators and the Democratic Party. Roe and Casey were bad science and bad law. Now they’re history." (twitter.com)
  • "Matt is 100% pro-life and has always been a voice for those without one. He successfully sponsored legislation to ban taxpayer-funded abortions under Obamacare, and prohibiting state money from going to abortion centers. Matt also fought to require ultrasounds and 24-hour waiting periods before abortions can be performed. In Congress, Matt is working to defund Planned Parenthood and hold them accountable for the atrocious acts they commit." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 36 "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Congress should act quickly so that Medicare Part D stays on a more responsible path and seniors have longterm predictability. We are prepared to work with you and would support the Committees of jurisdiction's inclusion of policies to correct the BBA error and address the impact of the scheduled catastrophic increase in legislative vehicles being considered for the House floor." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 10% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "As the member of Congress representing a district with one of the highest concentrations of active duty military and veterans in the nation, I want to thank @IvankaTrump for spearheading the successful effort to include paid family leave in the NDAA for our military families!" (twitter.com)
  • "President Trump’s budget shows his tremendous commitment to our national defense. However, it continues Washington’s wasteful spending—does not balance in 10 years & creates a deficit of over a trillion $ next year. We can't steal from America's future to pay for spending today." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "Earlier today, the House passed a budget deal brokered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Instead of exhibiting fiscal restraint, Speaker Pelosi's budget is a wish list for Democrat priorities and wasteful spending. If the budget is a roadmap for the American people, then Speaker Pelosi is driving us into spending oblivion. We cannot allow this. I encourage President Trump to negotiate a deal that strengthens our military, helps our veterans, and cuts our bloated spending," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "There is a feasible way forward to mitigate the harm climate change presents to our planet in the coming decades: the Built To Last Act," Rep. Gaetz said. "This legislation asks NOAA and other government agencies to provide current, reliable climate data to standards-developing organizations. This common-sense proposal will equip America's federal agencies, builders, and communities with current, relevant climate information, helping them mitigate future climate risks. The Built to Last Act is an opportunity to effect positive, multigenerational change for millions of Americans. It's time to start thinking about the future and stop working in the past." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Seems a bit odd to me that the thing we're yanking everyone back to Washington for is the post office and the post office alone. There's a lot of bipartisan support for more COVID-19 stimulus. We should be taking votes on relief to the American people." (twitter.com)
  • "If government spending solved inflation, we would already have inflation kryptonite as a result of the Biden agenda. The reality is when the government prints more money, that results in that money being less valuable and less worthy." (twitter.com)
  • "The Government Spending legislation considered by Congress today makes virtually every problem created by the Biden Government worse. I’m not voting for it. Printing trillions more for eternal government programs will worsen inflation, not solve it." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "You can’t eat your way skinny, you can’t drink yourself sober, and you can’t spend your way out of inflation, which is why every Democrat Senator from Joe Manchin to Bernie Sanders is saying the "Inflation Reduction Act" won’t reduce inflation." (twitter.com)
  • "Excessive student loan debt has harmed generations of young Americans. I am proud to work with my colleague, friend, and fellow Floridian @RepShalala on the Student Loan Disclosure Transparency Act, legislation that will help students across America." (twitter.com)
  • "I even hear about student debt from boomers. They see how their adult children are missing milestones like buying a house, marriage or kids because student debt puts a wet blanket over opportunities. The answer isn’t free college. Let’s take on the higher ed industrial complex." (twitter.com)
  • "Instead of wiping away student loan debt with a presidential executive order, we ought to allow people who are victims of predatory systems to declare bankruptcy. It would shatter the foundation of higher-ed finance." (twitter.com)
  • "Politicians have made it easier and easier to access student loans while at the same time making it harder to get rid of the debt. Those two forces combined have essentially created a generation of indentured servants." (twitter.com)
  • "Sabotages state voter ID laws: Voters will not have to show ID at the polls when they vote - they'll only have to sign a piece of paper saying they are who they claim to be. #NOTForThePeopleAct" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "But if we get this right, if we make the right investments in our grid, then we will create a class of energy entrepreneurs over the country. Where people can put up solar cells, access hydropower, and then move that power back on to the grid so that renewable cleaner energy can be democratized over wider swathes of the country." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Establishing a voluntary framework reporting and tracking carbon emissions, renewable energy procurement, and energy efficiency investment to increase investment in clean energy technology and improve transparency and accountability for the benefit of customers, investors, and shareholders" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Investing in next generation zero-emissions sources, including renewable energy and nuclear energy, especially small modular reactors" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It’s time to harness the power of renewable energy solutions and encourage entrepreneurs to embrace the democratization of harvesting clean energy. It’s a bipartisan no-brainer. #GreenRealDeal" (twitter.com)
