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Seth Moulton's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
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.

Seth Moulton has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2024 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Massachusetts Congressional Election 2024 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No Do you support the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade?
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
No Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to balance the budget?
Yes Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs?
I support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare, if it?s paid for. We cannot pass the bills for these programs onto our children and grandchildren because we refuse to face the fiscal reality of supporting them properly. I support tackling America?s deficits and long-term debt, including through smart tax policy, but Republicans? agenda to slash taxes on the wealthiest Americans would actually increase the deficit. The idea behind the wealth tax is correct: a tax code that is applied fairly and doesn?t incentivize people to simply accumulate wealth rather than putting it to work building jobs and our economy. But the wealth tax proposals to date would be difficult to implement and present targets for years of court challenges.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
No Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
This system needs to be reformed, though some degree of protection is necessary for any government official to do his or her job. Imagine if I could have been sued for every decision I made as a Marine officer?that would have been unsafe for my Marines, and not in the national security interest of the United States.
No Do you support increasing defense spending?
We need to protect America in an increasingly dangerous world, but as a leading advocate for defense reform, I know we can reap tremendous savings from defense modernization and procurement reform. The geopolitical challenges that we face at this moment, from China to Ukraine to the Middle East, require defense spending decisions that cannot be neatly summarized as either ?increasing? or ?decreasing? defense spending. We need to cut fat and cut old systems to make room for the new, while continuing to invest in the systems, personnel, and technologies that will equip America to remain the world?s global superpower and meet the threats posed by our adversaries. Neither blanket cuts nor mindless fat will maintain global peace and security, but in general, we need more of the new, tech-enabled, fast, light, and inexpensive systems of the future (think drones) and fewer of the big, expensive, manpower-intensive systems of the past (think tanks).
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
Yes Do you support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs?
Yes Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation?
I support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs, but this needs to be done smartly. Direct subsidies are not often the most efficient way to build the most affordable housing.
Unknown Position Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt?
The government should be thinking creatively to assist recent graduates who are struggling under the burden of debt and a housing shortage that makes it too difficult to start a family and pursue the American dream. But blanket forgiveness of student loans is a blunt tool that can reward bad decisions and is not the best use of federal dollars. Also, recent efforts to unilaterally forgive student debt through executive action have been mired in court challenges.
No Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls?
I do not support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls, so long as other, effective ways to verify voters are employed.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No Do you support the federal government allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
I support government funding for the development of renewable energy, but these efforts must include the most efficient way to produce carbon-free power, nuclear, and must be managed in an economically-efficient manner. I am proud to support aggressive action to counter climate change. We must decarbonize our economy while creating inclusive growth and good jobs. Changing our commutes and our communities to run carbon free will take smart investment and a lot of work, but the American people are up to the challenge. I have and will use my office as a Member of Congress to advocate for bold action that tackles carbon emissions, funds public investment in cutting edge research, and protects vulnerable communities.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)?
As a United States Marine, I employed all manner of deadly weapons in Iraq. Assault rifles, for example, saved my life more than once, but I�ve also seen what assault rifles can do, and they have no place in our schools or on our streets. I am an original co-sponsor of legislation that would require unlicensed firearms sellers to conduct a background check on every American who buys a gun at a gun show, through an online sale, or elsewhere. Such legislation also requires background checks for gun transfers. Expanded background checks are a foundational part of gun safety reform.
No Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All?
Yes Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
Yes Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
Yes Do you support increasing security along the southern US border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, regardless of their immigration status?
Requiring this would break up families, put people in needless, life-threatening danger, and hurt our economy. Safeguarding our southern border is a paramount national security interest, but keeping America safe does not require mass deportations of individuals who have been in this country for years, who have families, and who contribute to our communities. We need to reform our border security and immigration to create a system that incentivizes people to come here legally, not illegally. We must establish a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents, many of whom have lived and worked here for well over a decade, and some of whom were brought here as children. If these undocumented individuals who have been here for some time have complied and continue to comply with all other laws, and if they pay back taxes they owe, we should naturalize them as American citizens. For the Dreamers in particular, America is the only nation most can remember.
Yes Do you support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts?
Yes Do you support the US providing increased offensive military aid to Ukraine?
Yes Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)?
Making America safer and stronger with a new generation of leadership that is less partisan and puts the best interests of our country first. Making sure Massachusetts leads the nation on issues like housing and transportation by building next-generation infrastructure, including regional and high-speed rail, that dramatically grows our economy. Expanding access to mental health care and eliminating the biases against it. Even in today?s partisan environment, I was able to work with a Republican?a fellow veteran?to get the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Hotline, 988, enacted into law. I?ll build on that success to bolster the hotline service and find other ways to address America?s growing mental healthcare needs.

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