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Michael Agosta'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.

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?

New Jersey Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test

Abortion Issues

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?
Yes		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) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?
		f) Other or expanded principles

Budget, Spending, and Tax Issues

1) SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.

Greatly Decrease		a) Agriculture
Eliminate		b) Arts
Greatly Increase		c) Defense
Greatly Increase		1) Intelligence operations
Maintain Status		2) Military hardware
Greatly Increase		3) National missile defense
Slightly Increase		4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase		5) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Slightly Increase		6) Research and development of new weapons
Greatly Decrease		d) Education
Greatly Decrease		e) Environment
Greatly Increase		f) Homeland security
Greatly Decrease		g) International aid
Maintain Status		h) Medical research
Maintain Status		i) Scientific research
Slightly Increase		j) Space exploration
Eliminate		k) United Nations
Greatly Decrease		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status		a) Alcohol taxes
Greatly Decrease		b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status		c) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Decrease		d) Corporate taxes
Greatly Decrease		e) Gasoline taxes
Eliminate		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Greatly Decrease		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Slightly Decrease		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
		i) Other or expanded categories
Yes		3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax?
Yes		4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
No		5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?
		6) Other or expanded principles

Business and Employment Issues

		b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
		c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
		d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize?
		e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
		f) Other or expanded principles
Unknown Position		a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues

		a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?
		b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
		c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
		d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
		e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
		f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
		g) Other or expanded principles

Crime Issues

		b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?
		c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
		d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?
		e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?
		f) Other or expanded principles
Unknown Position		a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Education Issues

		b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
		c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
		d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
		e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
		f) Other or expanded principles
Unknown Position		a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Environment and Energy Issues

		b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
		c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?
		d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?
		e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?
		f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy?
		g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors?
		h) Other or expanded principles
Unknown Position		a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
Michael Agosta signed the Contract from America. "Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures." (www.thecontract.org) Michael Agosta. Issue Position: Energy. "We're in the middle of the worst recession in 25 years, and families across New Jersey are struggling to pay their gas and electric bills. At the same time, our reliance on oil from foreign countries such as Saudi Arabia is threatening our Nation's long-term national and economic security. The solution to these problems is clear: we need to develop alternative sources of energy that are cheaper to produce, free us from our reliance on foreign oil, and are safe for the environment. But we also need to recognize that this transformation won't happen overnight, and that we have to find new ways to address our energy problems while this transition occurs. There are many common sense steps that we could take right away to increase our energy production and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, such as: building new nuclear power plants; investing in alternative energy technologies; and finding new sources of oil and natural gas in our own country. Democrats in Washington have a different idea. Last year, Democrats in the House of Representatives passed an $800 billion dollar cap and tax energy plan that would force businesses to cut jobs, increase gas and electricity prices, and raise taxes on New Jersey's families by up to $3,100 dollars. Raising taxes, slashing jobs, and making gas and electricity more expensive is not the way to create energy independence." (votesmart.org)

Gun Issues

		b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
		c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
		d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?
		e) Other or expanded principles
No		a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Michael Agosta. 2010. Campaign for Liberty: 2010 New Jersey Primary Election Candidate Survey. Selected YES for: "Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the federal government to prohibit the sale, use, or carrying of firearms?" (www.campaignforliberty.com) Michael Agosta. 2010. New Jersey Tea Party Coalition: Congressional Candidates / NJ-9. Responded: "I have been in the military and served as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. I believe every (eligible) citizen should have the right to bear arms. I am a member of the NRA and I am an avid shooter," to the question: "6. What is your position on the 2nd Amendment?" (www.njteapartycoalition.org) Michael Agosta. 2010. North New Jersey Tea Party Group: 2010 New Jersey Primary Election Candidate Survey. Responded: "I firmly believe that individuals in New Jersey and across the country have the unalienable right to bear arms. The Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms. For more than two hundred years, New Jerseyans have exercised this right to defend their families, protect their property, and participate in outdoor activities such as hunting. As your Congressman, I will fight to preserve the Second Amendment and oppose legislation that's intended to undermine or weaken it. Restricting the availability of firearms to law-abiding citizens is a self-defeating endeavor that won't keep weapons away from criminals. The bad guys will always look for a way to obtain weapons. Excessive gun controls only restrict the rights of our citizens and undermine their ability to defend themselves and their families," to the question: "Do you believe that individuals have the unalienable right to bear arms? Why or why not?" (www.facebook.com) Michael Agosta. Issue Position: The Second Amendment and The Rule of Law. "The Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms. For more than two hundred years, New Jerseyans have exercised this right to defend their families, protect their property, and participate in outdoor activities such as hunting. We need leaders in Washington who will preserve the Second Amendment and oppose legislation that's intended to undermine or weaken it. As a former law enforcement official, I also know the danger that firearms present, especially when they end up in the hands of criminals. We need sensible gun control policies that are focused on keeping guns away from violent offenders, increasing penalties for the illegal possession of firearms, and issuing tougher sentences for crimes involving these deadly weapons. Restricting the availability of firearms to law-abiding citizens is a self-defeating endeavor that won't keep these weapons out of the hands of criminals. Excessive gun controls only restrict the rights of our citizens and undermine their ability to defend themselves and their families." (votesmart.org)

