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Daniel Webster'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.

Daniel Webster did not 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.

  • "I have and will continue to fight for the rights of our most vulnerable - the unborn." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee in 2023-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Susan B. Anthony Pro-life America in 2023-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 26 "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today is the 41st anniversary of the Economic Recovery Tax Act, which limited government involvement & implemented tax cuts. Small businesses were able to thrive and individuals could afford to live comfortably." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by Americans for Democratic Action in 2021 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by FreedomWorks in 2024 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" in 2017 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today is the 41st anniversary of the Economic Recovery Tax Act, which limited government involvement & implemented tax cuts. Small businesses were able to thrive and individuals could afford to live comfortably." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by FreedomWorks in 2024 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 85% by The Club for Growth in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I have and will always support our police. The recent appropriations package which I voted to pass recently provides the tools and resources necessary to keep our communities safe." (x.com)
  • "I just voted to pass H.Con.Res 40, which honors the service and dedication shown by the brave men and women in blue and condemns calls to defund or abolish police. We must stand up against calls to defund the police, and support those who keep our communities safe." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Association of Police Organizations in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This NDAA equips our military with the resources necessary to counter adversaries while saving billions of taxpayer dollars, increasing spending accountability and establishing a new Special Inspector General to oversee and audit Ukraine Security Assistance." (x.com)
  • "Tonight, I was once again faced with decision between a CR and a government shutdown. I voted to keep government operating and full-year, FY18 funding for the Department of Defense." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4365 "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" in 2021 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I ran for office pledging to do my part to slow the spigot of spending. While today’s spending bill funds some conservative priorities, I cannot support this bill as it spends excessive taxpayer dollars on non-critical programs and policies." (x.com)
  • "Leading by example Dan Webster has voluntarily reduced his Congressional salary, has refused government-subsidized health care, refused to travel abroad on taxpayers’ expense. By reducing his official Congressional office budget, Dan Webster personally returned over $4 million to the U.S. Treasury." (www.electwebster.com)
  • Rated 88% by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste in 2020 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I just voted to pass H.J.Res 88 that blocks President Biden’s unconstitutional student loan bailout scheme, which would cost taxpayers $559 BILLION. Hardworking Americans shouldn’t be forced to pay for someone else’s student debt." (x.com)
  • "Making hardworking Americans pay for someone else’s personal debt is wrong. I have consistently called on Congress to defend its legislative authority. I have and will continue to fight to stop Presidential overreach and to reform higher education." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by National Education Association in 2023-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I just voted to fulfill my commitment to lower energy costs and unleash American energy production by passing HR 1 - the Lower Energy Costs Act. This vital bill reverses President Biden’s disastrous energy policies, and puts Americans first by restoring our energy independence." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance in 202-24 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 3% by League of Conservation Voters in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act" in 2019 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "President Biden must reverse course on American energy policy. His cancelation of the Keystone XL pipeline and adverse permitting decisions place the U.S. in an untenable and vulnerable position. Energy independence is a national security issue." (x.com)
  • Rated 3% by League of Conservation Voters in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 95% by Independent Petroleum Association of America in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Dan Webster is a steadfast supporter and advocate of Second Amendment rights. He successfully fought the ATF’s unlawful gun control attempts. A recipient of the 2022 Defender of Freedom Award from the NRA Golden Eagles, Dan can be trusted to keep supporting American’s right to bear arms." (www.electwebster.com)
  • Rated 100% by Gun Owners of America in 2023 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I will continue advocating for policies that get the government off the back of hardworking Americans, and empowers every American with access to high-quality, affordable healthcare." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" in 2020 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Check out my @dcexaminer op-ed on the promises of "free" education and "free" healthcare touted by Democrats. It sounds good, but they come at a steep price." (x.com)
  • "Dan Webster believes border security is national security. He championed President Trump’s efforts to build the wall and continues fighting to secure our southwest border." (www.electwebster.com)
  • "I don’t, and I won’t stop fighting to secure our border and hold the Biden Administration accountable." (x.com)
  • Rated 92% by Federation for American Immigration Reform in 2021-22 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2 "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I just voted to pass H.R. 6976, a bill that would deport illegal immigrants who drive under the influence. It’s commonsense, illegal immigrants who endanger American lives should be faced with deportation and barred from entering our country." (x.com)
  • Rated 92% by Federation for American Immigration Reform in 2021-22 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2 "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I applaud @realDonaldTrump's decision to impose further sanctions through withdrawal from this harmful agreement." (x.com)
  • "Today, I supported legislation that strengthens sanctions against our foreign adversaries and provides support to our allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific Region." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6126 "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" in 2022 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I have been added to the Russian Foreign Ministry's blacklist for my opposition to Putin's ruthless and evil attacks on Ukraine. I will not back down in holding the Russian government & military accountable for committing crimes against humanity. This sanction as a badge of honor" (x.com)
  • "Moving speech from President Zelensky. I urge President Biden to take immediate action to rearm Ukrainians with defensive weapons, further impose diplomatic costs on Russian elites, & unleash U.S. energy. Every hour is precious as we support Ukraine's fight for independence." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 8035 "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Applications like TikTok that are owned by foreign government adversaries pose a serious national security threat. Through the collection of a concerning amount of user data, applications like TikTok are able to surveil and manipulate users." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520 "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7521 "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" in 2024 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
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.

