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Joshua Cole's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

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.

Joshua Cole has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2021 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.

Virginia State Legislative Election 2019 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes b) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
No c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
d) Other or expanded principles:

Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Virginia's budget.

Yes a) Do you support a state regulated and taxed sports gambling system?
No b) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No c) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
No d) An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
e) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates?
Yes b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes e) Do you support automatic voter registration?
f) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
No b) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Yes d) Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
Yes e) Do you support banning the use of cell phones and other handheld communication devices while driving?
f) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No b) Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
No c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
Yes d) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
No e) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
Yes f) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Virginia?
Yes g) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
h) Other or expanded principles:
a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Virginia?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Virginia high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
d) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
d) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
Yes d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
e) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Virginia's health care programs?
No c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
Yes d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
f) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Virginia's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Virginia's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Virginia state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
d) Other or expanded principles:
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, any additional priorities of your campaign that have not been covered in these questions.
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top legislative priority and how you plan to fund it.

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