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Andy Josephson'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.

Andy Josephson 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?
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.

Alaska State Legislative Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No b) Should abortions be illegal after 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?
Yes e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
No f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
No g) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
No h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
b, above) the question is one of "viability" under Roe e, above) with exceptions

1) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Alaska's budget.2) State Spending:Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) State Taxes:Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

Yes a) Tapping into Alaska's "rainy day" fund
No b) Decreasing funding for public universities
No c) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
No d) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
No e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
Greatly Increase a) Education (higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Greatly Increase c) Environment
Maintain Status d) Health care
Greatly Increase e) Law enforcement/corrections
Greatly Decrease f) Transportation/infrastructure
Maintain Status g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories:
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase b) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Increase c) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status d) Small business taxes
Slightly Increase e) Gas/Oil taxes
Maintain Status f) Property taxes
g) Other or expanded principles:
c, above) Potentially a reduction of some, select exempt salaries. Not all, however.

a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) Political Action Committee
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Party
No b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
No e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
b) this is a meaningless exercise
No a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
Yes c) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No e) Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
a) almost entirely "no". There are exceptions. I approve of the use of capital punishment for Tim McVeigh, for instance. b) very broadly, "yes". In principle. c) Yes, if the crime is among the most heinous crimes codified, yes.
Yes a) Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes b) Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
Yes d) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
Yes e) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
No f) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
Yes g) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
Yes h) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
Yes i) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
Yes j) Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them?
h, above) Perhaps.
Yes a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
No b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
Yes c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
No d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
Yes e) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
Yes g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Alaska high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
g, above): here, I sense that you are referring to young people.
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
Yes c) Do you support state funding for improvements to Alaska's energy infrastructure?
Yes d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
Yes e) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes f) Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
Yes g) Do you support oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
b, above); limited, yes. c, above); limited, yes.
No a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
d) Should a license be required for gun possession?
a, above); this would be a fruitless exercise in Alaska.
Yes a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
Yes b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
Yes c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
Yes d) Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Yes e) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
Yes f) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
e, above); yes, I think we need to find cheaper options, however. f, above); sure, but they may be very generous.
Yes a) Do you support same-sex marriage?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Alaska's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Alaska's anti-discrimination laws?
d) Other or expanded principles:
A fiscal plan so that we don't crash our economy and sustain our outstanding credit ratings, among other reasons. Any reasonable law that increases the protection of our natural resources.

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