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Richard Neal's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.
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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.

Richard Neal 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.

  • "Millions of Americans depend on Social Security for their income because so many people can no longer rely on a traditional employer-sponsored pension. Millions more are currently contributing to the program through their paychecks. As Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, Richie has worked to strengthen and enhance Social Security for all Americans." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • "Seniors have earned their Social Security benefits through contributions over a lifetime of work. It is the foundation of retirement security, and yet Republicans are threatening to take it away. Democrats will not let this happen." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I'm hard at work ensuring the largest corporations and wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. We’re going to #BuildBackBetter with an economy that works for everyone, and tax fairness is a critical piece of this fight." (x.com)
  • "Ways and Means Democrats fought to make a once-in-a-generation investment in tax fairness because wealthy tax evaders have been let off the hook for too long." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6760: "Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018" (votesmart.org)
  • "I'm hard at work ensuring the largest corporations and wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. We’re going to #BuildBackBetter with an economy that works for everyone, and tax fairness is a critical piece of this fight." (x.com)
  • "In partnership with @POTUS, House Democrats promised to start making the wealthy pay their fair share. The results speak for themselves. Promises made, promises kept." (x.com)
  • "Ways and Means Democrats fought to make a once-in-a-generation investment in tax fairness because wealthy tax evaders have been let off the hook for too long." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by FreedomWorks (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Passing election reform that increases accessibility, reforms our campaign finance laws, and strengthens our election security will fortify our constitutional right to vote, ensuring that it cannot be infringed." (x.com)
  • Rated 92% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "For the People Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "Richie signed on as an original cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives, will bring meaningful reform by: Banning all chokeholds. Eliminating the qualified immunity doctrine, which makes it nearly impossible to hold police officers accountable for wrongful conduct. Banning no-knock warrants in drug cases. Establishing a National Police Misconduct Registry, so that problematic officers who are fired from one department can’t simply be shuffled to another jurisdiction without any accountability. Ending racial, religious and discriminatory profiling." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7120 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4365: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 8774: "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee during 2020 and 2021, Richie led Democratic and bipartisan efforts to swiftly meet the needs of workers, employers, and communities as they struggled to survive the unprecedented economic shocks. These emergency relief measures included: stimulus checks to help low- and middle-income taxpayers; a more generous Child Tax Credit available to more parents; higher unemployment benefits available for longer durations, expanded for the first time to serve gig workers and the self-employed; and the Paycheck Protection Program, which helped small businesses keep their employees on the payroll. Once President Biden took office, Richie worked closely with him to pass the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, spurring investments and sending the job market roaring back to life. These measures have been enormous successes: our current economic recovery has been the strongest and most broadly-shared of our lifetimes, far outpacing every other major country’s. We’ve won back every lost job plus another 2.5 million. Unemployment has been below 4 percent for nearly two years—the longest stretch in more than fifty years. Almost 16 million new business applications have been registered since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Wages are rising, more people are streaming back into the workforce, and inflation is cooling." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • "The President’s executive actions, coupled with the additional relief legislation Congress is busily preparing, are important steps to protect families and workers as we continue efforts to eradicate the virus and get the economy back on track." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2: Moving Forward Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "On Monday, the House passed HR 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections & Relief Act. The bill directly addresses the needs of renters & homeowners who have been severely impacted by the pandemic. The Senate must vote on this important legislation." (x.com)
  • "Working people count on the federal government to help provide the vital services they need. That’s why I was proud to support this bill to continue investments in housing, public education, and child care." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7301: "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294: "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Apropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "By building our economy from the bottom up & middle out, @HouseDemocrats have delivered historic results that are growing the middle class: Nearly 15M jobs created under @POTUS, unemployment under 4% for the longest stretch in 50 years, wages are outpacing inflation." (x.com)
  • "These measures have been enormous successes: our current economic recovery has been the strongest and most broadly-shared of our lifetimes, far outpacing every other major country’s. We’ve won back every lost job plus another 2.5 million. Unemployment has been below 4 percent for nearly two years—the longest stretch in more than fifty years. Almost 16 million new business applications have been registered since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Wages are rising, more people are streaming back into the workforce, and inflation is cooling. This recovery was never guaranteed—it was the result of the bold leadership of President Biden and his allies in Congress like Richie, who were determined to put workers and families first, usually over Republican objections." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • "This #InfrastructureWeek, we are celebrating $220 billion so far in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. In Mass, $4 billion in funding has been announced, including: $2.2 billion for roads & bridges, $534.8 million for public transit, and $106.8 million for clean energy." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4521: "America COMPETES Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Higher education should be affordable and accessible for everyone who wants to pursue it. Students and their families shouldn’t have to mortgage their futures to pay tuition. Richie supports expanding and increasing the American Opportunity Tax Credit and other tax incentives that provide aid to students, their families, and those repaying student loans." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • "The rising cost of college is forcing students to choose between taking on large amounts of debt or building a brighter future for themselves and their families." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2547: "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "56 years ago, heroes like my friend John Lewis shed blood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the right of all Americans to vote. As that right comes under attack once again, we honored their legacy by passing HR4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act." (x.com)
