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Jim Evans' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

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.

Jim Evans has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2018 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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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 2018.

  • "I also favor continuing support for children to ensure that they have high-quality nutrition, shelter, health care and education. Economic policies that focus on full employment with living wages which reward work are critical. Abortion can be substantially reduced by reducing economic insecurity." (votesmart.org)
  • "Neither. I support non-partisan non-religion based policy that lowers abortion rates by empowering women to avoid unintended pregnancy. I support programs that promote health care and economic opportunity for children and mothers. These include income support for pregnant women and paid maternity leave for working women." (votesmart.org)
  • "I support a comprehensive balance of reducing costs with efficiency and fairer taxation. National debt is only meaningful as a percent of GDP. History shows that effective economic policy can leverage moderate deficits to stimulate economic growth so that the relative size of the debt shrinks even with deficit spending. The key is clean tax codes and fair markets, including a balance of trade with foreign countries." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Our campaign system is fatally flawed. The use of unlimited funds to promote issues and candidates with misinformation, lies, and fear is contrary to a free democratic republic and corrosive to our Constitutional principles. Deception and special-interest cash are destroying America as it was intended. We need to repeal and replace rather than regulate." (votesmart.org)
  • "The 2010 Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United, has gotten a lot of attention lately and for good reason. Unlimited donations by the wealthy elite and corporations to super PACs have drowned out the voices of ordinary Americans." (jimevansforcongress.com)
  • "Not all spending is equal. Spending that adds value to the middle-class stimulates economic growth. Spending and tax-cuts that increase wealth inequality produce long-term erosion of the economy. Tax incentives to business shifts income from labor to capital which weakens the economy." (votesmart.org)
  • "We need spending to 'promote the general welfare' and revenue sources that do the same. Public investment in education and infrastructure are appropriate as is a transaction tax on financial speculation." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Federal educational guidelines are ok but the idea that imposing national standards on local schools can improve student performance is misguided at best." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants? "No" (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.
  • "I have previously indicated my support for the old NRA position of universal instant background checks with the incorporation of relevant mental health information as an additional screen." (votesmart.org)
  • "I support valid research and data collection in the hopes of finding a way to reduce gun injuries and deaths without infringing on our accepted liberties. I am a gun owner with a conceal-and-carry permit but am deeply concerned for the safety and welfare of all citizens." (votesmart.org)
  • "There are better solutions to our national healthcare affordability crisis. There needs to be an ongoing effort to improve the access and cost issues that afflict U.S. healthcare. I'm on record as favoring a transition to a Medicare for All system in which "everyone is in, nobody is out" applies." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Not every situation is the same. We need comprehensive immigration reform that honors those who want to be citizens and are contributing to American values. We need to return those who are exploiting our country's generosity. We also need to address failed trade agreements that exacerbate immigration problems." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon? "No" (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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.
Unknown Position Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Neither. I support non-partisan non-religion based policy that lowers abortion rates by empowering women to avoid unintended pregnancy. I support programs that promote health care and economic opportunity for children and mothers. These include income support for pregnant women and paid maternity leave for working women. I also favor continuing support for children to ensure that they have high-quality nutrition, shelter, health care and education. Economic policies that focus on full employment with living wages which reward work are critical. Abortion can be substantially reduced by reducing economic insecurity.
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
I support a comprehensive balance of reducing costs with efficiency and fairer taxation. National debt is only meaningful as a percent of GDP. History shows that effective economic policy can leverage moderate deficits to stimulate economic growth so that the relative size of the debt shrinks even with deficit spending. The key is clean tax codes and fair markets, including a balance of trade with foreign countries.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Our campaign system is fatally flawed. The use of unlimited funds to promote issues and candidates with misinformation, lies, and fear is contrary to a free democratic republic and corrosive to our Constitutional principles. Deception and special-interest cash are destroying America as it was intended. We need to repeal and replace rather than regulate.
Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Justice is about fairness, not retribution. Capital punishment serves no democratic purpose and is a dangerous practice when based on an imperfect judicial system.
Do you support lowering taxes as a way of promoting growth in the economy?
Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Not all spending is equal. Spending that adds value to the middle-class stimulates economic growth. Spending and tax-cuts that increase wealth inequality produce long-term erosion of the economy. Tax incentives to business shifts income from labor to capital which weakens the economy. We need spending to "promote the general welfare" and revenue sources that do the same. Public investment in education and infrastructure are appropriate as is a transaction tax on financial speculation.
No Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
Federal educational guidelines are ok but the idea that imposing national standards on local schools can improve student performance is misguided at best.
Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
No Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
The Keystone pipeline would permit foreign owned companies to transport foreign oil across the American heartland to sell, tax-free, into foreign markets. Supplies would be reduced to Midwest refineries causing gas prices to go up. The pipeline is all risk and no benefit for U.S. citizens. The construction jobs temporarily created would be better allocated to meeting our massive infrastructure deficit. The BP (foreign owned company) oil spill is sufficient incentive to insist that the highest level of environmental safety regulation be required for offshore energy production. The cost of cleanup is far greater than the cost of prevention.
Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Unknown Position Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
What I, or any other unqualified politician believes about climate change is irrelevant. It is a complex science based on sophisticated computer models. The science community, including the DOD, NASA, and universities, is sounding the alarm on this potential problem. Developing the technology to address the issue might also stimulate economic growth and international competitiveness. Creation care and responsible stewardship are principles I learned as someone born and raised on a dairy farm. Our actions have consequences, for good or ill, and we must be accountable for them.
Unknown Position Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
I support valid research and data collection in the hopes of finding a way to reduce gun injuries and deaths without infringing on our accepted liberties. I am a gun owner with a conceal-and-carry permit but am deeply concerned for the safety and welfare of all citizens. I have previously indicated my support for the old NRA position of universal instant background checks with the incorporation of relevant mental health information as an additional screen.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
There are better solutions to our national healthcare affordability crisis. There needs to be an ongoing effort to improve the access and cost issues that afflict U.S. healthcare. I'm on record as favoring a transition to a Medicare for All system in which "everyone is in, nobody is out" applies.
No Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Not every situation is the same. We need comprehensive immigration reform that honors those who want to be citizens and are contributing to American values. We need to return those who are exploiting our country's generosity. We also need to address failed trade agreements that exacerbate immigration problems.
Yes Do you support same-sex marriage?
Our Constitution says "establish justice." That means treating every citizen equally under the law. I will never support legislation that discriminates (based on arbitrary reasons) against a class of people. The State considers marriage as simply another civil contract involving property and similar matters and therefore the standard of civil equality applies. Moreover, under the First Amendment, no religious body can be compelled to conduct a service that violates the beliefs of that institution so rights are not in conflict as regards civil marriage.
Yes Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
No Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
As a Veteran of the Vietnam-era who salutes the service and sacrifice of my peers and that of current members of the Armed Forces, I favor a policy of enlightened engagement that puts at risk the lives of American military personnel only when no viable alternative exists for our collective security.
No Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
I favor equalizing the taxation of wages and salaries by lifting the cap on Social Security-related payroll taxes. It is inherently unfair and regressive that low-wage workers are taxed on one hundred percent of their pay while high-level executives are taxed on only a small percentage of theirs. Most analyses of the issue indicate that the actuarial soundness of the system would be extended by seventy-five years or so by this single action.

