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Kody Zalewski'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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Kody Zalewski has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Minnesota State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Pro-life a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
Yes c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
Yes e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
Yes f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
Yes g) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
No h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
No i) Do you support increased regulations on abortion providers?
No j) Do you support requiring a doctor to be present when a woman takes a pill to induce an abortion?
As a neuroscientist by trade, a fetus must have a nervous system to be considered a person. Before the 1st trimester I have no problem w/ abortion.

1) State Spending:Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State Taxes:Using the key,indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

Slightly Increase a) Education (higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Environment
Slightly Decrease d) Health care
Greatly Decrease e) Law enforcement/corrections
Slightly Decrease f) Transportation/infrastructure
Greatly Decrease g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories:
Greatly Decrease a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Decrease c) Corporate taxes
Slightly Decrease d) Gas/Oil taxes
Greatly Decrease e) Property taxes
Greatly Decrease f) Sales taxes
Slightly Decrease g) Income taxes (low-income families)
Slightly Decrease h) Income taxes (mid-income families)
Slightly Decrease i) Income taxes (high-income families)
Less taxes pump more money into the economy.

a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

No 1) Individual
Yes 2) Political Action Committee
Yes 3) Corporate
No 4) Political Party
Yes b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
No e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
f) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
Yes c) Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
No d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
No f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Yes g) Should citizens be allowed to use deadly force in defense of their homes, dwellings or vehicles?
Imprisonment and capital punishment doesn't stop crime. End the drug war!
Yes a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
Yes b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
No c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
No d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
No e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
Yes f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
I am strongly in support of a free market, responsible, [illegible] and educated workers and employers create jobs, not the government.
No a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
No b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
No c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
Yes d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
Yes e) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
No f) Do you support strengthening Minnesota's anti-bullying statute?
Yes g) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
h) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Minnesota high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
States should take control of education from the fedral government, take away public unions and pay teachers well to make it a desired proffession. h) Candidate placed check mark between Yes and No columns.
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
No b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
c) Do you support state funding for improvements to Minnesota's energy infrastructure?
No d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
No e) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
Tax breaks for thorium power!
No a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
No b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
Yes d) Should a license be required for gun possession?
The Second amendment is fairly clear.
No a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
No b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
Yes c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
No d) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
Yes e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
Yes f) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
Health insurance should be modeled after Germany's system where employers fund employee's health insurance.
No a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Yes b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Minnesota's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Minnesota's anti-discrimination laws?
Although I'm not a fan of anti-discrimination, if the laws are on the books gender identity and sexual orientation should be included.
My first priority would be to pass a marriage equality bill as Minnesota's first bisexual legislator. Second would be to end Minnesota's role in the disastrous drug war and legalize cannabis. Thirdly, I would provide tax breaks to power companies waiting to build thorium power plants in the state. Minnesota has a unique opportunity to capitalize on a safe, carbon neutral source of nuclear power. It would provide jobs and allow us to sell power to neighboring states and Canada.

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