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Lois Frankel'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.

Lois Frankel 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.

  • "12 states have criminalized abortion since Roe was overturned & another 8 will likely follow—including Florida. We need the Women's Health Protection Act to protect abortion access nationwide, because your zip code should never determine your access to health care." (x.com)
  • "It's been two years since Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Supreme Court overturned #Roe v Wade. It stripped women of the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions & led to a host of devastating state abortion bans, including Florida’s six-week ban." (x.com)
  • "Since the overturn of #Roe, 21 states have banned or severely restricted abortion, leaving 1 in 3 women of childbearing age without access to abortion care. Women are turned away from emergency rooms, forced to travel hundreds of miles to receive the essential care they need." (x.com)
  • "The fall of Roe & the dismantling of access to abortion across the United States has real effects on American women & families." (x.com)
  • "Social Security provides millions of Americans with the stability & assistance they deserve. That's why I am a proud cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act, which will protect and expand the essential benefits that our seniors rely on to retire with comfort and dignity." (x.com)
  • "Today we're celebrating 56 years of Medicare & Medicaid - two of the most successful social programs in our country! Let's protect, expand & strengthen them so our seniors & all Americans can retire with dignity, & have access to good quality, affordable health care." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSM) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today’s vote paves the way for @POTUS' #BuildBackBetter plan, a transformative agenda that will deliver more jobs, tax cuts for working families, and lower costs for everyday Americans." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "@POTUS’s FY23 #BidenBudget would make sure our tax system rewards work, not wealth by: 💲 Proposing a new minimum tax on billionaires ⚖️ Making sure corporations pay their fair share 🛑 Preventing multinational corporations from using tax loopholes to game the system" (x.com)
  • "The #InflationReductionAct doesn't raise taxes on families making under $400,000 a year—but it does make sure wealthy corporations who have been dodging their taxes finally pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • "The GOP has decided that working parents and seniors should be the ones to cough up more in taxes, instead of wealthy corporations who still don't pay their fair share. Their new plan would cost working families thousands." (x.com)
  • "This #GOPTaxPlan would raise taxes on countless women and families while giving tax breaks to the wealthy one percent" (x.com)
  • Rated 92% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "10 years ago, #CitizensUnited corrupted our political system by flooding it with unregulated cash. @HouseDemocrats passed the #ForThePeople Act to change that. The Senate must pass it to ensure our democracy works all Americans, not just for big business & those at the top." (x.com)
  • "The #FreedomToVote Act strengthens our democracy against restrictive voter laws, gerrymandering, and dark money. It works in tandem with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect the voice of the people for generations to come." (x.com)
  • "I’m proud to have cast a vote for the passage of the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicingAct. This legislation encompasses bold, unprecedented reforms to curb police misconduct, end racial profiling, and hold police accountable." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We need the Justice in Policing Act for the sake of all those who have suffered losses from police violence." (x.com)
  • "Happy Infrastructure Week! I'm proud to celebrate $220 billion that has already been invested in #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw  funding in over 32,000 specific projects, in 4,500 communities across America. And we’re just getting started!" (x.com)
  • "Here in South Florida we know the importance of our water infrastructure. I'm proud to support #WRDA2022 because 💪Boosts America's competitive edge 🚢Invests in ports, harbors, & inland waterways 🌪️Builds more resilient communities 🍃Restores & protects our ecosystems" (x.com)
  • "Public transit drives the economy, which is why the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests an extra $39 billion in our nation’s transit. On #TransitTuesday, we are expanding our systems, supporting clean transit options, & increasing accessibility for those who need it." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "For too long our country has failed to invest in fair & affordable housing, leaving families to experience homelessness & housing instability. Let’s #ShowHousingLove & #PassBuildBackBetter to fund sustainable housing and resilient communities." (x.com)
  • "There are currently over 500,000 people experiencing homelessness in this country, 25,000 are in Florida. We also have a shortage of over 7 million affordable housing units for families with extremely low incomes. It's a real affordable housing crisis." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Congressional Democrats & the Biden-Harris Administration took action to address global inflation & lower costs for American families. Proud to say the results show that annual inflation is now at its lowest level in 2+ years." (x.com)
  • "Thanks to Democratic action to lower costs, inflation in the US has continued to drop for the 6th consecutive month." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "126 of our nation’s top economists—including 7 Nobel Laureates, 2 former Treasury Secretaries, 2 former Fed Vice Chairs, & many more experts—say the Inflation Reduction Act "will fight inflation and lower costs."" (x.com)
  • "Everyone should have access to high quality education—regardless of their background or income. @POTUS' plan to invest in community colleges & Pre-K programs, & addressing student loan forgiveness, is the right next step." (x.com)
