David Therrien's 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.
David Therrien has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.
Maryland Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| It is the women's right to decide what happens to her body. State's are charged with the responsibility of being an advocate and ultimate guardian for all children until they are 18 years of age. The question is, "When is an unborn child a person afforded protections under State law?" I am a Christian and my beliefs are without exception, "Pro-Life," a child is conceived and exists at conception. As a Congressman representing District 4, I pledge to vote the will of the people and will honor the oath of office taken casting my vote IAW my Constituents' direction. | |||
| No | In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? | ||
| No | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| Increasing taxes further negates our free market system's impact resulting in a decrease in GDP and personal discretionary income. We will lose more jobs and the market will shrink further - The growth of all are necessary to grow our economy and reduce our deficit. Our military needs sufficient resources to maintain a 1.5 theater campaign capability to effectively defend our country. In Iraq and Afghanistan, we currently have enough resources to maintain that one single theater. Additional cuts would reduce our resources further and it would be difficult to defend our country if attacked elsewhere in the world. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Corporate backing of candidates without campaign contribution limits has fostered candidate loyalties to corporations rather than their constituents. Outlandish contributions have funded campaigns to levels not achievable by the other party candidates creating an unlevel playing field. Candidates should be as close to equal in exposure as possible and regulating gifts and contributions to keep candidates close in their marketing expenditures will foster debates and candidate interaction allowing the voters to see the real deals and not be unfairly influenced by massive differences in spending capabilities. | |||
| Yes | Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| No | Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? | ||
| Incarcerating non-violent offenders for crimes holds them accountable but doesn't address societal causes or problems. Mandatory minimums often needlessly damage lives by ignoring mitigating circumstances deciding a harsher punishment than actually warranted. Is clearing a docket faster with mandatory minimums worth wrongfully served time or punishment? Mandatory minimum sentencing also handcuffs judges preventing them from doing their jobs, i.e. judging! Legislated mandated sentencing for crimes that require harsh or consistent punishments can be mandated but minor crimes where people are punished, assigned restitution and given a second chance (i.e. enrolled in a "Re-Start Program") is the judges' decision not legislators. | |||
| Yes | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Corporations must accept responsibility for a "Complete Employee Plan" employee program. Tax incentives should be given to businesses that establish competitive health care insurance options, flexible spending plans, vacation and sick leave policies, advancement training, retraining for employees if needed and ownership opportunities in companies where employees work. We should condone companies that philosophically do not "Pay It Forward" when it comes to growing employee capabilities and improving the lives of their employee work force. We should encourage the growth of small business start-ups and incentivize with short term benefits for those that succeed and create high paying jobs. | |||
| Yes | Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants? | ||
| State and local governments are the local and community education experts with boots on the ground. They know the education requirements of students and adults needing jobs and careers in their Districts and what is needed to be competitive at a global, national level. Use Common Core as a model not a requirement and apply it to defining the state's education needs. The school districts in District 4 should build their program with the help of State leadership to define their community needs. Education funding should then support the implementation of these programs thereby meeting the students' and adults' needs. | |||
| Yes | Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline? | ||
| Yes | Do you support funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| Yes | Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? | ||
| We need to harvest our natural resources and reduce our dependency on the import of foreign fossil fuels. We MUST accelerate development of renewable energy (solar, wind, thermal) to eliminate as much of and as soon as possible, our dependence on fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources will not totally eliminate the need for fossil fuels and the associated consumables produced from it, but we can eliminate over 75% of our consumption by using alternative passive energy sources for heating fuel, automobile and machinery fuels. Hydraulic fracturing has the potential to cause cataclysmic damage to our environment if not harvested carefully. | |||
| Yes | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | ||
| Yes | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Meeting Federally mandated emission goals, i.e. moving to alternative fuel and energy sources requires a coordinated effort by the entire U.S. to change to new or improved equipment is doable. As evidenced, the burning of fossil fuels at current rates are generating unprecedented volumes of gases damaging our atmosphere and causing the "Greenhouse Effect." To survive we must reduce carbon emissions to levels that Earth's vegetation can process. Also noted, polar ice caps are melting faster than cyclically projected and the Ozone layer protecting planet Earth is being destroyed, causing great change in Earth's climate and ability to sustain life. | |||
| Yes | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| All states must report ALL felons to the NICS. 38 states report less than 80% of their felony convictions. Convicted felons cannot purchase a firearm, yet approximately 80,000 felons applied to purchase a firearm in 2010 and only 44 were prosecuted. Enacted legislation must be enforced or additional legislation is useless. Additionally, any gun owner that does not take reasonable care to secure their firearm(s) properly is Negligent and should be liable/responsible for any crime(s) committed by anyone taking their firearm(s). I favor required training for firearms purchasers in gun SAFETY, CARE, STORAGE and PROPER USE prior to purchasing. | |||