  • "For voters today, voters tomorrow, and all those who sacrificed so we could cast a ballot freely and fairly, we must pass #HR4 - the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act." (x.com)
  • 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)
  • "Richie’s work on the IRA is already yielding significant clean energy results. By early 2024, just a year and a half after the IRA’s passage, the American Clean Power Association reported 117 new utility-scale energy manufacturing facilities, representing $421 billion in investment, $4.5 billion in consumer savings, and more than 42,000 new jobs. The IRA is a generational investment to fight climate change, but Richie knows we can’t stop there. He has led the Ways and Means Committee to recognize that sustainability and protection of the environment have to be part of how we approach every other policy challenge, from international trade to infrastructure investment to health care." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more than $200M in federal funding has been announced in MA-01. We're seeing much-needed investments in our roadways & bridges, as well as investments in clean energy." (x.com)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act marked our nation's largest investment in tackling climate change. More than 200k jobs have already been created on the path to a projected 9M jobs. This historic legislation has ushered in a new era of climate security." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447: "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • "Richie’s work on the IRA is already yielding significant clean energy results. By early 2024, just a year and a half after the IRA’s passage, the American Clean Power Association reported 117 new utility-scale energy manufacturing facilities, representing $421 billion in investment, $4.5 billion in consumer savings, and more than 42,000 new jobs. The IRA is a generational investment to fight climate change, but Richie knows we can’t stop there. He has led the Ways and Means Committee to recognize that sustainability and protection of the environment have to be part of how we approach every other policy challenge, from international trade to infrastructure investment to health care." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • Rated 100% by the League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1146: "Artic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 823: "Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "As a father & grandfather, parents shouldn't have to worry about the safety of their children when they drop them off at school. The time for Congress to pass common sense gun legislation that will strengthen and improve our federal background check system is long overdue." (x.com)
  • "Richie has long been a supporter of stronger gun safety measures. Too often, our failure to implement stronger rules on guns has harmed the most vulnerable in our society. From Columbine High School, to Sandy Hook Elementary, to Parkland, FL, and Uvalde, TX, Richie grieves for the lives lost, and stands in solidarity with the families of the victims." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • Rated 0% by the Gun Owners of America (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7910: "Protecting Our Kids Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "I am proud stand on the House floor in support of legislation that builds on the gains of the #ACA; for legislation that increases access to affordable quality health care; for legislation that is #ForthePeople" (x.com)
  • "I take great pride on the 11th anniversary of the #ACA because it is life-changing legislation I helped to write. Thanks to the #AffordableCareAct, over 133 million Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions, have been able to access quality health care." (x.com)
  • "When it comes to achieving health care coverage for every American, Congressman Neal’s focus has always been on what Congress can do to deliver positive change to the people, right away. That’s why he helped write the Affordable Care Act, which finally made health insurance obtainable for tens of millions of Americans. While Republicans tried to take affordable healthcare away from nearly 130 million people with pre-existing conditions, Congressman Neal is working to cover more people and make coverage more affordable." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "#PaidLeaveForAll will protect the health and wellbeing of working families by allowing millions of working families to better balance work life and family life. That’s why #PaidLeaveForAll is an ESSENTIAL part of Build Back Better!" (www.facebook.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "@POTUS and Democrats are committed to capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month for ALL Americans. Let's get it done." (x.com)
  • "Rep. Neal’s historic steps to take on high drug prices and bring down out-of-pocket prescription drug costs: Empowered Medicare to negotiate lower prices with drug companies. Capped out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 for people with Medicare Part D. Capped the cost of insulin for people on Medicare at $35 per month. Eliminated out-of-pocket costs for vaccines in Medicare. Required drug companies to pay a penalty to Medicare if they raise prices faster than inflation." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 6% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Richie believes that immigrants make America great. As the grandson of immigrants, he rejects claims by the former President that immigrants are "poisoning the blood of our country." Richie believes that the fabric of our nation is made up of immigrants – it is their hard work and enduring spirit that has made our country what it is today. With the recent influx of migrants in Massachusetts, Richie has called for comprehensive immigration reform – the first in nearly 40 years. He supports commonsense solutions like expediting work visas, which would allow migrant families to earn an income and create financial independence. Richie is also a supporter of the DREAM Act, and he worked closely with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to craft an amendment extending Affordable Care Act benefits to DREAMers." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • 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)
  • "He believes that we must do more to create pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, to welcome new Americans, to live up to our reputation as the Land of Opportunity, and to protect immigrant communities from all forms of intolerance. He supports a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers. He supports birthright citizenship. He voted to expand America’s work visa program." (www.nealforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1333 "NO BAN Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1603 "Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "I am supportive of President Biden’s measured and appropriate sanctions against Russia. Putin is a brazen aggressor, acting in dangerous ways that impact Ukraine, its neighbors, and much of Europe. We must find a diplomatic solution." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7108: "Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 3033: "Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces is unjustified and unprovoked. Putin must be held responsible, and I condemn his deadly actions. We cannot and will not tolerate his authoritarian regime. Ukraine is a sovereign nation, and we must support them and their people." (x.com)
  • 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 S. 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520: "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (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.
b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
X f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
h) Other or expanded principles

Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Arts
Slightly Increase c) Defense
Slightly Increase d) Education
Maintain Status e) Environment
Slightly Increase f) Homeland security
Maintain Status g) International aid
Slightly Increase h) Law enforcement
Greatly Increase i) Medical research
Maintain Status j) National parks
Slightly Increase k) Public health services
Greatly Increase l) Scientific research
Maintain Status m) Space exploration programs
Maintain Status n) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Maintain Status o) Welfare
p) Other or expanded categories

Defense Spending

Maintain Status a) Armed Forces personnel training
Slightly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Maintain Status c) Military hardware
Maintain Status d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Maintain Status e) National missile defense
Slightly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Maintain Status h) Research and development of new weapons
Slightly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories

Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:

Maintain Status a) Less than $25,000
Maintain Status b) $25,000-$75,000
Maintain Status c) $75,000-$150,000
Slightly Increase d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Increase d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Charitable contributions
Maintain Status b) Child tax credit
Slightly Increase c) Earned income tax credit
Maintain Status d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Maintain Status f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
No 4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
No 5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors?
Yes 6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
d) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
e) Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office.
f) Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election.
g) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
No h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)?
No i) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
Yes j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?
I do not think we need to amend the Constitution to define marriage.

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

X a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
X g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
X h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
X i) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
X j) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes.
k) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government.
l) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
m) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
X c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
X d) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
X e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
X h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs.
i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children.
j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X k) Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
X l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
X m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
n) Other or expanded principles

1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
X d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
X h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options.
i) Other or expanded principles
X a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
X c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
X d) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
e) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
X b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
X f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
X i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
X k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
X l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
m) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
X b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X h) Require a license for gun possession.
X i) Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities.
j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims.
k) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
X c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied.
X d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied.
e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans.
X i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare.
X l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
X m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research.
n) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
c) Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers.
d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
X e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States.
f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism.
g) Other or expanded principles

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.

X a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles

International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.

Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
Yes b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
No c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
Undecided b) Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
No c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
Yes d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
Undecided e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
No b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
Yes c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
Yes 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
Yes 5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"?
Yes 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
Yes 7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education?
8) Other or expanded principles
We need more international support to stabilize and reconstruct Iraq. We must better train Iraqi soldiers in this reconstruction effort.

International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

No 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
Yes 2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
Yes 3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Yes 4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
No 5) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
Yes 6) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

Yes a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
Yes b) Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism?
Yes c) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
Yes d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security?
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
c) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities.
d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases.
f) Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits.
g) Other of expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.

a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
X c) Implement regulation of Internet content.
X d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
X e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
X f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet.
g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X h) Impose regulations on "spam" emails.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Increase funding for child care programs.
c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
e) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
X f) Support housing assistance for low-income families.
g) Other or expanded principles
On an attached page, disk, or via email, 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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