Tara Hong's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Office:
- State House (MA) - Eighteenth Middlesex, Democratic
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.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
Tara Hong has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2024 Political Courage Test.
Massachusetts State Legislative Election 2024 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds (e.g. Medicaid) for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| Yes | a) In order to balance the budget, do you support limiting state government spending on social programs (e.g. SNAP, TANF)? | ||
| b) Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to promote economic growth? | |||
| Yes | c) Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs in your state? | ||
| a) Do you support capital punishment for violent crimes? | |||
| No | b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the use of private prisons? | ||
| No | e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders? | ||
| Yes | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)? | ||
| b) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector (e.g. for business or the environment)? | |||
| Yes | c) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage in Massachusetts? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support government spending on affordable housing projects in Massachusetts? | ||
| e) Do you support allowing developers to override local zoning bylaws in order to increase the number of affordable homes in municipalities where less than 10% of the housing is defined as affordable (e.g. Chapter 40B)? | |||
| a) Do you support adopting federal education standards (e.g. Common Core) in Massachusetts? | |||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Massachusetts? | ||
| d) Should immigrants in the United States who graduate from Massachusetts high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities, regardless of immigration status? | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state governments allowing permits for drilling on public lands? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| a)Do you support limiting campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals? | |||
| b) Do you support the use of an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting? | |||
| No | c) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support automatic voter registration? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the implementation of ranked choice voting in Massachusetts? | ||
| Yes | a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, closing the boyfriend loophole)? | ||
| Yes | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| c) Do you support the right to concealed carry in Massachusetts? | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program such as Medicare-for-All? | ||
| c) Should an individual have the right to choose to die (e.g. those with a terminal illness) through euthanasia? | |||
| d) Do you support mandating vaccinations (e.g. for school or employment)? | |||
| Yes | e) Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)? | ||
| Yes | f) Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support measures to allow individuals struggling with severe mental health conditions such as PTSD access select psychedelic treatment in professional, clinical settings? | ||
| Yes | a) Do you support inclusion of sexual orientation in Massachusetts' anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Massachusetts' anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support greater efforts by Massachusetts' state government in closing gender, racial, and other wage gaps? | ||
| Constituent Services: I promise to keep the district updated on my work at the State House. I?ll hold regular office hours, use social media, and provide updates through my website and newsletters. I will answer calls and emails, and be accessible to ensure everyone's voices are heard. Education: I believe every child deserves a high-quality education. As a product of our public schools, I?m committed to better funding for education and increasing teacher salaries to ensure a bright future for our youth. Affordable Housing: Housing costs are rising, and many are struggling to keep up. I will advocate for policies to improve housing affordability and support those in need so that everyone can have a safe and affordable place to live. I will build strong partnerships with organizations like the Lowell Housing Authority, Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, CBA, and more to address the housing crisis in our community. |
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