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Mike Thompson's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (CA) - District 4

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.

Mike Thompson has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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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 2024.

  • Voted in favor of HR 8297 "Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022" (None)
  • "The right to an abortion has been settled law for nearly 50 years since Roe was established back in 1973," said Thompson. "The draft Supreme Court decision is deeply troubling and problematic as it would allow states to criminalize abortion and ban it." (None)
  • Rated 100% by NARAL Pro-Choice America (None)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (None)
  • "Social Security is an essential program that every employed American pays into over the course of their career. 145,474 constituents in our district receive Social Security benefits every year, and we must ensure these benefits keep up with the needs of beneficiaries." (None)
  • "While Democrats are working to protect and expand Social Security, extreme MAGA Republicans have unveiled a plan to end Social Security and Medicare as we know it. This would make it even harder for Californians to prepare for retirement." (None)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSM) (None)
  • "To get our fiscal house in order, we have to reform our tax structure so that everyone plays by the same rules and everyone pays their fair share." (www.mikethompsonforcongress.com)
  • "As your representative in Congress I will continue working to solve our fiscal crisis through a balanced approach that cuts spending, requires fairness and encourages economic growth." (www.mikethompsonforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7024 "Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024" (None)
  • "We have to make sure everyone pays their fair share. There is a growing gap between the wealthiest Americans and the rest of us...This isn’t sustainable. To get our fiscal house in order, we have to reform our tax structure so that everyone plays by the same rules and everyone pays their fair share." (www.mikethompsonforcongress.com)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "Recent media reports indicate that several controversial policy riders designed to dramatically reshape federal campaign finance law are currently being considered for inclusion in the FY2018 omnibus spending package.[1] Specifically, it has been reported negotiators are considering: the elimination of coordinated spending limits on political parties, a repeal of the so-called Johnson Amendment, which bars religious institutions from explicitly endorsing or opposing political candidates, and the enactment of additional prohibitions on the authority of the Securities Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Executive Branch to apply commonsense transparency measures to certain political activity. Each of these changes would have dramatic implications for our nation's campaign finance system, widening the channels of influence for wealthy and well-connected campaign donors and further exacerbating the flood of undisclosed and unaccountable "secret money" into our political system.[2] Yet, the 115th Congress has not held one hearing, commissioned a single study, nor investigated in any serious way the ramifications of these ill-conceived policy riders. Put simply, it is irresponsible for Congress to advance these campaign finance changes without due deliberation and public debate." (votesmart.org)
  • "Proud to cosponsor the Democracy for All amendment, legislation that will overturn the Citizens United decision so we can get big money out of our politics and ensure our government works for the people." (twitter.com)
  • Signed a letter stating: "Most Americans agree that the rise of big money in politics undermines the basic guiding principle of our democracy--that every citizen enjoys equality under the law and an equal voice in our elections. While we believe that amending the Constitution should be reserved only for times when no other recourse will do, we have seen the impact of these decisions, and we are convinced that an amendment is ripe for consideration." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Though nothing can bring back George Floyd, I hope that today's guilty verdict can bring his family and friends some peace. And I hope that this measure of accountability for his tragic death can help our nation heal. As we mark this verdict, may we also recommit to the work that must be done to fix the historic and systemic racism that led to George's death and the unwarranted deaths of many Black Americans and people of color. No one is above the law and we must work to ensure full equality for all. Together as a community, let us pray for George Floyd's family and loved ones as they continue to mourn his loss. We must continue our peaceful protests as we work toward justice and equality for all Black Americans and people of color facing racism and discrimination day in and day out. We can and must build a better nation together." (None)
