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Jim Costa's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (CA) - District 21

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.

Jim Costa 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.

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 2024.

  • Voted in favor of HR 8296 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "The Republican-controlled Supreme Court reversed nearly 50 years of precedent by overturning the constitutional right to abortion. I Voted in favor of the Women's Health Protection Act to restore the right to #AbortionAccess nationwide. #WHPA" (x.com)
  • Signed letter to Speaker Pelosi: "We write to urge you to include robust support for the Title X Family Planning Program in any mandatory or discretionary funding package you bring to the House and Senate Floor in the coming months. On June 24th, the Supreme Court overturned nearly 50 years of precedent by overturning Roe v. Wade, removing a fundamental constitutional right from half of all Americans. As states move to ban abortion services outright or severely restrict these services, funding for contraception and family planning services offered by trusted providers is more crucial than ever. While no level of funding for contraception will ever obviate the need for abortion services, we know that people across the country will turn to family planning providers for more accessible contraceptive options in the wake of this decision." (None)
  • "It has never been more critical to support our most vulnerable citizens, said Rep. Costa "This increase is long overdue for the millions of Americans who need help feeding their families, a problem that has grown increasingly difficult since the start of the pandemic. I fought to expand this program in the 2018 Farm Bill and I will keep fighting to ensure no American goes hungry." (None)
  • "Americans have paid into and earned their Medicare and Social Security benefits. I will always fight to protect and improve these vital programs in Congress." (x.com)
  • Signed letter to Administrator Verma: "We write to express strong bipartisan support for the Medicare Advantage program, which 40 percent of eligible Medicare beneficiaries, more than 22 million people, choose to enroll in.[1] We appreciate your ongoing commitment to preserving and strengthening the Medicare Advantage program for current and future Medicare beneficiaries. As the Administration considers updates to the program for plan year 2021, we urge you to ensure that the Medicare Advantage program will continue to offer affordable, high-quality, patient-centered coverage options for the diverse populations the program serves, including beneficiaries with End Stage Renal Disease who for the first time will be able to choose a Medicare Advantage plan." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7024 "Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024" (None)
  • "This bill will not raise or implement new taxes on families making $400,000 or less, or on small businesses. It will reduce the deficit by $300 billion over 10 years through the relief of inflationary pressures." (None)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "The bill would eliminate the marriage penalty this year and eliminate the SALT deduction cap altogether in 2020 and 2021, paid for by restoring the top marginal income tax rate from 37 to 39.6 percent. This rate increase would only affect taxpayers with incomes approaching a half million dollars per year and above. Finally, the bill would underscore the important contributions of critical state and local government employees: teachers and first responders. It would double the existing above-the-line deduction for teachers' out-of-pocket classroom expenses, from $250 to $500. It would also establish a $500 above-the-line deduction for the unreimbursed out-of-pocket work expenses of professional first responders. The bill is fully paid for." (None)
  • Voted against HR 6760 "Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018" (None)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021" (None)
  • Rated 83% by Common Cause (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "Investing in our national security is critical to combatting the rising threats to our democracy," said Costa. "This year's defense bill includes bold investments to strengthen our national defense, raise the pay for service members, and deepen our alliances, as Putin's brutal war in Ukraine continues. The bill will equip our military with the tools to confront the challenges facing our country at home and abroad." (None)
  • "Strengthening our national security and keeping our country safe is more important than ever," said Costa. "This bipartisan legislation takes important steps to ensure the U.S. military remains the strongest in the world, secures a pay raise for our hardworking service men and women, and helps our Vietnam veterans receive the coverage they deserve." (None)
  • "This bill invests in our ongoing commitments to our military, and in the livelihoods of those who serve and defend our freedoms, from increasing pay to making historic efforts to promote diversity in the ranks." said Rep. Costa "This bill also appropriately honors SGU veterans who fought alongside American soldiers in the Vietnam War." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4346 "Supreme Court Security Fund Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022)" (None)
  • "A staunch advocate for repairing aging valley infrastructure, Rep. Costa supported the project with numerous letters and calls to officials urging the State of California to make repairing the deteriorated section of highway a priority. The widening of the heavily traveled section of Highway 99 will relieve congestion and improve traffic safety." (None)
  • "I'm proud that Democrats have come together to advance President Biden's Build Back Better agenda by committing to a stand-alone vote on the bipartisan infrastructure framework and delivering a budget that helps working people across this country," said Costa. "This infrastructure bill secures robust funding for California and the Valley, including for water, roads and broadband expansion - significant investments we haven't seen in a generation. The budget plan will provide help to families, immigrants, workers, and our environment with equally strong funding. Both bills will put this country on a path to reduce poverty, improve healthcare and create jobs. We can do big things when we work together." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (None)
  • "People in our Valley and across the country are struggling to pay rent and make their mortgage payments," said Costa. "We cannot afford to wait any longer. As we learned from the 2008 housing crisis, we need swift action to limit further shocks to our housing markets and keep families in their homes. This bill provides critical relief to address the needs of American households around the country." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Rising prices are squeezing too many seniors and families. With the historic Inflation Reduction Act, we are lowering healthcare premiums, slashing prescription drug costs, and capping the cost of insulin. I’m proud to have Voted in favor of this critical legislation." (x.com)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act delivers transformative investments to the American people, including cutting healthcare costs, protecting our planet, and reducing rising inflation hurting consumers," said Costa. "This bill cuts the deficit, and will not raise taxes on residents, families, or small businesses in my district. I am proud to pass legislation that will cut kitchen table costs for Americans." (None)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "This historic reform effort will clean up decades of dysfunction in politics and returns power back to the people," said Costa. "H.R.1 makes our democracy stronger by making it easier to vote, restoring the voice of the American people. It's a serious attempt to limit the influence that money has in our election process. I believe that we need to increase the faith and credibility that the American public should have in our election process. This legislation, if it becomes law, would help do that." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Our right to vote as American citizens is fundamental to our democracy," said Rep Costa. "Our democratic institutions are under threat therefore we must set basic national standards for voting. To protect against the suppression of voters, stop partisan gerrymandering, and ensure that the people decide elections. I urge the Senate to pass this crucial legislation to protect all Americans' right to vote." (None)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "You have fought for the clean energy industry time and time again, and your work has ensured that this industry has become a cornerstone of the American economy. Now this industry needs economic relief, and Congress must act soon. Investments in clean energy pay back dividends because of the breadth and geography that are impacted -- either job losses will devastate the communities we represent, or economic relief for this sector will help them weather this crisis." (None)
