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Brian Schatz's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Brian Schatz 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.

  • "Codify Roe in federal law. Confirm more pro choice Justices. Win legislatures in unexpected places. Fight fight fight." (twitter.com)
  • "If you care about reproductive choice it is time to change from a passive to an active participant in politics. Everything we hold dear in on the line this October and November. A new Supreme Court will in fact overturn Roe, and women’s rights will be set back a half a century." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I will vote to codify Roe, today, tomorrow, and until we get it done." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats will fight to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and Republicans won’t." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Social Security is the most successful anti-poverty program in American history, and R’s will do “entitlement reform” next Congress if they still hold gavels. This is no campaign slogan or demagoguing- they really want to reduce your personal financial security. Because freedom." (twitter.com)
  • "End qualified immunity. Take climate action. Increase the minimum wage. Expand Medicaid. Expand voting rights. Build infrastructure. Equal pay for equal work. Strengthen unions. End autocracy. Whatever your reason, we’ve got just about two months left." (twitter.com)
  • "It is clear many police departments don’t train and supervise for restraint and de-escalation, and some officers are just plain racist and violent. Combine this with a President who appears enthusiastic about making it worse, and weaponry transferred from DOD, and here we are." (twitter.com)
  • "Police need to learn restraint. This is not restraint." (twitter.com)
  • "My bill w @SenRandPaul would help make police depts more accountable & keep our communities safe while protecting the privacy of individuals" (twitter.com)
  • "A military parade costs millions. Let’s fix military housing, hire more VA doctors, fund telehealth, DOD schools, support the commissaries, daycare for families, or give more flight training time. Our highest defense priority must be the service members, not the politicians." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Council for a Liveable World (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 7% by Center for Security Policy (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "5.5 million jobs added this year, and more than 500 thousand last month. Infrastructure bill enacted into law. Broad vaccine deployment and improving economic conditions. Rising incomes. Things are actually getting better and it is ok to admit it." (twitter.com)
  • "There is no viable scenario in which our country avoids significant spending. We can wait and spend trillions of dollars in a disorderly, unproductive manner to continuously respond to our changing climate. Or, we strategically invest in climate solutions now." (twitter.com)
  • "We need to invest in infrastructure. This will require real new money for public transportation. Aviation, maritime, roads, bridges, bikes and sidewalks, and rail." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "The people put us in charge to deliver Covid relief, so we should do that." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1319 "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 748 "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "We were elected to deliver Covid relief." (twitter.com)
  • "For the Sunday shows 1) inflation is real 2) experts say neither the infrastructure bill nor BBB will add to inflation 3) while inflation is important, household savings, jobs coming back, rising wages and a rising stock market are also important measure of the economy." (twitter.com)
  • "Update on Inflation Reduction Act: This will be the biggest climate action in human history. $370B for investments in clean energy, clean transportation, energy storage, farming, home electrification, and clean tech. The planet is on fire. Let’s get it done." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 4521 “America COMPETES Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • “If we are going to be serious about solving the student loan debt crisis, we need to focus on the real cost to students and their families – and that includes books, room and board, and supplies. Our bill brings states back to the table and leverages federal dollars to reinvest in public education, and help people cover the full cost of college.” (www.schatz.senate.gov)
  • "Look, if you are against student loan forgiveness, ok, there are policy reasons and political reasons for that, but if you just want other people to be screwed like you were that’s kinda uncool." (twitter.com)
  • Signed a letter to President Biden stating: “As your administration works towards rebuilding a more equitable and just economy, it should use its administrative powers to address this crisis and permanently relieve the millions of borrowers struggling with this debt. Canceling a meaningful amount of student debt will provide long-term benefits to individuals and the economy, helping families buy their first homes, open a small business, or invest in their retirement. More broadly, canceling student debt would add tens of billions of dollars in GDP growth.” (www.schatz.senate.gov)
  • "This bill eliminates the deduction for 12 million people who pay student loans. Every college student should vote next year." (twitter.com)
  • “Congressman John Lewis was a courageous leader for racial justice and an American hero. Nowhere was his courage more clear than in his fight to secure the right to vote. To honor his legacy and life's work, we must pass this legislation to restore key voting protections and ensure all Americans can access the ballot box,” (www.schatz.senate.gov)
  • Rated 100% by Public Citizen (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and 47 colleagues introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act. Named after one of America’s greatest civil rights heroes, the bill would ensure that every American can exercise their right to vote by prohibiting common voter suppression tactics such as voter purges, strict ID requirements, and poll closures." (www.schatz.senate.gov)
  • "Folks freaking out about Green New Deal sound like naysayers who said we would crash the economy in Hawaii with clean energy. We addressed all legit concerns, ignored trolls, and moved forward. We quintupled clean energy and lowered electricity rates, and created tons of jobs." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The free world has short term fuel and energy needs and for now that means finding non Russian oil and gas. But let’s be clear - the way to leave all of these thugs in the dust is to just, collectively, globally, say, enough already. Clean energy is the future." (twitter.com)
  • "We need to put a price on carbon. We need to fund our science agencies. We need green infrastructure. We need to rejoin Paris. We need to embrace the future. Doing aggressive things to solve our climate problem is not risky. Doing nothing is risky." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The “personal carbon footprint,” in which you are made to feel that climate change is your fault, was created by polluters. I’m all for everyone doing what they can, but don’t get it twisted. This emergency requires decisive government action." (twitter.com)