  • "Led by the Congressional Black Caucus, I was proud to vote for and pass the Justice in Policing Act. This bill includes three areas of reform to correct the decades of structural bias, discrimination and racism in our nation's policing. That includes changes to hold police accountable through our court system, systems to better collect data that will provide transparency about misconduct, and programs to improve training that will address bias and aggressive tactics. This is a critical step forward, but it is just the start of our work. We all can and must do more." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "While it's always best to resolve our conflicts peacefully through diplomatic means, I will keep supporting necessary resources for our Armed Forces so they are ready and able to defend us." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "As a former member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a Vietnam combat veteran, I'm well aware of the threats America faces. I'm committed to providing our Armed Forces and Intelligence Community everything they need to defend our nation." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "The United States must not back down from our commitment to democracy, and our country must continue to stand unified with Ukraine against autocracy and this blatantly illegal attack. I am proud to have Voted in favor of legislation to provide Ukraine with the resources they need to repel this invasion." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2872 "Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes." (None)
  • "As Chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, I'm committed to laying the groundwork for a fiscally responsible future. I support a balanced approach that asks everyone to pay their fair share in taxes, cuts spending and grows our economy." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "Federal investment in workforce development has fallen markedly over time. As a result, essential workforce development services are frequently unavailable to the people who need them most. Strengthening WIOA programs is a key tool to help Americans get back to work and support businesses. As the country recovers from the pandemic, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 will provide more workers with pathways to better-paying jobs, lower costs, and strengthen our economic recovery." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3746 "Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (None)
  • "Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) joined Burbank Housing, Related California, and leaders from Sonoma County to celebrate the grand opening of Laurel at Perennial Park, a new affordable housing development built at the site of the former Journey’s End Mobile Home Park that was tragically destroyed in the 2017 Tubbs wildfire." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "A longstanding, nationwide shortage of affordable housing leaves millions of Americans at risk of homelessness and causes too many families and individuals to fall into homelessness. However, the HAG Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs are successfully used by state and local governments, as well as an extensive network of providers of shelter and housing services in hundreds of American communities, to reduce homelessness." (None)
  • "Our region is far too familiar with the devastating impact of the lack of affordable housing, a problem that has only been exacerbated by the recent fires and by the Coronavirus pandemic. We need solutions to help families afford housing now more than ever," said Representative Thompson. "That's why I am proud to be a coauthor of the Affordable Housing Redevelopment Act, which reauthorizes the important Neighborhood Stabilization Program and provides $1.5 billion to turn old and vacant properties into affordable housing specifically to help those with the greatest need." (None)
  • "Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, landmark legislation which continues to deliver for families in California’s Fourth District. Over the last twelve months, the investments in the Inflation Reduction Act have lowered costs for while creating new jobs, combating climate change, and reducing the deficit." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • Voted against HR 347 "Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act" (None)
  • "We are seeing the impact of policies like the Inflation Reduction Act improving the economy for all Americans.Inflation is cooling, consumers are confident, and costs are coming down. We have more to do, but this is a positive development." (twitter.com)
  • "Congressman Mike Thompson played an integral role in crafting Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act -- helping secure a cleaner, more sustainable future for families in California and across the country," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said." (None)
  • "The last thing students, especially Pell Grant recipients, need to worry about is how to pay for their student loans or if they can keep their grant. I am grateful this Act defers student loan payments for six months and allows students to keep their entitlements." (None)
  • "For the workforce to be equitable, the program must provide a living wage and a robust education award to offset the cost of college or paydown student loans." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (None)
  • "Californian constituents already pay the price for mitigating oil and gas infrastructure failures and legacy dumping hazards. Beyond cleanup costs, these preventable tragedies harm public health, impede our communities’ ways of life, and hinder future economic opportunities." (None)
  • "This bill includes my GREEN Act to cut carbon emissions to continue towards our emissions goal, lower energy costs for families, and accelerate our transition to clean energy. The climate provisions of this bill are an historic investment, and they will help our communities deal with the implications of climate-related disasters." (None)
  • "This bill will save the average American household hundreds in energy bills and other costs, will spur 9 million jobs by investing in clean energy, energy efficiency, and clean manufacturing, and will generate enormous public health benefits." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "Californian constituents already pay the price for mitigating oil and gas infrastructure failures and legacy dumping hazards. Beyond cleanup costs, these preventable tragedies harm public health, impede our communities’ ways of life, and hinder future economic opportunities." (None)
