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Chris Coons' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

U.S. Senate (DE) - Jr, Democratic

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.

Is Coons voting like he said he would?

Chris Coons has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2020 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 2020.

Pro-choice

Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?

Pro-choice

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Budget: Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Campaign Finance: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Crime: Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?

"Policing is mainly a local issue, and much of the change we need to see will come at the state and local level. But there are areas where we can take federal action. This bill includes measures I have already cosponsored to make lynching a federal hate crime and end racial profiling. Additionally, it will enhance the ability of prosecutors to bring federal charges against police officers who criminally violate Americans' constitutional rights and help the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division investigate systematic police misconduct. The bill will incentivize states to create independent investigative structures for police-involved deaths, ensure decertified officers are not able to change jurisdictions without disclosure of prior misconduct, mandate training on racial bias, and more." (votesmart.org)

Yes

Defense: Do you support increasing defense spending?

Yes

"As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I have always believed that the U.S. position in the world is strongest when there is bipartisan support not only for our troops, but also for our overall foreign policy and national security goals," said Senator Coons. "This year's NDAA, which once again garnered broad bipartisan support, recognizes that as the United States addresses ongoing public health and economic crises at home, we must also provide our service members with the tools they need to ensure the United States can deter conflict and protect the American people." (votesmart.org)
"Dover Air Force Base is one of the finest military bases in the country, and I've been working to get funds for a C-5M maintenance hangar for several years," said Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Air Force Caucus. "I'm glad that its construction will soon be underway. The men and women who serve and work at Dover Air Force Base deserve all the support and resources they need, and I'm proud to fight for those resources on the Senate Appropriations Committee." (votesmart.org)

Yes

Economy: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Economy: Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Economy: Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Education: Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?

Yes

"The federal government has a critical role to play in ensuring that all students are held to the same high standards and partnering with states and localities to find new ways to better serve their students. While I still have concerns that the accountability provisions in this bill could allow some states and school districts to ignore certain groups of students, I believe this bill is an improvement from current law and that the accountability provisions have been strengthened from the Senate bill that was passed earlier this year." (votesmart.org)

Yes

Energy and Environment: Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Energy and Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Guns: Do you generally support gun-control legislation?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Health Care: Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?

Yes

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Immigration: Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Immigration: Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Unknown Position

National Security: Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?

Unknown Position

Signed a letter stating: "For instance, the North Korean nuclear crisis presents one of the gravest threats to our national security. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Mike Pompeo recently asserted that North Korea could be capable of striking the United States with a nuclear weapon in a "handful of months." In this perilous moment, the United States must urgently work with our regional allies to exert the pressure needed to get North Korea to the negotiating table. However, the administration has not nominated a U.S. Ambassador to South Korea." (votesmart.org)

National Security: Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?

Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.

Yes

Trade: Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?

Yes

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.

Delaware Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test

Abortion Issues

Pro-choice		a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
No		b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
Yes		c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes		d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
No		e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?
		f) Other or expanded principles

Budget, Spending, and Tax Issues

1) SpendingIndicate 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.2) 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.

		a) Agriculture
		b) Arts
		c) Defense
		1) Intelligence operations
		2) Military hardware
		3) National missile defense
		4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
		5) Programs to improve troop retention rates
		6) Research and development of new weapons
		d) Education
		e) Environment
		f) Homeland security
		g) International aid
		h) Medical research
		i) Scientific research
		j) Space exploration
		k) United Nations
		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
		a) Alcohol taxes
		b) Capital gains taxes
		c) Cigarette taxes
		d) Corporate taxes
		e) Gasoline taxes
		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
		i) Other or expanded categories
		4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
Unknown Position		3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax?
Christopher Coons. Issue Positions: The Economy. "Chris also believes it is important to directly help those who have suffered most in this crisis by increasing aid to the unemployed and expanding training programs to help those transitioning through careers. He will continue to strengthen America's economy through strategic long-term investments in infrastructure, training and workforce development. Chris will use his position in the Senate to fight for trade agreements that contain good labor and environmental standards that will help to create new American jobs, not ship them overseas." (votesmart.org)
Yes		5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?
Christopher Coons. Issue Positions: The Economy. "Chris also believes it is important to directly help those who have suffered most in this crisis by increasing aid to the unemployed and expanding training programs to help those transitioning through careers. He will continue to strengthen America's economy through strategic long-term investments in infrastructure, training and workforce development. Chris will use his position in the Senate to fight for trade agreements that contain good labor and environmental standards that will help to create new American jobs, not ship them overseas." (votesmart.org)
Chris understands the importance and challenges of balancing a budget. As County Executive, he inherited a mess of corruption and out-of-control government spending. He cut $100 million in spending and balanced six budgets by demanding more accountability and cracking down on wasteful spending. Chris will continue this leadership in the United States Senate.

Business and Employment Issues

No		a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?
		b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
Yes		c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
Yes		d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize?
Yes		e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
		f) Other or expanded principles

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues

		a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?
		b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
		c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
		d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
		e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
		f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
Chris opposes the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Citizens United case. He believes we must reform our campaign finance laws but that true reform will only come once the judicial system finds that campaign spending is not a form of speech. Chris believes that Senators should never become lobbyists.

