Bill Crook'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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Bill Crook 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.
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Reproductive Rights. "Bill Crook is a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose. While Bill understands that many people feel strongly against this issue, he feels that the matter is so personal and complicated for each woman that only she has the right to decide what to do with her body, her health, and her reproductive rights. Rather than falling into the old partisan battles over this issue, though, Bill believes we need to move forward by ensuring if an abortion becomes necessary that it will be safe and legal, while working to make it as rare as possible through emphasis on preventing unwanted pregnancies and supporting adoption. The more focus we put on these policies, the fewer abortions will occur. Bill strongly opposes a constitutional ban on abortion favored by many Republicans--evidence suggest legal restrictions would only serve to drive women to seek abortions outside of the medical system, where economically disadvantaged women in particular would face unsafe procedures." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Economic Recovery. "Finally, many have asked what the proper role of government should be in the economy. Bill believes the government's role should be limited. Government can never replace the innovation of industry. Government can never stand-in for an individual's hard work. Government can never provide the same love and support that a family does. These are the things that make our economy work. What government can do is help create the conditions that allow these things to thrive and expand. Bill's goal as your Representative is to make sure government does just that. Nothing more, nothing less." (votesmart.org)
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Senior Issues. "Bill strongly opposes any plan to privatize social security. One look at the market will tell you why. Rather than undermining social security with risky schemes, we should focus on strengthening it, and maintain our promise to American workers. With baby boomers retiring, the only way to maintain the system is to put more money into it or pay less money out. We should not change anything for current or soon-to-be retirees, but in the long run here are some changes to consider." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Education. "NCLB began with good intentions aimed at increased accountability, but has failed to achieve those ends. Bill proposes three major changes to the law. First, NCLB has to be fully funded. NCLB has not lived up to its obligations to fund school districts, but then penalizes those districts for not living up to unrealistic standards. Second, we need increased flexibility of standards to account for different subgroups (such as ESL or Special Needs students) within each school, rather than treat all students as identical. Third, we need a more comprehensive way of measuring progress." (votesmart.org)
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Environment and Energy. "There is a broad consensus among climate scientists that human-generated climate change is occurring and is a significant problem. Research has shown that the greenhouse gas buildup in our atmosphere is adversely affecting our environment. Steps must be taken now to reverse harmful practices and policies before the damage is irreparable. Bill will work to address this issue immediately, so that the problem of global warming is not simply passed on to future generations. Bill supports The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which sets targets and requires the actions necessary to avoid irreversible warming of the planet. This act establishes a market-based program of reducing global warming from electric utilities, oil companies, large industrial sources and other entities that are collectively responsible for 85% of U.S. global warming emissions. Covered entities must have tradable federal permits, allowances, for each ton of pollution emitted into the atmosphere. This program reduces the number of available allowances issued each year to ensure that aggregate emissions are reduced by 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and 83% below 2005 levels in 2050. The Senate version calls for 20% reduction by 2020. We know that clean air is vital to the health and welfare of all Americans, and all human beings alike. We must put teeth back into The Clean Air Act and support efforts to limit Greenhouse Gases and toxins entering the atmosphere, which warms our planet and leads to the deterioration of our health." (votesmart.org)
- Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Bill Crook a grade of C. (www.goapvf.org)
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Health Care. "Reducing costs is directly linked to expanding coverage. The less health care costs, the more people who will be able to afford it; so, the policies above, should by themselves, expand coverage. But I am one of those that feels that health care, like education, should be available to all Americans. It's not just economically smart, it is the right thing to do. A healthier nation is a more productive, more competitive nation. Some Americans simply aren't profitable for private sector insurers, and won't be covered. Only an insurance plan without a profit motive can cover these Americans." (votesmart.org)
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Immigration. "Today we send a mixed message to those who come across the border. On the one hand, we say that it is illegal to come here. On the other, those who make it can have a job, buy a home, and send money back to their families. Clearly, our actions have spoken louder than our words. To fix this problem, Bill believes we must enforce the law by cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants as well as those who help falsify identification documents for illegal immigrants. It is estimated that there are 12 million undocumented workers residing in the U.S. Bill believes we need a practical approach to addressing their presence. Undocumented workers should be required to pass a criminal background check, prove that they are financially independent, pay a fine for entering the country illegally, and apply for legal status. Those who cannot will be sent home. Basically the Federal Government should enforce the current Immigrations and naturalization Laws or authorize and fund state and local law enforcement to enforce these laws." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. "Hate crimes are committed against individuals, but they affect entire communities. Bill supports the Matthew Shepard Act, which would expand federal hate crime laws to include crimes motivated by the victim's perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The act would also provide federal authorities with a greater ability to assist state and local law enforcement with investigations into bias-motivated crimes." (votesmart.org)
- Bill Crook. Issue Position: LGBT Rights. "Bill believes same sex partners should receive the same legal rights and privileges as any other married couple. These include property rights, employment benefits, tax treatment, survivor benefits, and the right to assist loved ones in times of emergency. Bill supports the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) and the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act, which extends spousal benefits to all federal civilian employees, including same-sex domestic partners, and equalizes tax treatment, specifically, for employer-provided health coverage for other non-spouse, non-dependent beneficiaries." (votesmart.org)
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