  • "We have to tax carbon." (twitter.com)
  • "We need to put a price on carbon. We need to fund our science agencies. We need green infrastructure. We need to rejoin Paris. We need to embrace the future. Doing aggressive things to solve our climate problem is not risky. Doing nothing is risky." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We are not against guns. We are against too many guns in the hands of people likely to commit mass murder. I’m not trying to stop someone from owning a gun for hunting or protection. But with so many kids dying this situation is very clearly out of control." (twitter.com)
  • "We either need to act on gun safety right away or we need a Senate and President that will." (twitter.com)
  • "We should reverse the ban on the CDC conducting gun research, we should strengthen background checks, we should close the terrorist loophole, and we should ban bump stocks. But none of this will happen until we take the House or Senate back. Or both." (twitter.com)
  • "ACA repeal will blow up the debt and stupid wall will be funded by huge tax increase. We welcome conservatives to the #resistance" (twitter.com)
  • "The Trump administration right now, and I mean tonight, is asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act. These guys are not kidding about wanting to take away your healthcare. They are going to go through with it if they can." (twitter.com)
  • "This is a good Bill. I’m also for Medicare for All, but it’s not an incantation that automatically invalidates any other good work." (twitter.com)
  • "Nearly 200,000 workers in Hawaii are without paid sick leave. We should be helping working families succeed and #LeadOnLeave" (twitter.com)
  • "No one should have to choose between caring for a sick child & a paycheck. We need paid family leave to give working families flexibility" (twitter.com)
  • "The lack of testing should be a career ending mistake. I’ve never seen Dow futures plummet like that when a President speaks. People need testing, social distancing, beds, respirators, good advice, food, paid leave, oxygen tanks, and scientific integrity, not a payroll tax cut." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "American Rescue Plan. Violence against Women Act. Biggest climate action literally ever. Reducing the cost of prescription drugs. The first gun safety bill in a generation. CHIPS. Giving veterans exposed to burn pits health care. Objectively this is a productive congress." (twitter.com)
  • "Every single elected Republican in the Senate is about to vote against reducing the cost of prescription drugs for those on Medicare. This is not a show vote or a symbolic thing - we are going to make a new law. It will save seniors thousands of dollars a year." (twitter.com)
  • "I’m not in charge of messaging (actually no one really is) but I think we should talk tomorrow about the cost of prescription drugs. And the next day. Until the election." (twitter.com)
  • "We are about to pass monumentally necessary and popular legislation to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, make the tax code more fair by making billion dollar corporations pay at least 15 percent, extend ACA subsidized and attack the climate crisis. It’s happening." (twitter.com)
  • "Call it a concentration camp or call it something else. What’s happening on our southern border is moral stain on the U.S.. Cruelty as policy means these children are in impossible and inhumane situations, and a for profit company is making 750 bucks per day per person." (twitter.com)
  • "Deploying troops to our own border for no national security reason is one of the biggest scandals of this Presidency. These dedicated, skilled, highly trained men and women will likely miss Thanksgiving w family, are near American cities but eating MREs. Let them go home." (twitter.com)
  • "ICE is in the process of finalizing a rule to separate kids from their parents. This is deeply immoral, senseless, cruel, and does nothing for border security. It is purely cynical politics causing children to suffer right before Christmas." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "DACA kids work, study, serve in military. Kicking them out undermines American traditions. This is an enormous moral and economic mistake." (twitter.com)
  • "Let’s be clear: If Republicans want to help Dreamers they absolutely can. A simple, humane piece of legislation would get unanimous support from Democrats. The reasons that the outcome is in doubt are 1) an unsupportive White House 2) the Hastert Rule." (twitter.com)
  • "On Citizenship Day, let’s reflect on the contributions immigrants have made to our country and work to finally accomplish #ImmigrationReform" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "If we pull out of the nuclear deal, Iran gets their nuclear program back and retains the sanctions relief that they wanted. They would get everything need and they would give up nothing at all. It’s strategically bankrupt." (twitter.com)
  • "In light of NYT story the House must immediately pass Russia sanctions, passed Senate 98-2. No legit reason to stop it, but POTUS opposes." (twitter.com)
  • "Republican Senators are awfully quiet during this ongoing tinpot dictator act but they still think they deserve to run the Senate. If this were happening in Central America all of these silent Senators would be proposing sanctions." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • "Approps bill one day early. Ukraine Aid. The Violence Against Women Act. Biggest investment in native housing ever. Anti lynching bill. Postal Reform. A very good week on the floor." (twitter.com)
  • "If you voted to exonerate Trump for withholding aid to Ukraine, if you voted against this last $13.6 billion in aid, if you stood by Trump after Helsinki, just saying “no fly zone” “get them more MiGs” isn’t enough. Those are not magic spells that make your record disappear." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • "If you pay too much under Medicare for your prescription, this bill will help. If you have little kids in pre-K this will help. If you need help with childcare, this will help. This bill is ten years worth of great stuff, and it’s paid for with taxes on the wealthy." (twitter.com)
  • "It is shocking/not shocking that these people are fixated on tax cuts and deregulation in the middle of a public health emergency. It is almost as though that is their solution for everything." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 3% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We need a simpler, fairer tax code. Glad President Obama has a plan to make sure the wealthiest & big corporations pay their fair share." (twitter.com)
  • "Tariffs are taxes on us." (twitter.com)
  • "Tariffs are taxes. “They” are not the ones paying. “We” are the ones paying." (twitter.com)
  • "Trade wars hurt Americans. Tariffs are taxes." (twitter.com)
  • "These tariffs are not just harmful, they are an insult. Farmers don’t want a handout or a bailout, they want to sell their products. A bailout is expensive and cannot be sustained. This diminishes our leverage & will cause us to lose markets, and as a result farms, permanently." (twitter.com)
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.
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.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