Crime Issues

		b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?
		c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
		d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?
		e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?
		f) Other or expanded principles
Unknown Position		a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Education Issues

Yes		a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?
Yes		b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
Yes		c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
No		d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
Yes		e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
		f) Other or expanded principles

Environment and Energy Issues

		b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
		c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?
		d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?
		e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?
		f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy?
		g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors?
Yes		a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
Christopher Coons. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Environment and Energy Issues: Other or expanded principles:" Chris believes we should be doing more to be good environmental stewards. We should work to reduce our emissions and supports a cap and trade program that will unleash the creativity of American ingenuity to help solve the increasing effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. Chris believes our dependence on foreign oil is a national security concern. Chris has long supported innovation and research in alternative energy sources, and although transitioning from oil to alternative energies will not be quick or easy, now is the time to forge ahead with serious commitments to wind, solar, biofuels, and other options." Christopher Coons. Issue Position: Environment. "As Delawareans continue to see their fuel and energy prices increase, they must consider becoming good environmental stewards. That is why Chris Coons, in his role as County Executive, took steps to address the county's own energy consumption and emissions in order to bring costs down for taxpayers and protect the environment. As Senator, Chris will continue what he started here in Delaware to encourage all governments and businesses to inventory their greenhouse gas emissions, develop an action plan for reducing these emissions and become more energy efficient. Chris is also calling for a nationwide cap and trade program that will help establish a price on carbon and unleash the creativity of American ingenuity to help solve the increasing effects of Greenhouse gases on the environment." (votesmart.org)
Chris believes we should be doing more to be good environmental stewards. We should work to reduce our emissions and supports a cap and trade program that will unleash the creativity of American ingenuity to help solve the increasing effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. Chris believes our dependence on foreign oil is a national security concern. Chris has long supported innovation and research in alternative energy sources, and although transitioning from oil to alternative energies will not be quick or easy, now is the time to forge ahead with serious commitments to wind, solar, biofuels, and other options.

Gun Issues

Yes		a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Yes		b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
		c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
		d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?
Chris respects that the 2nd Amendment guarantees a person's right to keep and bear arms, subject to a few common sense limitations. Government should focus on strictly enforcing existing laws to protect public safety, rather than expanding gun regulations.

Health Issues

		b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
		c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
		d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
		e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?
Christopher Coons. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Health Issues: Other or expanded principles: "While not perfect, Chris supports the Affordable Care Act that will guarantee quality, affordable health care to all, and he looks forward to working with members of the Senate and House to implement, defend and sustain it." Christopher Coons. Issue Position: Health Care. "Chris Coons believes that good health is the foundation of economic prosperity. Crippling health care costs have robbed American families and have hurt our nation's competitiveness. While not believing it to be perfect, Chris supports President Obama's landmark health care legislation and is committed to working across the aisle to make it better. The new law will provide health insurance to the more than 29,000 Delawareans who lack insurance, and it will lower health insurance costs for average Americans, give small businesses the ability to pay to cover their employees, and reduce the federal deficit in the process." (votesmart.org)
While not perfect, Chris supports the Affordable Care Act that will guarantee quality, affordable health care to all, and he looks forward to working with members of the Senate and House to implement, defend and sustain it.

Immigration Issues

		b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?
		c) Do you support establishing English as the official national language?
		d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?
Christopher Coons. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Immigration Issues: Other or expanded principles: "Chris strongly believes in the need for comprehensive federal immigration reform."
Chris strongly believes in the need for comprehensive federal immigration reform.

International Policy Issues

		b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?
		c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan?
Yes		d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?
Yes		e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States?
		f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes		g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
Yes		h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq?
		i) Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?
Christine O'Donnell- Chris Coons Debate. CNN (transcript). 13 October 2010. "COONS: Wolf, I'm concerned about the security of our troops in the field and about honoring the service and the sacrifice of our veterans. The war in Afghanistan is the war of the two that we've been engaged in, Iraq and Afghanistan, that I think was justified by a direct attack on the United States by the Taliban, who were offering harbor to al Qaeda, who were the authors of the 9/11 attack. And I think in our 10th year now, on the ground in Afghanistan, we have to look hard at whether we're continuing to contribute to America's security by having 100,000 troops on the ground. I would support a negotiated resolution to the war that allowed us leave security and intelligence assets in place and that allowed us the opportunity to reengage, should the Taliban take control again, or allow al Qaeda to reemerge as a real threat to the region or to the United States. [?] We have asked a lot of our men and women in the field. They have delivered brilliantly. But, frankly, the mission has exceeded the scope that I think we could initially reasonably expect of them." (latimesblogs.latimes.com) Christopher Coons. Issue Position: National Security. "Chris Coons approaches military and foreign policy matters as a Truman Democrat. Our nation is best served by a robust, engaged foreign policy, based in diplomacy and strategic partnerships with other nations. We need a well-trained, sophisticated national security and intelligence capability, and policies and practices that recognize the link between our security and development, fair trade, and human rights. A Senior Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, Chris supports the President in his efforts to responsibly end the war in Iraq. Chris will keep his focus on the long-term security and safety of the American people. He will work to strengthen international partnerships and will offer his unwavering support to our men and women in uniform." (votesmart.org)
Chris supports international free and fair trade agreements that include labor and other environmental protections and enforcement.

Social Issues

No		a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Yes		b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military?
Yes		c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
		d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs?
		e) Other or expanded principles

Legislative Priorities

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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