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

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Arts
Slightly Decrease c) Defense
Maintain Status d) Education
Slightly Increase e) Environment
Maintain Status f) Homeland Security
Maintain Status g) International aid
Slightly Increase h) Medical Research
Greatly Increase i) Scientific Research
Slightly Increase j) Space exploration
Slightly Decrease k) United Nations
Maintain Status l) Welfare
m) Other or expanded categories
a) Capital gains taxes
b) Corporate taxes
c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
f) Income taxes (low-income families)
g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
h) Income taxes (high-income families)
i) Inheritance taxes
j) Payroll taxes
We need comprehensive tax reform. Tweaking a flawed system will not make it better. Taxes should generally be based on ability to pay and reflect fairness, simplicity and efficiency. They should also be based on fiscal goals and minimize burden shifting and disguised spending through "tax expenditures."
1) Restoring shared prosperity that rewards work through full employment, living wages that support families, pay equity, the right to freely organize and collectively bargain, fair taxes based on the ability to pay, supporting local small businesses and local independent family farmers/ranchers, and balanced trade that puts the interests of workers first. 2) Protecting/improving Social Security, Medicare and Veterans benefits earned through the hard work and service and sacrifice of our citizens. 3) Making every public school a great school and equitable funding that ensures an equal opportunity for every child, whether urban or rural. Limiting student debt.

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