  • "Last year, extreme weather & climate-related disasters cost Americans nearly $100 BILLION. The #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw makes our electric grid more resilient & reliable by investing more than $65 billion to harden the grid & build power lines that deliver renewable energy." (x.com)
  • Signed Letter to Commissioner Alice Reynolds: "We are making great strides in Congress to address the climate crisis by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies. As you know, in November the House of Representatives passed legislation that included a 10-year extension of the federal tax credits for solar energy and storage to maximize deployment over the next decade. We are concerned that the proposed decision runs counter to this policy objective and would reportedly cut California's rooftop solar market in half by 2024." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Secretary Zinke: "Given the geographical nature of the proposed leasing program, it is important to provide adequate access to the public meetings for each of the impacted regions. In order to afford our constituents this opportunity, we urge the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to add public meetings in the Northern and Southern California Draft Proposed Program Areas." (None)
  • Voted against HR 21 "Strategic Production Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 2938 "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Gun violence is plaguing our nation and claiming thousands of innocent lives. Americans have had enough, and they deserve to feel safe," said Costa. "The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will help reduce gun violence, protect our communities, and save lives. But we need to do more. I will continue working to strengthen laws to keep assault weapons out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves and our communities." (None)
  • "The gun violence epidemic in America has taken far too many innocent lives, leaving broken families and communities less safe,"said Costa. "During the last assault weapons ban between 1994 to 2004, mass shootings were 70 percent less likely to occur. So far this year, there has been over 300 mass shootings. We must do better. I support this common-sense, proven approach to help reduce the rise in gun violence nationwide." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Today I voted to give a 3.1% pay raise to our dedicated military service members, repeal the Widow’s Tax, and secure 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all federal civilian employees." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • "No American with diabetes should sacrifice their health and put their life at risk simply because they are worried about the cost of their insulin," Rep. Costa said. "Diabetes affects a large number of our Valley residents, and this legislation will help them afford the medication that allows them to live more healthy lives. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation as soon as possible to help make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who have diabetes." (None)
  • "Prescription drug costs are out of control and constituents in my district are suffering," said Costa. "Many are forced to choose between paying for medications they need or putting food on the table. This bill would dramatically change that. It would also benefit rural communities like those in the San Joaquin Valley by providing $10 billion in funding for community health clinics that administer essential services -- from prenatal care to seniors and everything in between. Finally, it would help address health worker shortages in our Valley by supporting the training of new doctors, nurses, and technicians." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2 "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Our immigration system needs to be dealt with. Why don't we try sitting down and working together on real bipartisan reform? This is a partisan proposal that holds Dreamers and vulnerable children hostage and does nothing for California farmworkers. What is worse, it builds a $25 billion wall that, by itself, does not provide comprehensive solutions for our border security, which we all believe in." (None)
  • Voted against HR 6136 "Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018" (votesmart.org)
  • "I am unwavering in my support for Dreamers. Living with uncertainty is not right, unfair and immoral. It is past the time to act -- as an original co-sponsor of The Dream and Promise Act, I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation to protect our Dreamers once and for all by giving them a path to citizenship. It is the right thing to do." (None)
  • "For over a decade I have been calling for bipartisan and comprehensive reform to fix our broken immigration system," said Rep. Costa. "Look at where we are today: We have over a million DREAMers living in fear. We are ripping families apart and detaining children. We are denying victims of horrendous violence refuge. In America, we are doing this. This is outrageous and Congress needs to do its job. For too long, our nation's immigration policy has been the result of slapping together short-term, narrow-sighted, and often contradictory policies. We must come together -- Democrats and Republicans -- and find a bipartisan, long-term solution that makes our immigration system fair and functional." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4695 "Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Putin and his pariah regime sanctioning myself and my colleagues only further isolates the Russian government," said Costa. "The U.S. will continue its efforts in standing with Ukraine by providing military and humanitarian aid in response to Russia's aggression." (None)
  • "The United States must immediately impose sanctions on Turkey in response to this outrageous behavior. This White House's actions have made this situation possible and now Congress must act to confront this unfolding humanitarian disaster, threat to our national security, and damage to our international reputation." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "Congress has a duty to ensure the federal government is fully funded and working for the American people," said Costa. "This continuing resolution will fund critical government services, provide relief for families, and hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine. Keeping the government open and operational is the right thing to do for our country!" (None)
  • "We need to pass a supplemental aid package to provide immediate assistance as we have before in a bipartisan effort. We need to equip Ukraine and Israel with critical security and military needs to defend their sovereignties. By the way, when we do this, we defend our democracy and democracies around the world. We do this in our own interests. We need humanitarian aid for the Palestinians and Armenian refugees removed from their historical home in Nagorno-Karabakh." (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.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
X 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.
I am pro-choice and support parental consent for minors.