  • "Eliminating harmful pollutants from our air, earth, and water is an endeavor that transcends party lines. Environmental stewardship should not be held captive by protracted partisan politics. I'm proud to cosponsor this bill that promotes bipartisan solutions to address the undeniable reality of climate change and takes actionable steps to stem the dischargement of super pollutants. This legislation institutes a business-friendly and free market approach to mitigating pollution by encouraging private companies to voluntarily limit their own emissions. We have many differences in this town, but an issue we should all be able to agree on as humans is the fact that we collectively share the Earth -- our most universally precious commodity," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Matt has successfully sponsored legislation stopping thousands of burdensome regulations at the state level and is now building on that success in Washington. In his first term in the U.S. Congress, Matt filed legislation to completely eliminate the EPA." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Administrator Pruitt: "For over a decade, the American people have been forced to live with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a well-intentioned but deeply flawed policy that has negatively impacted families and businesses across the United States. When the RFS was first passed in 2005, it was designed to reduce our country's dependence on foreign oil, to protect the environment, and to revitalize rural America. However, as we look in the rear-view mirror, it's clear that the RFS accomplished none of these goals. By diverting more than 35 percent of the annual corn harvest to fuel additive, the RFS has raised the cost of livestock production, increased food price volatility and insecurity, decreased fuel efficiency, damaged small-engine equipment, hurt the environment, and chipped away at household budgets. The combined effects of this ethanol mandate have created a hidden tax on every American consumer. Simply put, in its current state, the RFS has run out of gas." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Rifle Association (NRA). (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Speaker says we need action. Well, we're for action. How about the action of my bill to create a national Stand Your Ground law to strengthen self-defense or Richard Hudson's bill for national concealed carry or any number of proposals Republicans have offered to unlock the safe and secure environment when we have our military veterans and our former members of law enforcement able to carry a firearm responsibly in schools to be able to respond to these acts of violence. No, their version of action is more gun control, raising the age to be able to buy certain firearms." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 38 "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "6833 would see the government mandate private and public health insurance providers to cap the price of insulin at $35. Let me be clear–Big Pharma’s market concentration and price gouging is an abuse of power to the lament of the American consumer." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Border walls work, and Democrats know it. The clock is ticking @SpeakerPelosi, and Congress must quickly develop comprehensive border security legislation. America is waiting. #BuildTheWall" (twitter.com)
  • "Our nation's borders are a military priority and a vital component of our national security. President Trump's decision to use military funds to secure our southern border is a legitimate and necessary action. As of today, I have been assured that no funding will be diverted from any military installation or project within Florida's First Congressional District to fund the construction of the border wall. I thank President Trump today for his renewed commitment to Northwest Florida's military readiness and for his leadership in addressing the border crisis," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Green-light laws,' which allow illegal aliens to obtain drivers' licenses, are not just misguided -- they are profoundly dangerous. These policies hinder DHS background checks, limit law enforcement officers' ability to apprehend dangerous criminals, and make our nation less secure. I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Buck's Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act. States should not be rewarded for defying federal immigration laws and attempting to thwart law enforcement," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Illegal immigration poses a serious threat to both our national and economic security. Matt has opposed any form of amnesty, fought cash welfare payments for illegal immigrants and voted against offering them in-state college tuition, even when other Republicans supported it. Matt knows that the first steps in immigration reform are securing the border and enforcing our laws. He supports building a wall and will work to crack down on sanctuary cities and the local officials that allow them to exist." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3003 "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3004 "Kate's Law." (votesmart.org)
  • "I commend President Trump's decision to reimpose tough sanctions on Iran, a nation that destabilizes the Middle East, oppresses its own people, and exploits the global financial system to promote ruthless regimes and spread terror worldwide." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "President Biden should not have a blank check to sanction whoever he deems a “human rights violator.” Thus, I voted against legislation today intended to punish Russia and Belarus, but which actually gives the Biden Administration troubling, sweeping powers." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4695 "Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Last night, this House approved $40 billion for Ukraine as American families go without baby formula. To put that in context, Biden's budget calls for $15.3 billion for Customs and Border Protection, so apparently, Ukraine is more than twice as important as our homeland. Two weeks ago, we voted on the Ukraine lend-lease act. I was 1 of just 10 Representatives to vote ``no,'' and here was the response from MSNBC: ``GOP's `Putin wing' balks at supplying weapons to Ukraine.'' So, you are a supporter of Putin if you think it is a bad idea to give the White House blanket permission to send ``any weapon, weapons system, munition, aircraft, vessel, boat, or other implement of war'' to Ukraine while surrendering our rights to repayment." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Long known as the "Tax Killer," Matt lived up to his reputation by helping President Trump pass the largest tax cut since the Reagan administration. Thanks to Matt's help in Congress, we're seeing more money in our paychecks. Matt has successfully sponsored legislation stopping thousands of burdensome regulations at the state level and is now building on that success in Washington. In his first term in the U.S. Congress, Matt filed legislation to completely eliminate the EPA." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will make things easier next year. This simple system will allow American families to see rising income and more economic opportunity. It will allow businesses to grow and expand and achieve even greater economic potential. I am proud that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed, and I look forward to the continuing progress of the American people." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "President Trump's resolve to protect the American worker and invigorate the US economy was realized today by a bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives. The passage of the USMCA is a monumental achievement for the American people that has been spearheaded by President Trump since his first day in office. This trade deal advances the America First agenda on the world stage and secures a successful future for our nation's economy, job growth, and trade. I'm proud to have voted for this historic bill today and thank President Trump for his unwavering commitment to the American worker," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)

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