  • "This bill includes my GREEN Act to cut carbon emissions to continue towards our emissions goal, lower energy costs for families, and accelerate our transition to clean energy. The climate provisions of this bill are an historic investment, and they will help our communities deal with the implications of climate-related disasters." (None)
  • "It is outrageous that 90 percent of Americans support the universal background checks that would have prevented the tragic St. Louis school shooting, yet Senate Republicans continue to block this bill from being signed into law." said Thompson. "The Senate needs to swiftly pass universal background checks and a federal red flag law. Enough is enough." (None)
  • "As a hunter and gun owner, I believe that we should protect the Second Amendment right of law-abiding individuals to own firearms. As a dad and grandfather, I also believe that we have a responsibility to make our schools, streets and communities safe. We can do both by passing commonsense policies like comprehensive criminal background checks." (www.mikethompsonforcongress.com)
  • Rated 0% by Gun Owners of America (GOA) (None)
  • "The Medicaid expansion and premium tax credit have helped millions of low-income Americans and middle-class families obtain quality, affordable coverage. And most important, insurance companies can no longer refuse coverage to or discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "2022 saw an all-time low national health care uninsured rate of 8 percent! This is thanks to Dems’ efforts to expand access to care for all. I am committed to further improvements to our health care. We’re putting #PeopleOverPolitics & providing the care that Americans deserve." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Today marks the 29th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. I worked with my @WaysMeansCmte to advance legislation that would provide universal paid leave, and I am committed to ensuring that no worker has to choose between their health, family, and their paycheck." (twitter.com)
  • "H.R. 6201 also includes critical relief for families already feeling the economic impacts of the virus, including an emergency paid leave program and an expansion of food assistance programs. The Senate must immediately pass this bill and the President must sign into law as soon as possible. We cannot delay our response to this public health crisis." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act cuts prescription drug costs, invests in clean energy, reduces the deficit, AND is fully paid for." (twitter.com)
  • "Lower prescription drug costs. Lower health care costs. Lower energy costs." (twitter.com)
  • "The high price of prescription drugs is especially hard on patients, forcing many to ration their medication or forego care altogether. This is unacceptable. Please know I support legislation to end predatory practices that artificially inflate prescription drug costs." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • "The border security bill being negotiated by the Senate would be the toughest border bill in decades.But now some of my GOP colleagues are saying they won't support it b/c they want to keep the crisis alive for political reasons. That's not leadership." (twitter.com)
  • "Dems are ready to pass a meaningful & tough border security bill, but when the former president wants to campaign on border security, Republicans immediately fall in line." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H Res 957 "Denouncing the Biden administration's open-borders policies, condemning the national security and public safety cr ..." (None)
  • "As the people of Afghanistan face an unfolding tragedy, the United States must open its doors to refugees fleeing the devastating consequences of a 20-year U.S. military occupation and 40 years of U.S.-fueled war." (None)
  • "That's why I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of several immigration reform bills, including:Dream and Promise Act H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, would grant Dreamers conditional permanent resident status for 10 years, provide Dreamers who earn a college degree or serve in our military a pathway to lawful permanent residence, and give Dreamers access to federal student aid as well as professional, commercial and business licenses. It would also grant TPS and DED holders lawful permanent residence." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • Voted against HR 7217 "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "House Republicans have decided to withhold vital aid for Israel unless Congress makes it easier for wealthy people to cheat on their taxes.Their proposal is nothing more than a cheap attempt to score political points." (twitter.com)
  • "The chaos in the Republican Conference has paralyzed the House. We need a Speaker to move bills forward, including aid for Israel in the face of the horrendous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas. We must elect a Speaker as soon as possible to carry on the People’s business." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 340 "Hamas International Financing Prevention Act" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "The United States must not back down from our commitment to democracy, and our country must continue to stand unified with Ukraine against autocracy and this blatantly illegal attack. I am proud to have Voted in favor of legislation to provide Ukraine with the resources they need to repel this invasion." (mikethompson.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2617 "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023" (None)
  • 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.
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) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Dilation and extraction or "partial-birth" abortion procedures should be legal.
g) Medicare, Medicaid, and federal subsidies should be prohibited from being used on abortion procedures.
h) Other or expanded principles.