  • "Today is a great day for the millions of Americans who have been drowning in student loan debt. A college education should bring prosperity, not the crushing burden of a lifetime of debt." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by the National Education Association (NEA) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We need the #FreedomToVoteAct to protect the voices of American voters & make sure our elections are secure, accessible, & transparent." (x.com)
  • Rated 89% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in afvor of H.R. 4 "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Climate change poses an existential threat to our planet, but @POTUS is delivering on his promise to fight back! Through the #InflationReductionAct, he's made America's largest-ever investment in clean energy while creating good-paying jobs." (x.com)
  • "For @HouseDemocrats, every day is #WorldEnvironmentDay! 🌏That's why we worked with @POTUS to pass the biggest investment in climate infrastructure ever through the #InflationReductionAct—our progress to reduce our energy costs and emissions continues!" (x.com)
  • Rated 97% by the League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today’s @Interior decision paves the way for oil drilling in the sacred Arctic Refuge. This isn’t the result of sound science or a transparent process -- it's bending over backwards to give these priceless lands away to Big Oil." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1146 "Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1941 "Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 823 "Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "No parent should fear for their child's life when they go to school, the movies, or the grocery store. @POTUS protected our communities by signing the most comprehensive gun violence prevention law in a generation and shares our goal of a total ban on assault weapons." (x.com)
  • "Today marks 30 years since the Brady Bill established our first gun background check system, preventing nearly 5M illegal gun sales and saving countless lives. We've made progress, but must keep pushing to expand background checks and ensure our communities are safe." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by the NRA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today, @RulesDemocrats are holding a historic hearing – because health care is a human right, not a privilege. I’m proud to support #MedicareForAll as we work towards universal health care for ALL Americans." (x.com)
  • "I also support legislation to lower the Medicare eligibility age, reduce premiums, expand benefits, and provide dental, hearing, and vision coverage." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#PaidLeave means not having to choose between your job & family. Passing the Family & Medical Leave Act #OTD in 1993 was a huge victory, but 29 years later the law still only extends to part of the American workforce. It’s time to expand the #FMLA so all workers are eligible." (x.com)
  • "For almost 3 decades, the Family & Medical Leave Act has provided employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year, but this isn't enough. Americans need comprehensive #paidleave - it's time our national policies caught up. We must pass the #FamilyAct now!" (x.com)
  • "The United States is one of six countries in the world with no national paid leave. Our country should be a leader in taking care of our mothers, fathers, children, & loved ones - not a shameful outlier. We cannot #BuildBackBetter without paid leave." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "House Democrats aren’t afraid to take on big corporations. We forced Big Pharma to negotiate lower drug prices and capped the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 a month. We’re fighting to cut costs for working families and put more money in your pocket." (x.com)
  • "I’m proud to fight for lowering health care costs for seniors in #PBC! Thanks to @POTUS's Investing in America agenda & the #InflationReductionAct, seniors on Medicare are now seeing their insulin capped at $35/month, saving them an average of $440 a year—that's real savings!" (x.com)
  • "The #InflationReductionAct ensures seniors do not have to make a choice between food and Rx drugs by: • Finally allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices • Capping annual costs at $2,000 • Capping insulin costs a $35/month • Penalizing companies for unfairly hiking prices" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Newsflash, @realDonaldTrump: the $8.6 billion request for border wall funding in your #TrumpBudget is a waste of money that does nothing to keep our country safer. We can’t afford this reckless proposal." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2 "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Everyone living in the United States has the right to be counted in the 2020 Census. Every immigrant, every child, every neighbor, every student - everyone." (x.com)
  • Rated 3% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2494 "POLICE Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Giving Turkey the green light to invade Syria will go down in history as a moral & strategic disaster. Today, I’m supporting bipartisan legislation to impose targeted sanctions against Turkey & require the Trump Admin to develop a plan to support our Kurdish partners." (x.com)
  • "I support @POTUS' efforts to ban the import of Russian oil as part of a comprehensive, multinational strategy to support Ukraine and sanction Russia." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "In Congress, we must keep our promises. We must fully support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and pass vital assistance as soon as possible." (x.com)
  • "Thank you to the #PBC's @AmericaforUA delegation for stopping by my DC office today. We discussed how Congress can continue to support Ukraine against Putin’s brutal aggression, namely by passing long-overdue security and humanitarian aid needed to preserve their sovereignty." (x.com)
  • "The United States & global community must continue to stand with Ukraine as they fight for Democracy." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8035 "Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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) concerning abortion.