| Yes | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| Access to Healthcare for everyone is attainable and should be included in every person's basic plan of life's necessities just like maintaining a budget, vacation pay, sick pay, owning a car and a home. Obamacare's structure was flawed when implemented, is incurring billions of dollars in losses and is projected to collapse from insufficient participation in 2017. The program suffers from skyrocketing costs and must be rebuilt on a free market system driven by competition to reduce costs, improve services and be sustainable. The cost of BIG government managing a universal program will never be able to mandate affordable healthcare. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| You cannot find and deport every illegal immigrant. Our borders must be controlled to prevent illegal entry. An immigration policy must be established where an immigrant applying for entry would agree to becoming an American citizen within a reasonable period, must intend to work and pay taxes, cannot be a fugitive or have a criminal record of felonious convictions. A period of 24 months would be established for all illegal immigrants to apply for processing. Anyone failing to meet the minimum requirements or that applies after the 24 month period expires would be deported back to their country of origin. | |||
| Yes | Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Psychological, psychiatric and medical professionals acknowledge that they do not know what causes an attraction in individuals in same-sex relationships. And, when compared to couples in heterosexual relationships, the same emotional attractions and feelings for each other are present. All basic factors of financial stability, familial upbringing, support of friends and community are present the only difference acknowledged is the inability to pro-creation which is not a requirement of civil marriage. To prevent a CIVIL marriage where they intend to be permanently bound should not be withheld as there is no secular reason to support a contrary position. | |||
| Yes | Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict? | ||
| Yes | Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon? | ||
| Terrorists willing to kill Americans cannot have sanctuary anywhere. Work with host authorities if allied, act if not until neutralized. Sovereignty of a country sheltering terrorists that refuses to arrest them should not be respected. If working to build or acquire nuclear weapons, first use diplomatic negotiations and sanctions. If unsuccessful and its believed the country would initiate the use of nuclear weapons against the U.S., then eliminate their facilities housing their nuclear weapons/equipment. Allowing countries with opposing or hostile intentions toward the U.S. to acquire nuclear capabilities is an invitation to kill Americans in mass and cannot be allowed. | |||
| Yes | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? | ||
| People should have an opportunity to invest their Social Security taxes into vehicles that would return an amount greater in value than would have otherwise accrued. The Federal Government cannot be responsible for investing a Contributors taxes and as a result, Contributors are not getting the benefit of a greater return had the funds been invested. Contributors would have greater influence in planning their retirement if they could control at least a portion of their taxes and we would have a more stable and viable economy if they were allowed to control all of the funds in their retirement account. | |||
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 | ||
| Greatly Decrease | b) Arts | ||
| Greatly Increase | c) Defense | ||
| Greatly Increase | d) Education | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Environment | ||
| Greatly Increase | f) Homeland Security | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) International aid | ||
| Maintain Status | h) Medical Research | ||
| Slightly Decrease | i) Scientific Research | ||
| Greatly Decrease | j) Space exploration | ||
| Greatly Decrease | k) United Nations | ||
| Slightly Decrease | l) Welfare | ||
| Maintain Status | a) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Corporate taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Small business taxes | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Excise taxes (alcohol) | ||
| Greatly Increase | e) Excise taxes (cigarettes) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | j) Inheritance taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | k) Payroll taxes | ||
| Our 19 Trillion dollar deficit requires a decrease in spending on expenses not focused on basic necessities and increased on areas affecting our National Security. International Aid needs to be reduced and those funds directed toward stimulating jobs, funding U.S. infrastructure, highways and bridge refurbishment. Our water pipelines are crumbling nationally as are our bridges and highways. We need to reduce funding other nations financial problems and take care of our own. Reductions are not eliminations and we will increase spending when we are whole again. Eliminating Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Government programs will recover additional misaligned revenue. | |||
| We need to reduce taxes in areas that would stimulate the growth of small businesses, increase the net income of our middle and lower class families and increase the tax on excise or luxury items. This would increase spendable income and possible savings Not addressed are the trade imbalances where imports are receiving huge benefits undercutting similarly made U.S. products and our exported goods are taxed heavily when sold on other markets. We must address corporate profits sitting outside the U.S. and make it advantageous to locate their headquarters, manufacturing facilities for products and services back again within our borders. | |||
| National Security (Immigration, Terrorism and Rebuilding our Military) - JOBS/Education - Healthcare Maryland District 4. The Federal Government has to Stop Spending More Than We Take In!! With a strong Federal Government workforce in our District we still need more jobs. Controlling education funding at the local level will allow us to determine subjects taught that are in the best interest of our children. Let's keep the jobs we have, stimulate job growth and educate our young. Retrain our adults to provide the workforce corporations need. Encourage and support small business ownership which IS the strength of our local economy. |
Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.