M. Bryant's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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.
Kentucky State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | ||
| No | b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| No | c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | g) Should an ultrasound be required prior to an abortion? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | ||
| Yes | i) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | ||
| My answer to Question B should not be taken to mean I support abortions after the 1st trimester- I oppose all abortions in any case except when the life of the mother is at risk. Period. | |||
1) State SpendingIndicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category- you can use a number more than once.2) State TaxesIndicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category- you can use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Kentucky's budget.
| Greatly Increase | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Greatly Increase | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Health care | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Law enforcement | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Welfare | ||
| Greatly Increase | h) Other or expanded categories | ||
| Slightly Decrease | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Property taxes | ||
| Greatly Increase | f) Sales taxes | ||
| Eliminate | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Yes | a) Tapping into Kentucky's "rainy day" fund | ||
| Yes | b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | ||
| No | c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | ||
| No | d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | ||
| Yes | f) Privatizing certain government services | ||
| Economic Development Initiatives. With more job opportunities the need for welfare spending will greatly decrease and at the same time, the state will see an increase if revenues from the jobs that are created. | |||
| Note that the increase in sales tax is offset by the complete elimination of income taxes. This makes for a fairer playing field, helps economic growth, and encourages savings, among other positive effects for ALL Kentuckians. | |||
| In order to balance a budget, hard choices have to be made- there is no way around it. Note that in question B I answered 'Yes' for 'certain' non-violent offenders. I also answered 'Yes' to question F about privatizing 'certain' govt services. I believe that we can save alot of money by putting criminals to work doing some tasks that we now hire people to do. We can also look into providing SOME law breakers with home incarceration by fitting them with devices that alert law enforcement if they leave home. | |||
c) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?
| Yes | a) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Kentucky governors? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Kentucky state legislators? | ||
| No | 1) Individual | ||
| No | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| No | 4) Political Party | ||
| Yes | d) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| I believe that restricting the amount of money a person may contribute is restricting that person's Freedom of Speech, which is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. PACs and Political Parties made up of individuals who live within the US should by the same token, I believe, also not be restricted. In my opinion, Corporations are distinct entities and should never be allowed to contribute to a political campaign. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| No | c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? | ||
| Yes | d) Should minors accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as adults? | ||
| Yes | e) Should minors who send sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| These are somewhat loaded questions... Such as in question A: in some cases (child molestation and aggressive murder, primarily) where guilt is beyond question, then, yes. However, the death penalty is not something to be taken lightly. Also question D: it really depends on how violent the crime was and the circumstances around it. Finally, question E: innocence and a lack of common sense are part of childhood. We should look at the intent of the minor and consider the actions before blanketly saying yes or no. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support capping interest rates and fees on payday loans? | ||
| No | h) Do you support permitting video lottery terminals at horse racing tracks? | ||
| Economic Development is THE KEY to a bright future for ourselves and our children. To clarify on Question F: it really depends on the circumstances. For example: if someone buys a home for five times what they can afford, then it is not the responsibility of the rest of those who live within their means to keep them in a fancy house. However, if it is due to someone losing their job through no fault of their own, then I believe we do have an obligation to help those. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support national education standards? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Kentucky high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| It amazes me that the KY Legislature allowed Charter Schools legislation to die during the recent session. Our children come first! | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for improvements to Kentucky's energy infrastructure? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| No | b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
| No | a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | ||
| No | d) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| No | f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Kentucky? | ||
| No | g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | ||
| No | h) Do you support Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation programs? | ||
| i) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | ||
| No | b) Should Kentucky allow same-sex couples to form civil unions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action? | ||
| No | f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| h) Other or expanded principles | |||
| My top priorities are job creation and reducing drug use. We simply cannot allow more lives to be destroyed by drugs. We have to stand firm and with love help those who are addicted and force strict mandatory sentences for those who make and sell drugs. For far too long job opportunities have been ignored. We can have a thriving economy here, we just need people who are willing to work hard and do what is right to make things happen. Our children deserve nothing less. |
Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.