On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (CA) - District 10
Mark DeSaulnier 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.
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.
Pro-choice | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
Health care decisions should be between a woman and her doctor. I support a woman?s right to choose, her right to free contraceptives, and her right to make these choices without government intervention. |
Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? | ||
Everyone should pay their fair share ? that means high income Americans paying more than people making the minimum wage and just getting by. I also support reducing defense spending because our defense budget is bloated. The Department of Defense has never gone through a comprehensive audit. As a former small business owner, I know that is no way to run a business, let alone one of the biggest parts of our federal budget. |
Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
Yes, Citizens United and related rulings allowed unlimited contributions from Super PACs to candidates. As a result, the influence of money in political campaigns has exploded. For example, in 2016 Super PACs spent over $1.8 billion dollars whereas in 2008, outside groups spent $338 million. I believe we need to get Super PACs and dark money out of our political system and that we need transparency, so voters know who is funneling money and trying to influence elections. We should move to a public financing system where politicians answer to their constituents and not special interests |
Yes | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
No | Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
The Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed under President Obama helped get Americans back to work and brought us back from a recession faster. However, the Trump tax cut, which benefits corporations and the wealthiest 1%, will cost $2.3 trillion over 10 years, according to the White House?s own numbers. As a result, the Republican Majority is making cuts to other parts of the federal government and key programs like higher education, child nutrition, and special education. And, the Trump plan will increase our national debt. |
Yes | Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? | ||
The federal role of educational oversight is an important one. While I strongly support states? rights to have flexibility, which has allowed California to adopt and implement the Local Control Funding Formula, there must be a federal backstop. Without it, state and local education agencies can discriminate against students and implement non-evidence based practices that harm, not help, our students. |
Yes | Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
Yes | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
Yes, the effects of climate change are undeniable. As a former member of the California Air Resources Board, I have worked on and believe in policies that protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. We have a duty and obligation to our children and our planet. That?s why I am fighting Trump?s effort to weaken current motor vehicle standards for emissions and fuel economy, and why I authored legislation to make sure California can maintain its high standards for air quality and greenhouse gas reduction. |
Yes | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
I have sponsored 4 bills to reduce gun violence and believe that we can adhere to the Second Amendment without putting the lives of our children and communities at risk. At a minimum, the federal government should emulate California gun law, where we have the strictest laws in the nation and the 9th lowest rate of gun deaths. To do that, we must implement universal background checks and ban assault weapons. |
No | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
Health insurance is a right, not a privilege. I support the Affordable Care Act, and have voted over 60 times to stop Republicans in Congress from dismantling it and kicking everyday Americans off their health insurance. Trumpcare, which I strongly opposed, would have forced 23 million people to lose their insurance. I also advocate for federal universal health care, which would provide free access to health insurance for all Americans. I am the sponsor of the Affordable Health Insurance for the Middle Class Act (H.R. 5258), which increases the number of Americans who receive federal subsidies to purchase health insurance. |
No | Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border? | ||
No | Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
Any immigration reform must be done comprehensively to ensure that we hold true to our country�s values while being fair and safe. DACA recipients and their families deserve the respect of having their rights restored and having policymakers find a permanent solution with a pathway to citizenship. I support the Dream Act, to do just that. We must also protect those who came to the U.S. fleeing violence, disease, political turmoil, or other unsafe conditions. Refugees, asylum seekers, and people previously granted Temporary Protected Status deserve the full protection of the U.S., respect the Trump Administration has not given them. |
Yes | Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes? | ||
While I support the concept, we must take the proper precautions and legalize at the right time. Currently, for example, there is no way to test a driver impaired by marijuana like there is a test for alcohol. For the sake of public health, we should have the proper processes and procedures in place first before any new problems are created. Additionally, we should require those who profit from the industry to pay the public health costs for those people who would otherwise need the federal government to cover the cost. |
No | Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon? | ||
|
|||
No | Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support? | ||
|
Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.