Health Issues

		b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
		c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
		d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
		e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs?
		f) Other or expanded principles
No		a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?
Michael Agosta. 2010. Campaign for Liberty: 2010 New Jersey Primary Election Candidate Survey. Selected YES for: "Will you oppose any attempt to nationalize our health care system, including any sort of public option for insurance?" (www.campaignforliberty.com) Michael Agosta. 2010. New Jersey Tea Party Coalition: Congressional Candidates / NJ-9. Responded: "Tort reform; no socialized medicine; prescription drug reform (I do not like how the pharmaceutical companies are gouging us); reduce the size of the Federal government; privatize AMTRAK; overhaul the budget and trim the fat ASAP," to the question: "9. Specifically cite no less than five initiatives you would propose or support to reduce public spending and taxes." (www.njteapartycoalition.org) Michael Agosta signed the Contract from America. "Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care with a system that actually makes health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn't restricted by state boundaries." (www.thecontract.org) Michael Agosta. Issue Position: Health Care. "The cost of health care is spiraling out of control and families across New Jersey are struggling to find affordable care and make ends meet. We need real reform that makes health care less expensive and easier to obtain. What Democrats in Washington gave us instead is a $2.5 trillion dollar government takeover of health care that will make our current problems even worse. The Democrat health care bill raises taxes on families and businesses, increases health care premiums, slashes Medicare, kills jobs, and puts government bureaucrats in charge of your health care decisions." (votesmart.org) Michael Agosta. Issue Position: Respecting the Constitution/Limited Government. "Health care decisions should be made by families and doctors - not government boards and bureaucrats. We should immediately repeal all provisions of the Democrat health care bill that put politicians between your doctor and your medical care. And we can't allow the government to ration or deny care to our senior citizens because of their age." (votesmart.org)

Immigration Issues

		b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?
		c) Do you support establishing English as the official national language?
		d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
		e) Other or expanded principles
No		a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?
Michael Agosta. 2010. League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund: Congressional Questionnaire: District 9. Responded "No, I do not support Amnesty in any form. Enforce Our Existing Immigration Laws. We already have laws on the books to deal with illegal immigrants and to prevent illegal's from receiving benefits paid for by our tax dollars. But most of these laws aren't being enforced, and the government often looks the other way when dealing with illegal aliens. We need to start implementing the laws we already have in place." to the question "Do you support a path to legalization for those presently in the country without authorization? If not, what actions on the part of federal or state government do you believe would improve the current situation? If yes, please specify the steps that path should involve." (www.lwvnj.org) Michael Agosta. Issue Position: Immigration. "America is a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. As the son of an immigrant, I know firsthand that people who have come to America seeking better lives have made our country what it is today. But over the past few decades, the influx of illegal immigrants has overwhelmed cities and towns across New Jersey and the Ninth District. Our laws are being broken every day by illegal immigrants who are crossing our borders, taking our jobs, and getting services and benefits that they haven't paid for and aren't entitled to. The flood of illegal immigrants into our District has strained our educational, medical, and law enforcement systems, and has pushed our finances to the breaking point. New Jersey taxpayers should not have to pay for the health care and education of people who have broken our laws and are living here illegally - but that is exactly what is happening all across our District. Illegal immigration is also unfair to people around the world who have followed our laws and are waiting to legally enter our country. These workers, many of whom are highly skilled, often have to wait years to come to America. But at the same time we're letting illegal immigrants enter our country on a daily basis. This undermines the rule of law and our legal immigration system...Enforce Our Existing Immigration Laws...Secure Our Border...Refuse To Grant Amnesty...Increase Worksite Enforcement...Empower Our Local Officials To Enforce Immigration Laws." (votesmart.org)

International Policy Issues

		b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?
		c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan?
		d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?
		e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States?
		f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
		g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
		h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq?
		i) Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements?
		j) Other or expanded principles
Yes		a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?
Michael Agosta. 2010. League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund: Congressional Questionnaire: District 9. Responded "Our strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan should be based on the following principles: No Artificial Timelines For Withdrawal. Any withdrawal of U.S. forces should be based on the recommendations of our generals and conditions on the ground. We've sacrificed too much in Iraq and Afghanistan to leave those countries before they can defend themselves and maintain the gains we've made over the past few years. Give Our Generals The Troops And Resources They Need. We need to give our commanders the resources they need to preserve security in Iraq and Afghanistan." to the question "What should the US short-term and long-term goals be in Iraq and Afghanistan and how should these be achieved?" (www.lwvnj.org) Michael Agosta. Issue Position: Iraq and Afghanistan. "In Afghanistan, a similar surge of forces is under way. Many people who doubted that the surge in Iraq would succeed are now saying the same thing about the surge in Afghanistan. We need to support General Petraeus and General McChrystal as they implement this new policy and work to secure Afghanistan. If we retreat from Afghanistan, the Taliban will return to power and the country will once again become a safe haven for Al Qaeda. This is the exact situation that led to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again." (votesmart.org)

Social Issues

		b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military?
		c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
		d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs?
		e) Other or expanded principles
Yes		a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Michael Agosta. Press Releases. 11 October 2010. "'I'm pretty sure that most of the District 9 voters believe as I do, that marriage is between a man and a woman.'" (www.agostaforcongress.com)

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 100 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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