Tim Olson'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.
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Tim Olson refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.
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 2010.
- Timothy Olson. 2010. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life: Primary Election Voter Guide. Responded YES to the questions: "(1) Do you support the reversal of the roe v. Wade and Doe v. bolton decisions, so that elected legislative bodies may once again protect unborn children by limiting or prohibiting abortion?;" "(2) Would you support legislation to strictly limit abortion at least from the point in development that evidence suggests an unborn child has the capacity to experience pain?;" "(4) Would you vote to renew the current hyde amendment policy without weakening amendments?;" "(5) Would you support legislation to reinstate the Mexico City policy, and would you oppose any legislation that would prohibit a future president from reinstating the policy by executive order?;" "(6) Would you vote for the Child interstate abortion notification act, and oppose weakening amendments?" (webcache.googleusercontent.com)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Abortion. "I am pro-life, and I believe that life begins at the moment of conception. I support adoption. I am completely opposed to abortion, and will work to see that our tax dollars are not used to pay for them." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Education. "I will restore local control to local education. There is too much money being wasted at the federal level for education. Why are we sending our tax dollars to Washington only to have them send a portion back to fund our local education? They certainly aren't sending it all back, and why not? Those are our tax dollars for our local students' education. I believe we're competent enough to manage our education budget & decisions locally." (votesmart.org)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Cap and Trade. "Congressional Democrats are trying to ram through a massive "cap and trade" bill. Most voters do not understand what this will mean to the economy. According to an analysis by the Heritage Foundation, the bill already passed by the House will add a "58 percent increase in gas prices, 90 percent for electricity, and 55 percent for natural gas. Cumulative higher energy costs for a household of four from 2012-2035 would reach nearly $20,000." The Heritage Foundation also predicted more than one million job losses as a direct result of higher energy costs. Sen. John Kerry recently unveiled his cap and trade bill -- it's 1,000 pages of new regulation, taxes and income redistribution. This bill will destroy jobs and raise taxes on hardworking families. Rep. John Dingell, the longest serving member of the House and a Democrat, has described "cap and trade" as a "great big tax." Investor Warren Buffett, an Obama supporter, described "cap and trade" as "a huge tax...and a fairly regressive one." Even the New York Times realizes this bill is a massive redistribution of wealth scheme. In its May 13th column, the Times wrote, "Two-thirds of allowance revenue raised by the program ... will go to households through their utility bills. Low-income residents will receive additional rebates." Why is this necessary? Because the legislation is a massive tax on energy that will cause utility rates to skyrocket. Why is Congress trying to raise taxes and raise the cost of energy? Such a move will ripple throughout the economy, raising prices on consumer goods, groceries, transportation costs and forcing businesses to lay off workers. It is bad economic policy under any conditions. But it is even worse in the middle of a severe recession when the nation is facing 9.9% unemployment." (votesmart.org)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Real Environmentalists. "As a lifelong Minnesotan, I can personally attest to the fact that the real environmentalists are the people who live near our streams, lakes, rivers and lands. These people are the ones who live in the deep woods of the north or plow, till, plant and harvest our farmlands. They know best what will keep these resources alive and thriving. We have witnessed an alarming decrease in our ability to freely use the lands and resources in our communities. We have seen policies put into place that now pass for law. We need real policies for real people that really work. And not just for the people, but for the other residents of these areas...It is my firm belief and conviction that the timber industry, mining, farming and tourism industries can all work together in environmentally friendly ways." (votesmart.org)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: The Clean Water Restoration Act Means Troubled Waters For Property Owners. "The Waxman-Markey global warming bill is far and away the most worrisome environmental measure currently working its way through Congress, but it is certainly not the only cause for concern. One such measure is S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA). Like Waxman-Markey, the CWRA would do much more harm than good, especially for farmers, ranchers, developers, energy producers, and other property owners. For years, the 1972 Clean Water Act has been misused in the name of protecting Americas waters and wetlands. The statute's original limitation that its key provisions only apply to navigable waters was largely ignored. Instead, the law was broadly applied to a wide variety of circumstances, including remote and inconsequential drainage ditches or temporary puddles and even to completely dry land. The statute's complex and costly provisions interfered with the economic use of the lands it encompassed, including farming and ranching operations, construction of housing and other buildings, and domestic oil and gas production." (votesmart.org)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Second Amendment Rights. "The Second Amendment's role is to protect our way of life. If it's weakened or diluted, it is only a matter of time before the rest of our rights vanish one by one. At the heart of the matter is the continuing dialogue about the size of government, personal rights and/or responsibilities and where the balance of power resides; with the people or the government. Our government has consistently demonstrated its inability to manage anything well on our behalf. Let's take back our individual responsibility, and reduce the government's size and power back to our Founders' intent. And, to be clear, I support the Constitution exactly the way it was written, and it is not subject to change." (votesmart.org)
- Pioneer Staff. 2010. Bemidji Pioneer: Olson wages independent battle against Oberstar. 11 June 2010. "Tim Olson believes in smaller government, cutting taxes and letting competition in the marketplace determine health care reform, yet he's not campaigning as a Republican." (secure.forumcomm.com)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Health Care. "The existing health care bill and controversy has little or nothing to do with our healthcare. History has proven that all industries flourish when free of government control. Creating competition will drive costs down. We don't need amendments on a health care bill such as student loans, new armies, and an additional 16,000 IRS Agents. We really need 'earmark' reform. Health care is another area that involves personal choice and responsibility. Let the people decide what they want. Let me illustrate: There are about 18 million people who don't have health insurance but have incomes of between $50,000 - $75,000. They can afford coverage; they choose not to have it. We have hard choices to make. We, as Americans, have to take responsibility for our families. The alternative is increased government control over our personal choices and our budget." (votesmart.org)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Homeland Security. "Our borders need to be secure, and we need to adequately fund the agencies that provide our protection. Too many cuts have been made in these areas over the years, and they have left us vulnerable." (votesmart.org)
- Timothy Olson. Issue Position: Immigration. "Section 9 of the United States Constitution states: "The Migration or Importation of Such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person." In simple terms, our Founders actually put a price tag on coming to this country: $10 per person. Obviously, they believed there was value to being able to live here. Sadly, these days, we're not to ask anything of our immigrants-including that they abide by our laws. What Arizona did with its immigration law is state that America has a right to decide who enters the country legally and who enters illegally. The Arizona law mirrors federal law, which requires legal residents to carry "at all times" documentation that proves their status. While the people attacking Arizona generally don't have a positive view of America, a recent poll indicated 73% of American citizens support the Arizona law. I stand with the 73% and fully support enforcing immigration laws." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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