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

Slightly Increase a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Arts
Slightly Increase c) Defense
Slightly Increase d) Education
Maintain Status e) Environment
Maintain Status f) FEMA
Greatly Increase g) Homeland security
Maintain Status h) International aid
Greatly Increase i) Law enforcement (Federal)
Maintain Status j) Law enforcement (State)
Slightly Increase k) Medical research
Slightly Increase l) National parks
Slightly Increase m) Public health services
Slightly Increase n) Scientific research
Maintain Status o) Space exploration programs
Greatly Increase p) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Maintain Status q) United Nations
Maintain Status r) Welfare
s) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Armed forces personnel training
Slightly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Maintain Status c) Military hardware
Slightly Increase d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Maintain Status e) National missile defense
Slightly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Slightly Increase h) Research and development of new weapons
Slightly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Decrease a) Less than $12,000
Greatly Decrease b) $12,001-$40,000
Slightly Decrease c) $40,001-$100,000
Maintain Status d) $100,001-$180,000
Maintain Status e) $180,001-$350,000
Maintain Status f) $350,001 and above
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Eliminate f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Charitable contribution deduction
Greatly Increase b) Child tax credit
Slightly Increase c) Earned income tax credit
Greatly Increase d) Medical expense deduction
Slightly Increase e) Mortgage deduction
Greatly Increase f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
Yes 4) Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
5) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
I support PAY-GO measures and efforts with the Concord Coalition to control the federal budget and promote responsible fiscal policies.

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.
X f) Support instant run-off voting (IRV).
g) Support designating Election Day as a national holiday.
X 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.
I support early voting through absentee ballots, Saturday and Sunday voting, and early balloting at County Elections Offices and other locations.

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.
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.
h) Ban university financial aid officers from owning stock in or accepting gifts from student loan lenders.
i) Require universities to disclose financial relationships with lenders.
j) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
X k) Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
I support the federal government funding pre-K programs. However, due to the current fiscal climate, this is not the appropriate time for billions of dollars in new spending. The Bush administration made No Child Left Behind (NCLB) a huge unfunded mandate on states. Without a funding commitment, NCLB's program requirements are little more than a wish list. Furthermore, I support the federal government fulfilling it's original commitment to fund special education that was mandated 24 years ago at 45%.

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.
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.
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.

a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
X 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.
X 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.
X 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.
k) Support international mandatory emission targets to limit global warming.
X l) Support international voluntary emission targets to limit global warming.
I support providing positive financial incentives to encourage compliance with the clean water act and clean air act. Also, while I support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel, I do not support it through the use of corn.

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.
Slightly Increase c) Enforcement of existing restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Maintain Status d) Restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
I support current California laws on concealed weapons.

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

a) Implement a universal healthcare program to guarantee coverage to all Americans, regardless of income.
X b) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
X 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.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
X b) Establish English as the official national language.
X c) Support a temporary worker program.
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.
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?
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?
Yes 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?
Yes 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?
a) Do you support the United States imposing economic sanctions on China?
b) Do you support the United States imposing trade sanctions on Venezuela?
Yes 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?
I believe that the President should agree to Iraq's request to schedule the withdrawal of the U.S. troops. Now that Iraq is earning billions of dollars in oil revenues, they should pay for infrastructure projects such as water and sewer systems, schools, and roads, rather than pass these costs on to the U.S. taxpayers.
I support the United States formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
I support measures to fight outsourcing of United States jobs.

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

Yes a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
Yes 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?
Yes e) Do you support pre-emptive military strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to United States national security?
Yes 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?
h) Should the United States expand its missile defense shield?
The National Guard is a vital part of our security force but as indicated in my answers on defense spending, we must do more to increase pay for active duty personnel and to improve troop retention rates so that we don't place unfair and unreasonable burdens on National Guard members and their families. Moreover, when our National Guard is depleted it must be re-supplied with current weaponry and supplies.

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

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?
d) Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?
e) Should the federal government consider race and gender in government contracting decisions?
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.
I support comprehensive reform of the Social Security system.

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
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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