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Barry Finegold's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for State Senate (MA) - Second Essex and Middlesex

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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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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 1996 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.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

X a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
c) Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should always be illegal.
f) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
g) Should Massachusetts government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action and civil rights in Massachusetts.

a) The Massachusetts government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
b) The Massachusetts government should provide no affirmative action programs.
c) Specific, adjustable percentages of contracts for state work should be awarded to minority or woman-owned businesses.
Undecided d) Do you believe that the Massachusetts government should recognize same-sex marriages?
e) Do you support the proposed repeal of the 1974 Massachusetts law requiring racially balanced schools?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding children and family issues in Massachusetts.

a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
X b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
X d) Establish higher standards for foster parents in Massachusetts.
X e) Support the proposal to incarcerate parents who are delinquent in their child support payments.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in Massachusetts.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
X b) Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
c) Support "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Institute the death penalty in Massachusetts.
e) Oppose the death penalty.
f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
g) Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
h) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
X i) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
j) Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
X k) Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
l) Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
m) Allow judges the option to reduce mandatory sentences for firearms, drug and drunk driving offenses.
n) Require prison inmates to pay for the medical care they receive in prison.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in Massachusetts.

a) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
X b) Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
c) Increase state funding for local community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
d) Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
e) Allow prosecutors to decide on a case-by-case basis whether a juvenile should be tried as an adult.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Massachusetts's economic development.

a) Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
X b) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
c) Expand legalized gambling in Massachusetts by allowing the construction of an Indian casino in New Bedford.
X d) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
e) Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production and interest rates.
f) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
X g) Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
h) Eliminate toll collections along the Massachusetts Turnpike.
i) Allow the expanded installation of Keno games in Massachusetts.
Undecided j) Do you support the construction of a new convention center in the Boston area?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Massachusetts' education system.

a) Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
b) Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
c) Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
d) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
e) Support continuation of charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
f) Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
g) Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
h) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
i) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
j) Remove the state-imposed limit on the number of charter schools that can be formed in Massachusetts.
k) Support bilingual education in public schools for students who do not speak English.
l) Support a school choice program that allows parents to choose which public school their child(ren) should attend.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Massachusetts' environment and natural resources.

a) Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Massachusetts.
b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
c) Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
d) Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
e) Continue to provide funding for recycling programs in Massachusetts.
f) Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend Massachusetts' participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
h) Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
i) Provide state financial assistance to homeowners who must comply with Title V septic regulations when they move.
Yes a) Do you support the law to take effect in 2002 which will limit the terms of Massachusetts State Senators and Representatives to eight years?
Yes b) Would you support amending the Massachusetts Constitution to limit the terms of Massachusetts' Governor?
Yes c) Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
Yes d) Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes e) Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes f) Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes g) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No h) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
No i) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
Yes j) Would you support amending the Massachusetts Constitution to allow the Governor to adjust legislators' pay every two years based on shifts in Massachusetts' household income?

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

X a) Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
X b) Support recent increases in state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
c) Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
d) Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of firearms.
e) Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
f) Allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.
g) Support the law which mandates a six-month prison sentence for juveniles who are convicted of carrying a gun.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Massachusetts' health care system.

a) Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
b) Provide tax incentives to businesses which pay a portion of the health care premiums of their employees who earn less than the poverty level.
c) Ensure that Massachusetts's citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
d) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
e) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X f) Support legislation to require all private insurers and HMO's to cover certain medical services (e.g. 48 hour hospital stays for mothers after childbirth).
g) Provide state financial assistance to seniors and the disabled to allow them access to home and community-based health care.
h) Request a waiver from the federal government to provide Medicaid and Medicare services through managed care programs.
i) Require Massachusetts businesses to offer health insurance to employees working at least 20 hours a week.
Undecided j) Do you believe that terminally ill individuals should have the right to end their lives?

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one option only.

a) Abortion
b) Affirmative Action
c) AIDS Programs
d) Education
e) Environment
f) Health Care
g) Law Enforcement
h) Welfare
i) Should some funds from the Massachusetts cigarette tax be transferred from anti-smoking and other social programs and used to reduce the Massachusetts budget deficit?

Please indicate the changes you support (if any) concerning Massachusetts' tax levels. Select one option only.

a) Alcohol Taxes
b) Business Taxes
c) Capital Gains Taxes
d) Cigarette Taxes
e) Gasoline Taxes
f) Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
g) Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
h) Property Taxes
i) Sales Taxes
j) State Fees
k) Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Massachusetts' welfare system.

a) Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
b) Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
c) Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
d) Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
e) Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
f) Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
g) Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
h) Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
i) Require mothers to identify their child(ren)'s father in order to receive welfare benefits.
j) Provide incentives for Massachusetts businesses to hire welfare recipients when they are removed from welfare programs.
k) Eliminate cash grants to welfare recipients.
l) Provide state-funded child care to welfare recipients and the working poor.
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Massachusetts General Court. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.

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