1. Which of the following tax measures, if any, will you support if elected to the Congress in 1992?

X Reducing the capital gains tax rate on profits from the sale of stocks, bonds and real estate.
X Permitting tax-free withdrawals from IRAs in limited circumstances.
Providing some kind of middle-class tax break.
Increasing the income taxes of those with incomes over $100,000.
X Providing a tax credit for first-time home buyers.
X Repealing luxury taxes on limited items.
X Providing a temporary investment tax credit.
Other

Please evaluate the following general program areas and indicate the level of federal funding that you will support if you are elected to Congress.

Keep Spending The Same Health Care
Keep Spending The Same Unemployment
Increase Spending AIDS Research
Increase Spending Environment
Decrease Spending Defense
Increase Spending Education
Increase Spending National Debt Payments
Keep Spending The Same Drugs

If you are elected to Congress, how will you confront the issue of the national debt?

X Reduce governmental defense spending.
X Reduce governmental domestic spending.
Raise personal income taxes for all citizens.
Raise personal income taxes for citizens with incomes over $100,000.
Raise corporate taxes.
Do nothing at the present time.
X Other
Stimulate growth.

Which of the following measures designed to address the issue of unemployment do you support or oppose?

Support Extending unemployment compensation further.
Support Federal support of job retraining programs.
Support Federal grants to states for creating jobs in inner cities.
Support Mandating workfare for welfare recipients.
Oppose Minimizing governmental intervention and letting the market take a more natural course.
Support Federal investment in America's infrastructure.
Other

Which of the following policies, if any, should be pursued by the federal government in the area of the United States/Japenese trade?

Restricting the overall volume of goods entering the United States from Japan.
Imposing tariffs on goods entering the United States from Japan.
Requiring Japan to eliminate its trade surplus with the United States over a period of five years.
X Requiring reciprocal trade agreements between the United States and Japan based on equal dollar values.
Imposing no restrictions on trade between the United States and Japan.
X Other
Make America competitive.

Which of the following defense proposals do you support or oppose?

Support Reduction of the number of American military troops.
Oppose Continued funding of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

Do you consider the fact that many Americans do not have health insurance to be a problem, and if so, please note which of the following proposals you favor?

Elimination of private insurance in favor of a program administered and paid for by the federal government and run by the states, similar to the health care system in Canada.
Offering tax incentives to all small employers in return for guaranteed health insurance coverage of all employees and their families.
Implementation of a "play or pay" program where employers must enroll their employees and families in a basic health plan or contribute to a public fund that will provide health care for everyone without coverage.
Creation of a fund designed to provide health insurance to the unemployed and supported by additional tax levies on large employers.
A system of tax credits and vouchers to provide health insurance for the working poor and people of moderate income.
No reform necessary at this time.
X Other
See answer to top priorities.

If elected to Congress, which of the following proposals designed to change our nations' public education system will you support?

X Increased federal funding.
X Increased state and local funding.
X Improved teacher recruitment and training.
National curricula and standards.
X Smaller classes.
Increased national testing.
A "choice" or "vouchers" program.
No major changes are necessary at this time.
Other

If elected to Congress, how will you confront the War on Drugs?"

X Provide federal funds to educate people about the dangers of drugs.
X Provide federal funds to help drug addicts overcome their addictions.
X Work with foreign governments to stop the export of drugs to this country.
X Impose mandatory federal jail sentences for drug dealers.
Impose mandatory federal jail sentences for drug users.
Legalize the possession and use of drugs.
Other

What is your opinion on the following environmental proposals?

Strongly Oppose Opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.
Don't Know Amending the Clean Water Act's section on wetlands to provide landowners with greater rights.
Support Reauthorization of The Endangered Species Act in its current form.

Please indicate which of the following positions you support or oppose.

Oppose Parental or spousal notification prior to permitting an abortion.
Oppose Abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
Support Federally funded abortions should be permitted.
Oppose Women should be able to get abortions if they want no matter what the reason.
Oppose Abortion should be legal only in limited circumstances, for example, when the life of the mother is endangered or in the case of rape or incest.

Which of the following anti-crime measures do you support or oppose?

Support Expansion of the number of federal crimes punishable by death.
Support A mandatory waiting period before the purchase of a handgun.
Support Increased federal spending for state and local police programs.
A ban on the sale and possession of assault-style semiautomatic weapons.
Support A limitation on habeas corpus appeals for death row inmates.
Other

['Whare are your two top priorities if elected to the Congress?']

b. How will you finance (when necessary) each priority?
1. The skyrocketing cost of health care is perhaps the most critical problem facing this nation. The cost of our health care in America per person is basically double that of other industrialized nations Americans and American companies are finding it too expensive to purchase medical health care insurance for their families and employees, and the high cost is substantially undermining the competitive position of our nation in the global markets -- which is causing us to lose jobs. In order to reduce the sky-rocketing costs and make high quality, affordable health care accessible to all Americans, health care reform on a national basis is necessary. Health care reform must focus on the cost and should include four basic elements: Preventive Health Care, Insurance Reform, Tort Reform and Cost Containment....These reforms will save money. Reform Congress - saves money.

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