Card image cap

Judith Zaffirini's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for State Senate (TX) - District 21

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.
What is the Political Courage Test?
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.

Texas State Legislative Election 1996 National Political Awareness Test

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.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X c) Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or if the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should always be illegal.
e) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
f) Government funding should not be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action in Texas.

X a) Texas government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sector.
b) Texas government should not play a role in affirmative action policy decisions.
X c) Specific, adjustable percentages of contracts for state work should be awarded to minority or woman-owned businesses.

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one number only.

a) Abortion
b) Affirmative Action
c) Border Security
Greatly Increase d) Education
e) Environment
f) Health Care
g) Law Enforcement
h) Welfare

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding children & family issues in Texas.

a) Increase funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in Texas.

a) Increase funding for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
X c) Support "truth in sentencing" legislation for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
e) Limit the number of appeals allowed for inmates on death row.
f) Oppose the death penalty.
g) Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
h) Increase funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentence.
i) Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
X j) Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
X k) Support mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
l) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenses.
X m) Advocate the use of prison inmate labor for public works projects.
n) Support turning over state prison administration to the private sector.
X o) Penalties for those committing "hate crimes" directed against a specific group should be toughened and strictly enforced.
p) Implement chain gangs in prisons, in which inmates work together in chained work groups.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in Texas.

X a) Impose mandatory curfews for juveniles in high crime areas.
X b) Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for first-time juvenile felons.
X c) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
X d) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X e) Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
X f) Make the criminal records of juvenile offenders available the same as the criminal records of adults.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding economic development in Texas.

X a) Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
X b) Initiate cost/benefit analysis of all state laws and regulations to determine their economic impact.
X c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up or relocating businesses.
d) Expand legalized gambling (e.g. casino gambling).
X e) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
f) Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.
X g) Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
h) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
i) The right-to-work law should be made a constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution.
j) The legislature should increase Texas' minimum wage.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Texas' education system.

a) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
X b) Support continuation of charter schools where teachers and professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X c) Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
d) Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
e) Public school education in Texas should be funded by increases in state taxes rather than local property taxes.
X f) Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
X g) Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
X h) Advocate bilingual educational programs in public schools.
X i) Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
X j) Increase funds for school security.
X k) Support public school sex education programs which stress abstinence.
l) Support public school sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Texas' environment and natural resources.

X a) Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of any environmental regulation before it is implemented.
X b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates immunity incentives for polluting industries to clean up pollution.
X c) Provide funding for recycling programs in Texas.
d) Suspend Texas' participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
e) Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding environmental regulations.
f) Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
X g) Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Texas.
X h) Support "right to know" laws for workers exposed to hazardous substances.
X i) Require the state to reimburse citizens when state environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
j) Urge the U. S. Congress to amend the 1973 Endangered Species Act, to limit the number of habitats eligible to be designated endangered.
k) The U.S. Government should sell federally-owned lands to the Texas public at market prices.

a) Would you support amending the Texas Constitution to limit the terms of the following Texas officials?

Yes 1) State Senators and Representatives
Yes 2) Governors
Yes b) Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget?
Yes c) Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes d) Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes e) Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes f) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No g) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
No h) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues in Texas.

a) Support the federal ban on the public sale of certain semi-automatic assault weapons.
b) Increase restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
X c) Maintain all current state registration procedures and restrictions on possessing firearms.
d) Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of a firearm.
e) Repeal all bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
f) Continue to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Texas' health care system.

X a) Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
X b) Ensure that Texas citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
c) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of government.
X d) Turn federal Medicaid funding over to the states in the form of block grants.
X e) Convert Texas' Medicaid program to a system of Medicaid-funded managed health care.
X f) Provide state assistance to seniors and the disabled in having access to home and community-based health care to enable them to remain at home.
X g) Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
h) Provide prenatal care and health care for undocumented immigrants.
X i) Support programs which will encourage Texans to seek early testing, counseling and treatment interventions for AIDS.
X j) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X k) Require insurance companies to include terminal diseases (e.g. AIDS, Alzheimer's) in their coverage.
l) Impose annual limits on Medicare spending and offer senior citizens the alternative of private health insurance plans.

Please indicate the changes you will support (if any) concerning Texas' tax levels for the following categories.

a) Alcohol Taxes
b) Business Taxes
c) Capital Gains
d) Income Taxes
Greatly Decrease e) Property Taxes
Maintain Status f) Sales Taxes
g) State Fees
No h) Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Texas' welfare system.

X a) Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
b) Eliminate government funded welfare and advocate privately funded assistance to people in need.
X c) Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
X d) Support programs that give incentives for employers to hire and train welfare recipients.
X e) Require welfare recipients to sign personal responsibility contracts which are also signed by the state.
f) Limit the benefits given to welfare recipients if they have additional children.
X g) Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
X h) Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive benefits.
X i) Require mothers to identify their child(ren)'s father in order to receive welfare benefits.
X j) Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
X k) Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Texas State Legislature. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward