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Althea Garrison'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.
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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?
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.

Massachusetts State Legislative Election 2000 National Political Awareness Test

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.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
b) Abortions should always be legally available.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
d) Abortions should be legal when pregnancy results from incest, rape or the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and notification requirements as decided by each state government.
f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
g) Support "buffer zones" at abortion clinics by requiring demonstrators to remain at least 25 feet from doorways and driveways.
h) Prohibit public funding for abortions and organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
i) Other

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.

a) Education (Higher)
b) Education (K-12)
c) Environment
d) Health care
e) Law enforcement
f) Transportation and Highway infrastructure
g) Welfare
h) Other

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.The Big Dig FinancingIndicate which principles you support (if any) to address any future cost overruns from the Big Dig.

a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
h) Inheritance taxes
i) Property taxes
j) Sales taxes
k) Vehicle taxes
l) Other
m) Should Internet sales be taxed?
n) Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
o) Would you support returning any operating surplus to Massachusetts taxpayers?
p) Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?
q) Do you support establishing a state income tax deduction for charitable donations?
r) Do you support providing state funds to pay for site cleanup costs associated with the Boston Red Sox stadium construction?
s) Do you support lowering the state income tax to 5%?
t) Other
a) Do you support using taxpayer revenue to pay for any future cost overruns resulting from the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project (the Big Dig)?
b) Increase drivers license fees.
c) Increase car registration fees.
d) Increase tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
e) Implement tolls on the Central Artery.
f) 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 offenders.
d) Implement the death penalty in Massachusetts.
e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
f) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
g) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
h) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
i) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
j) Lower the blood alcohol content limit defining drunk driving.
k) Prosecute as adults, youths accused of a felony.
l) Increase penalties for crimes committed on school grounds.
m) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
n) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
o) Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
p) Allocate all profits from property seized in drug-related crimes to a drug treatment fund.
q) Require the state to prove that property was used to commit a crime before it can be seized.
r) Other

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

a) Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
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) Support charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools.
e) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
f) Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
g) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
h) Support posting the Ten Commandments in public schools.
i) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
j) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
k) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
l) Implement stricter eligibility requirements for admission into special education programs.
m) Other
n) Should the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam (MCAS) be required for high school graduation?

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.Affirmative Action: Which of the following state agencies should take race and sex into account when making employment decisions?

a) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
c) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
d) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
e) Other
a) College and university admissions
b) Public employment
c) State contracting
d) Other

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

a) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce 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.
d) Require states to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
e) Support funding for recycling programs in Massachusetts.
f) Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend participation in un-funded, federally-mandated, environmental protection legislation.
h) Other
i) Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

a) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Massachusetts Governors?
b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Massachusetts State Senators and Representatives?
a) Individual
b) PAC
c) Corporate
d) Political Parties
d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
f) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
g) Do you support voting on-line?
h) Do you support on-line voter registration?
i) Do you support prohibiting jailed felons from voting?
j) Do you support the 1998 Clean Elections Law?
k) Other

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

a) Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
b) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
g) Require background checks of gun buyers at gun shows.
h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Prohibit the attorney general from using the Consumer Protection Act to regulate gun sales.
j) Other

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.
c) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
d) Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
e) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
f) Support a patient's right to sue his or her HMO.
g) Support a patient's right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
h) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
i) Require health insurance companies to provide contraceptive coverage for women.
j) Provide state funds to ensure that all Massachusetts state residents have health insurance.
k) Prohibit the conversion of non-profit hospitals, HMOs, and health insurance firms to for-profit status.
l) Prohibit health insurance companies from using genetic information to determine health care policies and coverage.
m) Allow the state public health commissioner to establish needle exchange programs.
n) Other

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

a) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
b) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
c) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
d) Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
e) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
f) Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans, and job training and placement.
g) Allow cities and towns to prevent landlords from converting subsidized housing into market-rate housing.
h) Prohibit dog racing as a form of gambling.
i) Extend health benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.
j) Use the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to finance paid leave for new parents.
k) Prohibit employers from requiring genetic test results from being used as a criterion for employment.
l) Other
m) Should physician-assisted suicide be legally available in Massachusetts?
n) Should Massachusetts include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws?
o) Should Massachusetts recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
p) Should Massachusetts restrict marriage to a relationship only between a man and a woman?

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

a) Maintain the 2-year limit on receiving welfare benefits.
b) Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
c) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
d) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
e) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
f) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
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) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
k) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
l) Allow education and training to be counted toward work requirements needed to receive TANF benefits.
m) Other
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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