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Dennis Powers' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Republican for State House (TN) - District 36

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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.
What is the Political Courage Test?
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

Tennessee State Legislative Election 1996 National Political Awareness Test

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.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X c) Abortions should be legal only when the 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.
No g) Should Tennessee government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action and civil rights in Tennessee.

X a) The Tennessee government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
X b) The Tennessee government should provide no affirmative action programs.
No c) Do you believe that the Tennessee government should recognize same-sex marriages?
No d) Do you believe that sexual orientation should be added to Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding children and family issues in Tennessee.

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) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
No d) Should biological parents of an adopted child be allowed to file a "contact veto" which would make it a felony for the child to attempt to contact them?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in Tennessee.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
X b) Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
X c) Support "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
e) Oppose the death penalty.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X g) Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
X h) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
i) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
j) Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
X k) Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
X l) Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
X m) Continue to allow law enforcement officials to confiscate and sell the vehicles of individuals arrested twice in a five-year period for drunk driving.
X n) Continue contracting with private-sector firms to manage state prisons.
X o) Require restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in Tennessee.2) If yes, what age?

X a) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
X b) Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
c) Increase state funding for local community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
d) Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
X e) Support the "zero tolerance" policy that bars or expels public school students for one year if found in possession of a weapon on school grounds.
X f) Support the "zero tolerance" policy that bars or expels public school students for one year if found in possession of drugs on school grounds.
Yes g) 1) Should there be a minimum age at which juvenile offenders can be tried as adults?
less than 10 years
10-12
X 13-14
15-16
17

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Tennessee's economic development.

a) Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
X b) Provide low interest loans for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
X c) Provide tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
d) Allow a voter referendum in 1998 to decide whether Tennessee should initiate a state lottery.
X e) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
f) Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production and interest rates.
X g) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
h) Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
i) Extend Tennessee's workers' compensation law to include agricultural workers.
j) Enact a minimum wage law that would raise the state minimum wage above the federally-mandated level.
Undecided k) Do you support the use of state funding for the construction of professional sports stadiums and arenas in Tennessee?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Tennessee's education system.

X a) Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
X b) Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
X c) Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
X d) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
e) Implement charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X f) Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
X g) Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
X h) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
i) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
X j) Continue to require public school students to maintain passing grades in at least three courses to keep their drivers' licenses.
X k) Support a school choice program that allows parents to choose which public school their child(ren) should attend.
X l) Offer state-funded financial incentives to public schools for improved school performance.
Yes m) Should Tennessee require its public schools to teach evolution as theory rather than scientific fact?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Tennessee's environment and natural resources.

a) Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Tennessee.
b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
c) Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
d) Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
X e) Continue to provide funding for recycling programs in Tennessee.
X f) Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
X g) Suspend Tennessee's participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
h) Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
i) Continue Tennessee's status as a host state for federal low-level radioactive waste disposal.
j) Require that toxic waste-producing industries do not locate predominantly in low-income neighborhoods.
Yes k) Should Tennessee enter into an agreement with the federal government to limit air pollution impact on Smoky Mountain National Park?

a) Would you support amending the Tennessee Constitution to limit the terms of the following state officials?

1) State Senators
2) State Representatives
b) Do you support the current law which limits the terms of Tennessee's governor to two four-year terms?
Yes c) Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
Yes d) Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes e) Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes f) Do you support the current ban on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes g) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes h) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
i) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?

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

a) Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
c) Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
d) Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of firearms.
X e) Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
X f) Continue to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.
No g) Should Tennessee residents with handgun permits be required to carry a $50,000 insurance bond?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Tennessee's health care system.

a) Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
X b) Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
c) Ensure that Tennessee citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
X d) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X e) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
f) Support legislation requiring health insurance providers to cover certain medical services (e.g. 48-hr. hospital stay for mothers after childbirth).
No g) Should AIDS treatments and drugs be included in the TennCare health plan?

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one option only.

Eliminate a) Abortion
Eliminate b) Affirmative Action
Maintain Status c) Agriculture
Eliminate d) AIDS Programs
Slightly Increase e) Education
Maintain Status f) Environment
Maintain Status g) Health Care
Greatly Increase h) Law Enforcement
Greatly Decrease i) Welfare

Please indicate the changes you support (if any) concerning Tennessee's tax levels. Select one option only.

Slightly Increase a) Alcohol Taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Business Taxes
Slightly Decrease c) Capital Gains Taxes
Maintain Status d) Property Taxes
Maintain Status e) Sales Taxes
Maintain Status f) State Fees
No g) Do you support the institution of a state income tax on incomes other than interest and dividend incomes?
No h) If an income tax were enacted in Tennessee, would you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
No i) If an income tax were enacted in Tennessee, would you support a graduated rate structure for state income taxes?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Tennessee's welfare system.

X a) Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
X b) Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
X c) Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
X d) Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
X e) Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
X f) Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
X g) Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
X h) Support a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
X i) Support a proposed pilot experiment to transfer AFDC and food stamp benefits to corporations, to subsidize private sector jobs for welfare recipients.
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Tennessee General Assembly. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.

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