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Mark Pocan'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.

Mark Pocan 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.

  • "Roe v. Wade is the floor for reproductive healthcare—not the ceiling—and it's under attack. It’s time for Congress to pass the Women's Health Protection Act to ensure that the constitutional right to abortion is protected & accessible for everyone. #ActForAbortionAccess" (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8296: "Women's Health Protection Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8297: "Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "84 years ago today, Ida Fuller received the first ever #SocialSecurity check. Just like Ida, you deserve your hard-earned Social Security benefits. I'm a proud co-sponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act, which would enhance benefits & extend this vital program for years to come." (x.com)
  • "If Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare, they should have to get 2/3 of Congress to vote with them. That's why I introduced the Protect Social Security and Medicare Act, to make sure cuts can't happen at the hands of a slim and extreme majority." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "House Republicans released their new budget... and SHOCKER it guts Social Security to pay for tax cuts for their billionaire donors! I won't stand for this!" (x.com)
  • "Thanks to the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, millionaire and billionaire tax cheats are finally getting caught and paying their fair share" (x.com)
  • "This Tax Day, let's not forget: Trump gifted his ultra-rich buddies with massive tax cuts, adding more than $1 trillion to our national debt. @POTUS and @HouseDemocrats cut taxes for the middle class with no tax hikes for anyone making less than $400K a year." (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Every dollar of tax avoided by wealthy tax cheats is a dollar stolen from our schools, healthcare and emergency services. Good to see the IRS collecting what's due!" (x.com)
  • "TAX THE RICH" (x.com)
  • "Thanks to the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, millionaire and billionaire tax cheats are finally getting caught and paying their fair share" (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "More than a decade after the Supreme Court ruled on Citizens United, billions of dollars in dark money has flooded into politics. We need to stop selling elections and overturn Citizens United now." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "For the People Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "A year ago today, George Floyd was killed. It shouldn't have taken the murder of another Black man for Congress to take action on police violence. This isn't about just one murder—it's about a broken policing system. The least we can do is pass the Justice in Policing Act." (x.com)
  • "George Floyd should be alive. Firing cops isn't enough. This sort of police brutality is tolerated long before it is called out, & the Minneapolis Police Department must be investigated & held accountable. We owe it to every George Floyd." (x.com)
  • "It's been one year since Jacob Blake was shot, and 15 months since George Floyd's murder. In that time, the House has passed a police reform bill not once, but twice. It's time the Senate take up the #JusticeinPolicingAct." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4365: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7900: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 8774: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1319 "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2: "Moving Forward Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4346: "Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022)" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Exciting news! Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, $3.78M in federal funds are going to a project in Stoughton to improve housing units. These funds will go toward making units more energy efficient and climate resilient, all while keeping these units affordable." (x.com)
  • "Housing costs are too high across the country and Wisconsin is no exception. Experts say we need to build at least 140,000 more units in Wisconsin by 2030 to keep up with current demand. We need to build even more than that to grow communities and bring down high rent prices." (x.com)
  • "Housing is a human right and I will continue fighting to #ExtendTheMoratorium. If you're behind on rent or mortgage and facing eviction due to COVID-19, there are resources available to you." (x.com)
  • "What if instead of giving the Pentagon a $740 billion budget......We gave people healthcare, housing & jobs." (x.com)
  • "In the richest nation on Earth, lifesaving medication should never drive you to bankruptcy. Last year, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act cutting the cost of meds for millions of Americans & capping insulin at $35/month. A big step in the right direction! #DemsDeliver" (x.com)
  • "While overall inflation is slowing down, many corporations are keeping prices artificially high to create record profits for wealthy shareholders. That’s why Democrats are laser focused on taking on price gouging and slashing junk fees." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7688: "Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Education Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "America’s student debt crisis is weighing down borrowers and our economy. By striking down student loan debt forgiveness, SCOTUS is making clear yet again that they prioritize the wealthy and well-connected rather than working families." (x.com)
  • "As of today, student loan borrowers in the United States owe a collective $1.8 trillion. Imagine the amount of student debt we could cancel by choosing not to increase a bottomless Pentagon budget." (x.com)
  • "I joined @MehdiHasanShow tonight to talk about the newly unveiled student loan forgiveness program from the @WhiteHouse– and why I think it’s a great move." (x.com)
  • "Generations of Americans marched, fought, and even died for the right to vote. We cannot allow MAGA extremists to threaten their legacy and undermine our democracy. I joined @HouseDemocrats to introduce the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and protect the right to vote." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4: "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "In the richest nation on Earth, lifesaving medication should never drive you to bankruptcy. Last year, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act cutting the cost of meds for millions of Americans & capping insulin at $35/month. A big step in the right direction! #DemsDeliver" (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447: "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9: "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by American Energy Alliance (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "House Republicans just passed a bill that prevents the federal gov't from releasing oil reserves to lower gas prices unless we start drilling on public lands. This would be a massive windfall for #BigOil — making gas pricier & moving us farther from our climate goals. I voted no." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1146: "Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1941: "Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Time for #MedicareForAll." (x.com)
  • "We need #MedicareForAll." (x.com)
  • "While you worry about the bill for your next doctor's visit, health insurance CEOs are buying their third vacation home. It’s time to join the rest of the developed world. It's time for Medicare for All!" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Paid family and medical leave will help countless families across the country. No one should have to choose between paying their bills or taking care of their loved ones. Not in the richest country in the world." (x.com)
  • "We must give hardworking women and men the paid family and medical leave they desperately need. I'm proud to join my colleagues and support the #FamilyAct. It’s long past due for our workplaces to be more inclusive and welcoming for working families." (x.com)
  • "We need universal programs to make sure every American is cared for—that means paid family & medical leave, child care, and home & community-based services. I'm proud to co-sponsor @RepBowman’s #CareForAllAgenda to build an economy centered on caring for one another." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • "America pays the highest prescription drug prices in the world. It's time to lower the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiating with Big Pharma. #JointAddress" (x.com)
  • "Prescription drug prices are out of control! In two years, one pharmaceutical company alone hiked the prices on 112 drugs. Congress must take bold action to #EndRxMonopolyPrices!" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Indefensible and unfathomable that our border patrol agents would use violence on those seeking asylum in the United States of America. This is not what we stand for. End the cruelty now." (x.com)
  • Rated 2% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2: "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5525: "Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3033: "Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6015: "Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8030: "Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692: "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035: "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S3522: "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "I voted no on the TikTok bill. We need to address data privacy across all social networks, including American companies like Meta and X, through meaningful regulation that protects freedom of expression. Not just single out one platform." (x.com)
  • "I’ve watched the Wednesday dance more times than I can count. Banning TikTok isn’t the answer. Making sure Americans’ data is safe is. We can find community online AND have privacy. Congress needs to step up & pass real legislation, not just target one company." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520: "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7521: "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (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.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
h) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