X a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
c) Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should always be illegal.
f) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
g) Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
h) Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
i) Other
Yes j) Should Florida government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?

Indicate the principles you support (if any) concerning affirmative action. State government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:

Yes a) College and university admissions
Undecided b) Public employment
Yes c) State contracting
d) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
c) End parole for repeat violent felons.
X d) Support the use of the death penalty.
e) Oppose the death penalty.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
g) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
h) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
i) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
j) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
k) Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
l) Lower the blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
m) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
n) Allow recording devices in execution observation rooms.
o) Support chemical castration for convicted sexual offenders.
p) Maintain electrocution as Florida's method of execution.
q) Adopt lethal injection as Florida's method of execution.
r) Other
s) Should violent sexual offenders eligible for parole, be committed to mental hospitals until they are deemed safe to return to society?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning the economy and employment.

a) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
c) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
X d) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
e) Allow Native American tribes to operate gambling casinos on tribal land in Florida.
f) Other

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

a) Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
X b) Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
d) Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X e) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
X f) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
X g) Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
X h) Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
i) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
X j) Grant merit pay raises each year to teachers who excel.
k) Other
Yes l) Should Florida require that all new state school buses be equipped with passenger seat belts?
No m) Do you support adding the Bible to high school literature or history curriculums in Florida public schools?

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

a) Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
c) Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
X d) Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
X e) Provide funding for recycling programs in Florida.
f) Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
h) Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power company.
i) Other
No j) State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
Yes k) Do you support extending the Preservation 2000 program in Florida?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.a) Do you support limits on the number of terms of the following Florida officials?b) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

No 1) State Senators and Representatives
Yes 2) Governor
Yes 3) Members of the Cabinet
Yes 1) Individual
No 2) PAC
No 3) Corporate
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes d) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes e) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
No f) Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
Yes g) Do you support providing immunity from civil liability to persons who are participating in the process of government?
Yes h) Should using payroll deductions for political contributions from union members be illegal?
i) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

X a) Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
X b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
c) Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
d) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
e) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
f) Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
g) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
X h) Require a waiting period and criminal records check for weapons bought at gun shows.
i) Other
No j) Should Florida visitors be permitted to carry concealed weapons if they have permits from other states?

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

a) Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
b) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
X c) Provide health care to uninsured children by designing a children's health insurance program.
d) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
e) Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
f) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
g) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X h) Require HMOs to provide access to mental health care.
i) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

X a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
d) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
X e) Favor banning smoking in public places.
X f) Allow local municipalities in Florida to ban smoking in public places.
X g) Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
h) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X i) Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
j) Require a waiting period between the time a mother consents to adoption and the time the adoption is finalized.
k) Other
l) Do you believe that the Florida government should include sexual orientation in Florida's anti-discrimination laws?
m) Do you believe that the Florida government should recognize same-sex marriages?
n) Should physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill be legal in Florida?

Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories. Select one level only.

a) Agriculture
b) Economic Development
Greatly Increase c) Education (K-12)
Slightly Increase d) Education (Higher)
e) Environment
f) Health care
g) Law enforcement
h) Tourism
i) Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
j) Welfare
l) Do you support using state money to fund a proposed bullet train between Miami, Orlando and Tampa?
Birth to three.-- Greatly Increase

Indicate the tax levels you will support. Select one level only.

a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gas taxes
f) Property taxes
g) Sales taxes
h) Other
No i) Do you support implementing a state income tax?

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

a) Maintain the four-year limit on welfare benefits.
X b) Require that able-bodied recipients participate in work-related activities in order to receive benefits.
X c) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
d) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
X e) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X f) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
X g) Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
h) Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
i) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
j) Other
Yes k) Do you support establishing a relocation assistance program for WAGES participants that relocate within the state as long as the relocation contributes to them attaining self-sufficiency?
Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.

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