Indicate 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.1) Budget Priorities2) Defense Spending3) 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.Family Income TaxesOther TaxesDeductions/Credits

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Slightly Increase b) Arts
Maintain Status c) Defense
Slightly Increase d) Education
Slightly Increase e) Environment
Slightly Increase f) FEMA
Slightly Increase g) Homeland security
Slightly Increase h) International aid
Slightly Increase i) Law enforcement (Federal)
Slightly Increase j) Law enforcement (State)
Slightly Increase k) Medical research
Slightly Increase l) National parks
Slightly Increase m) Public health services
Maintain Status n) Scientific research
Slightly Decrease o) Space exploration programs
Greatly Increase p) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase q) United Nations
Slightly Increase r) Welfare
s) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Increase a) Armed forces personnel training
Greatly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Greatly Decrease c) Military hardware
Slightly Increase d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Eliminate e) National missile defense
Slightly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Slightly Decrease h) Research and development of new weapons
Greatly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Decrease a) Less than $12,000
Slightly Decrease b) $12,001-$40,000
Slightly Decrease c) $40,001-$100,000
Slightly Decrease d) $100,001-$180,000
Maintain Status e) $180,001-$350,000
Slightly Increase f) $350,001 and above
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Charitable contribution deduction
Slightly Increase b) Child tax credit
Slightly Increase c) Earned income tax credit
Maintain Status d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Slightly Increase f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
No 4) Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
Yes 5) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
Eliminate the inheritance tax on family farms and family businesses.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

a) Support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
b) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
c) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
d) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
X e) Support prohibiting ads containing candidates' name that are paid for by third parties from airing 60 days before a primary and 30 days before a general federal election.
f) Support instant run-off voting (IRV).
g) Support designating Election Day as a national holiday.
h) Support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations.
X i) Support limiting the President's use of signing statements in order to prevent an alternative interpretation of the bill.
X j) Support a federal shield law to protect reporter-source privilege.
k) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
e) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
f) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X g) Support strict penalties for internet crime (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
X h) Require that crimes based on sexual orientation be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support the federal government funding universal pre-K programs.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
X e) Increase funding for the Pell Grant program.
X f) Decrease interest rates of Stafford Loans.
X g) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
X h) Ban university financial aid officers from owning stock in or accepting gifts from student loan lenders.
X i) Require universities to disclose financial relationships with lenders.
X j) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
k) Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
I believe No Child Left Behind needs to be significantly reformed and fully funded.

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

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector.
X c) Encourage employers to offer child care services, flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
X d) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X e) Support the right of workers to unionize.
f) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X g) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
X h) Include gender identity in federal anti-discrimination laws.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
X b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X d) Strengthen emission controls on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
X e) Strengthen fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
f) Support domestic oil exploration in areas that are currently restricted.
X g) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels.
X h) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
i) Support research and development of nuclear reactors as an alternative energy source.
X j) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits under "cap and trade" laws.
X k) Support international mandatory emission targets to limit global warming.
l) Support international voluntary emission targets to limit global warming.
m) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.On (c) and (d), indicate what levels (#1-6) you support for the following categories.

a) Allow individuals to carry concealed guns.
b) Ban the sale, ownership or possession of handguns except by law enforcement and other government officials.
Maintain Status c) Enforcement of existing restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Maintain Status d) Restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
I am a gun owner, sportsman and support our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. I also believe that we must do everything in our power to end gun violence and am committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of felons, violent offenders and mentally-ill individuals. I have always opposed military types of assault weapons, ?Saturday Night Specials? and support reauthorizing the assault weapons ban. These weapons have no useful purpose in our neighborhoods. Additionally, I support closing the gun show loophole which currently allows individuals to purchase guns at gun shows without having to submit a background check.

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

a) Implement a universal healthcare program to guarantee coverage to all Americans, regardless of income.
b) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
c) Allow the importation of prescription drugs into the United States.
X d) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X e) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X f) Support expanding child healthcare programs.
g) Providing healthcare is not a responsibility of the federal government.
In the past, I have supported re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada; however, I do not support wholesale importation from all countries for safety reasons.

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

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
X c) Support a temporary worker program.
X d) Support harsher financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States.
f) Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship.
X g) Illegal immigrants should be given a pathway to citizenship.
h) Support merit-based visas over family-based visas.
i) Other or expanded principles

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international aid.International PolicyIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international policy.International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

X a) Support the United States granting aid to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Support the United States granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
X c) Eliminate United States aid for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid granted by the United States should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
Yes b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes c) Should the United States impose greater international sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
Yes d) Should the United States support the Lebanese government against insurgent forces?
No e) Should the United States maintain its troop levels in Iraq?
Yes f) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
Yes h) Should the United States apply greater economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea if it fails to abide by its agreement to suspend its nuclear program?
Yes i) Should the United States increase financial support for Afghanistan?
Yes j) Should the United States increase military support for Afghanistan?
No k) Should the United States trade nuclear fuel to India for civilian purposes?
No l) Should the United States decrease financial support for Pakistan?
No m) Should the United States decrease military support for Pakistan?
Yes n) Should the United States be involved in bringing an end to the violence in Darfur, Sudan?
Yes o) Should the United States be involved in bringing an end to the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
No p) Should the United States provide economic and military support to the Transitional Government of Somalia?
Yes q) Should the United States use sanctions to encourage the government of Zimbabwe to end its human rights abuses?
Yes r) Should the United States support the creation of an independent nation of Kosovo?
s) Other or expanded principles
a) Do you support the United States imposing economic sanctions on China?
b) Do you support the United States imposing trade sanctions on Venezuela?
c) Do you support the United States involvement in free trade agreements?
Yes d) Do you support the United States involvement in intergovernmental organizations dedicated to trade?
e) Other or expanded principles
The U.S should redeploy our troops out of Iraq as quickly and safely as possible. We must focus our efforts on an international diplomatic strategy for quelling and containing the violence in Iraq. Ending the war in Iraq will allow us to devote additional resources to fighting terrorism worldwide.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

No a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
No b) Should law enforcement agencies have greater discretion to monitor domestic communications, to prevent future terrorist attacks?
Yes c) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes d) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
No e) Do you support pre-emptive military strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to United States national security?
No f) Do you support the creation of a federal identification card system?
No g) Do you support long-term use of National Guard troops to supplement the armed forces in assignments overseas?
No h) Should the United States expand its missile defense shield?
i) Other or expanded principles

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

Yes a) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
No b) Do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman?
Yes c) Do you support federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem cell lines?
Yes d) Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?
Yes e) Should the federal government consider race and gender in government contracting decisions?
Yes f) Should the federal government continue affirmative action programs?
Yes g) Should the federal government regulate internet gambling?
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts that they manage themselves.
b) Ensure the viability of Social Security by increasing the payroll tax.
c) Decrease benefits paid to retirees.
d) Support proportional increases of Social Security benefits based on the cost of living index.
e) Raise the retirement age for individual eligibility to receive full Social Security benefits.
The president needs to convene a bipartisan commission to objectively weigh all available options for protecting Social Security.

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

X a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
X c) Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
d) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
e) Other or expanded principles
I believe all Americans should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. We need significant action on the federal level to conserve our natural resources and protect our planet from global warming. We must begin redeployment of our troops out of Iraq and refocus our efforts on an international diplomatic strategy for quelling and containing the violence in Iraq. I also strongly believe all federal spending should be fiscally responsible and accountable to the American taxpayer.

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