Greatly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Emergency preparedness
Slightly Increase d) Environment
Slightly Increase e) Health care
Maintain Status f) Law enforcement
Slightly Decrease g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase h) Welfare
i) Other or expanded categories
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
h) Property taxes
i) Sales taxes
j) Vehicle taxes
k) Other or expanded categories
Yes l) Should the state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
m) Should accounts such as a “rainy day” fund be used to balance the state budget?
n) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
o) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

No a) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Wisconsin governors?
No b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Wisconsin state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
No g) Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Wisconsin are closed?
Yes h) Should Wisconsin recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
Yes i) Should the Ethics and Elections Boards be merged to form a non-partisan Government Accountability Board?
j) Should all voters be required to show valid photo identification on Election Day before voting?
No k) Should Indian gaming compacts negotiated by the governor require legislative approval?
l) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Implement the death penalty in Wisconsin.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X f) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
i) Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
X j) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
k) Strengthen sex-offender laws.
l) Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
m) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X e) Increase funds for hiring additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
g) Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
h) Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
X i) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X j) Increase funding for Head Start programs.
X k) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
l) Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
m) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
n) Other or expanded principles

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies’ decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X f) Support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Wisconsin’s anti-discrimination laws.
X g) Increase the state minimum wage.
h) Other or expanded principles
a) Public employment
Yes b) State college and university admissions
Yes c) State contracting
d) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
X c) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
d) Increase funding for improvements to Wisconsin's power generating and transmission facilities.
X e) Support funding for open space preservation.
X f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
g) Require Wisconsin service stations to sell gasoline that contains 10 percent ethanol.
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
f) Require a license for gun possession.
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer current Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
e) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Wisconsin.
X g) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X h) Require companies with at least 10,000 employees to pay 80 percent of the employee premiums of health insurance.
X i) Continue to allow embryonic stem cell research in Wisconsin.
j) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

a) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
X b) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
d) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
X e) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
f) Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
g) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
h) Other or expanded principles
Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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