X a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
c) Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should always be illegal.
f) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
g) Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
h) Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
i) Other
Yes j) Should Hawaii government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?

Indicate the principles you support (if any) concerning affirmative action. State government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:

Yes a) College and university admissions
b) Public employment
c) State contracting
d) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
X c) End parole for repeat violent felons.
d) Support the use of the death penalty.
X e) Oppose the death penalty.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X g) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
h) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
i) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
j) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
X k) Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
X l) Support the blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
m) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
n) Support the transfer of Hawaii inmates to out-of-state prisons.
o) Support building a state prison in Kau on the Big Island.
X p) Support labeling Rohypnol the, "date-rape drug", as a controlled substance, which would make possession a felony.
q) Other
Yes r) Should suspects accused of sexual assault be tested for HIV?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning the economy and employment.

X a) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
d) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
X e) Ban workers' compensation claims for stress attributed to disciplinary actions on the job.
f) Legalize casino gambling in Hawaii.
g) Support a state lottery.
h) Support a state lottery if all the funds were used to fund education.
X i) Oppose a state lottery.
j) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

X a) Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
b) Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X d) Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X e) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
X f) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
g) Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
X h) Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
i) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
X j) Grant the University of Hawaii more autonomy in running the university system.
k) Other
Yes l) Should the state Board of Education be appointed by the Governor instead of elected?
m) Do you support establishing elected county school boards in place of the state Board of Education?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
X b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
c) Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
d) Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
X e) Provide funding for recycling programs in Hawaii.
f) Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
h) Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power company.
i) Limit public access and research projects on the Mauna Kea mountaintop.
X j) Support the state proposal to buy the Queen's Beach area in Hawaii Kai for $11 million to use as a state park.
k) Other
Yes l) State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
No m) Do you support the proposal to buy the Waiahole ditch system?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.a) Do you support limits on the number of terms of the following Hawaii officials?b) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

Undecided 1) State Senators and Representatives
Undecided 2) Governor
Undecided 1) Individual
Undecided 2) PAC
Undecided 3) Corporate
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Undecided d) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes e) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
Undecided f) Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
g) Other
No h) Do you support Hawaii holding a constitutional convention to evaluate the state constitution?

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

a) Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
X b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
c) Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
d) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
e) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
f) Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
g) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
h) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Hawaii's annexation.

a) Support recognizing the laws of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
b) Support creating a council of Native Hawaiians who would be consulted before the approval of land transactions in the Hawaiian Islands.
c) Support nation-within-a-nation sovereignty similar to Tribal Nations.
d) Support secession from the United States and establishing Hawaii as an independent sovereign nation.
e) Oppose Hawaiian independence from the U.S.
X f) Other
Leave matters of Hawaiian concern to those of Hawaiian descent.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

X a) Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
X b) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care when necessary.
X c) Provide health care to uninsured children and low-income families through Hawaii's QUEST health insurance program.
d) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
X e) Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
X f) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
g) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
h) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

X a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
X b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
X d) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
e) Favor banning smoking in public places.
X f) Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
X g) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
h) Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
i) Other
Yes j) Do you believe that the Hawaii government should include sexual orientation in Hawaii's anti-discrimination laws?
Undecided k) Do you believe that the Hawaii government should recognize same-sex marriages?
Undecided l) Do you support a constitutional amendment granting the Hawaii Legislature the power to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples?

Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories. Select one level only.

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase d) Environment
Slightly Increase e) Health care
Maintain Status f) Law enforcement
Slightly Decrease g) Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
Maintain Status h) Welfare
i) Other

Indicate the tax levels you will support. Select one level only.

Slightly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Greatly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gas taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Slightly Decrease h) Sales taxes
Maintain Status i) Excise taxes
k) Other
No l) Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
Undecided m) Do you support implementing state property taxes?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

X a) Maintain the five-year limit on welfare benefits.
X b) Require that able-bodied recipients participate in work-related programs in order to receive benefits.
X c) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X d) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
X e) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X f) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
g) Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
X h) Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
i) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
j) Other
Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.

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