Stephen Woods' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Due to a later filing deadline or other circumstances delaying entry into our database, Stephen Woods did not receive the 2012 Political Courage Test.
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 2012.
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. "I support the right of women having the right to make the choice. I support Roe v. Wade as the law of the land." (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. "The debt that we assumed wasn't money that was wasted in Las Vegas [¦] It was spent on programs. I think we need to reform our tax policy, but I also think we need to reform our behavior policy [¦] I think we should cut defense. As much as I know that defense is an important industry in Maine, I think we need to be responsible." (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Christopher Cousins. Bangor Daily News: Yarmouth councilman takes a truly unconventional approach in bid for U.S. Senate. 20 June 2012. "He is a supporter of President Obama's Affordable Care Act, a proponent of strong defense spending and someone who believes the federal budget can be balanced with a range of reforms that don't cut safety-net services from the country's most vulnerable people. He also said Congress should allow the Bush-era tax cuts to expire." (bangordailynews.com)
- Stephen Woods. Issue Position: National Debt. 1 January 2012. "When the 'spend' number continuously eclipses the 'take in' number, the policy response to the math problem is rather simple -- increase sources of revenue or reduce spending elements (or both). Somehow our government insists that the debt problem is much more complicated than just described. It isn't. The complication is unrelated to math -- but to the partisan politics that have become part of the standard operating procedure in D.C. If elected, I will work tirelessly to balance our federal budget and eliminate our national debt as quickly as possible absent any partisan agenda or limitations." (votesmart.org)
- Christopher Cousins. Bangor Daily News: Yarmouth councilman takes a truly unconventional approach in bid for U.S. Senate. 20 June 2012. "He also said Congress should allow the Bush-era tax cuts to expire." (bangordailynews.com)
- Stephen Woods. Issue Position: Taxes. 10 October 2012. "While I will fight to support and draft policies that minimize the tax burden for all Americans, our current economic crisis demands a realistic approach and not one born from idealism or political gamesmanship. Spending cuts alone won't solve our immediate crisis. Closing tax loopholes and adjusting tax codes must be considered. 'Read My Lips,' any politician that tells you that he or she will make sure that your taxes will never be raised is lying to you. Any politician or government leader that signs a tax pledge to never vote for any form of tax increase is either a) lying to you, or b) intent on hurting our country while blindly pursuing a political agenda. In either case, they're neglecting the duty of practical leadership. If I'm elected to serve in the United States Senate, I will fight to avoid any and all forms of tax increases for any taxpayers at any time of my term as I feel taxes in general are too high. But, I will not 'pledge' to do anything other than serve my constituents in Maine with honor, dignity and my best judgment." (www.stevewoods2012.com)
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. "I do support President Obama's plan [¦] the higher income people those people should have a higher [tax] burden." (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Stephen Woods. Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy. 1 January 2012. "I do not believe that 'The Government' creates jobs. Government needs to create an environment conducive to economic growth and free market principles. These conditions stimulate job growth." (votesmart.org)
- Stephen Woods. Issue Position: National Debt. 1 January 2012. "When the 'spend' number continuously eclipses the "take in" number, the policy response to the math problem is rather simple -- increase sources of revenue or reduce spending elements (or both). Somehow our government insists that the debt problem is much more complicated than just described. It isn't. The complication is unrelated to math -- but to the partisan politics that have become part of the standard operating procedure in D.C. If elected, I will work tirelessly to balance our federal budget and eliminate our national debt as quickly as possible absent any partisan agenda or limitations." (votesmart.org)
- Stephen Woods. Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy. 1 January 2012. "Government should work to effectively reduce and eliminate unnecessary burdens (taxes, oppressive regulatory hurdles, ineffective bureaucracy. etc.) while instituting policy initiatives (global trade, energy, labor) that help stimulate growth and opportunity for all Americans." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. Responded "I support looking at the reality [¦] there is a finite amount of energy from fossil fuels derived from both oil and natural gas [¦] At some point drilling will occur, we will at some point need to explore other sources of energy [¦] I'm not in support of reckless exploration, I'm not in support of drill baby drill [¦] But, at this point, we have no other choice but to responsible search for more energy." to the question: " Do you support expansion of [¦] offshore drilling?" (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. "I believe climate change is and should be about science [¦] Climate change is happening [¦] At some point it all has to do with the carbon being released into the atmosphere. I think we are on a good track with things like emission standards. To me, the fuel situation isn't a policy issue, it's a crisis [¦] We are not moving forward with the critical emphasis we should, and that would be one of my major priorities." (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Stephen Woods. Issue Position: Healthcare. 10 October 2012. "While current legislation known as Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) is far from perfect, it represents a huge step forward in regard to addressing some immediate and critical gaps in our healthcare laws (pre-existing conditions, coverage for children under 26-years-old under parents insurance, preventive care, etc.) while creating a platform for further refinement." (www.stevewoods2012.com)
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. "I don't think it's the perfect plan [¦] I think having this piece of legislation in places gives us the opportunity to further refine it." (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Stephen Woods. U.S. Senate Candidate Steve Woods Responds to Today's Historic Supreme Court Ruling. 28 June 2012. "I have been an active and vocal supporter of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act since 2010 - even though it is not perfect it is an historic step in the right direction [¦] I believe that today's decision by the Supreme Court will go down in history as the most important and potentially life-saving piece of legislation passed over many decades - for not just Mainer's but all American's." (www.stevewoods2012.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Stephen Woods. Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Your Vote 2012 - Steve Woods - Independent US Senate Candidate. 5 September 2012. "I enthusiastically support the concept of same-sex marriage. I don't define it as supporting same-sex marriage I support human rights [¦] They should have the same freedoms; we should all have the same freedoms." (stream.publicbroadcasting.net)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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