John Slavens' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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John Slavens has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.
Texas Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Through DNA evidence, science now proves that life begins at conception. Therefore, constitutionally no state currently has the right to legalize abortion. Ignoring the science, since the constitution is otherwise silent on abortion, the legalities of abortion should be determined at the State level not in Washington and certainly not by judges that are appointed rather than elected. I personally prefer to belong to a society where abortion is illegal unless a pregnancy endangers the life or health of the mother or results from cases of rape or incest. | |||
| 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? | ||
| We must maintain the strongest military in the world. To have the strongest military in the world we must have the strongest economy in the world. To strengthen our economy, we must significantly reduce our national debt by winning on our international trade agreements and domestically reducing the regulations and taxes. This will naturally increase the minimum wage earned by all Americans which is currently too low. Socialism and Crony Capitalism are two things destroying our country. We need to make our tax code and regulations consistent and easy to understand to create a level playing field for everyone. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| The first of my seven key principles is "A Free Market". Having said that, to maintain a free market we must prevent monopolies which lead to Crony Capitalism. We cannot allow a few businesses to eliminate healthy competition by excessive tax laws and regulations that only they can understand and properly address. For instance, I am running against a 26-year incumbent that raises and spends roughly $1.5 million each year. Over 90% of that money comes from special-interest-groups that have nothing to do with our district but are only hoping to eliminate competition for their business by buying Congress. | |||
| 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? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| The United States of America has historically been the greatest country in the history of the World in every way including economically. The thing that has historically distinguished us from other countries, in addition to our strong belief in God, is our commitment to a Free Market. Low regulations and low taxes promote a Free Market which results in continuous economic growth. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants? | ||
| I believe the US Constitution is inspired of God and is the ultimate law of the land. The US Constitution clearly states that the Federal government's authority is limited to only those things specifically enumerated in the US Constitution (Article 1, Section 8 and further clarified with Amendment #10). Education is not specifically enumerated in the US Constitution and, therefore, the federal department of Education must be closed immediately. Currently, education is something constitutionally left up to each state. | |||
| Yes | Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline? | ||
| No | Do you support funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| No | Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? | ||
| As a matter of national security we must become energy independent. Wars are won by cutting off the money supply. As part of our military budget we could fund research and development regarding renewable energy. We can also provide tax incentives to US Companies researching and developing renewable energy. But something we must do immediately as a highest priority is use all the natural energy resources we have available to us in this country. | |||
| Yes | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | ||
| No | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| God created the Heavens and the Earth and gave us dominion over all things. We have an obligation to use those resources with a thankfulness of heart and as wise stewards. The best thing we can do for the world?s environment is move production from countries with no environmental regulations to more responsible countries like the United States. You do that by lowering the regulations in the US, especially those that make no sense. The EPA is out of control and needs a complete overhaul including a powerful reminder that they are only to enforce the laws made by Congress. | |||
| No | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| The 2nd amendment clearly gives each individual citizen the right to bear arms. A person could justifiably argue that severe mental illness and/or a significant criminal record may be grounds for the loss of that constitutional right. Nevertheless, those decisions should be made at the state level. The federal government's only role is to make sure no state limits its citizens from the "right to bear arms" as currently afforded to every citizen regardless of the state to which they reside. Perhaps under the interstate commerce clause the federal government may be able to help the states with background checks. | |||
| Yes | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| Me and the majority of the country want ObamaCare repealed. It is imperative we do not take away an individual?s motivation to be self-reliant with regards to their own health by removing the consequences of their decisions. The federal government has no Constitutional authority to be involved in Health Care; Therefore, that responsibility should be left up to each state. We cannot accept any form of socialized medicine and no more open door policy in our emergency rooms. We need significant tort reform. We must break down the monopolies held by the insurance and pharmaceutical companies and overhaul the FDA. | |||
| Yes | Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| One of my three major areas of focus is "Border Control". We have to do the following as soon as possible: 1) Secure the border 100% by land, sea and air using military and private enterprise technology. 2) Deport all illegal immigrants that have a criminal record. 3) Shut off the benefits for ALL non-US Citizens 4) Fix our legal immigration process so that it: is less expensive/time consuming, doesn?t change our religious makeup, ensures immigrants are law abiding, God fearing and hardworking, does not take jobs away from current US Citizens, and properly tracks people with temporary visas. | |||
| No | Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| I believe ?marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator?s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.? However, the legal definition of ?marriage? should be determined by the voice of the people. Appropriate States? rights would allow different states to have different legal definitions in that regard. This decision certainly shouldn?t be made by judges, especially judges that are appointed rather than elected. The federal government has no constitutional authority to force any state into its definition of marriage without making an amendment to the US Constitution. | |||
| 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? | ||
| We must: 1) have the strongest military in the world, which requires the strongest economy 2) control the money supply by producing our own energy and stop providing weapons 3) have border security 4) not use resources unless it directly benefits the U.S. 5) continue our covert operations and when we identify a threat we get in, destroy, and get out. 6) remember Anarchy is worse than a bad Dictator 7) deter future attacks, including Cyber, by rewarding ten-fold 8) take great care of our military personal 9) stand strongly with Israel. 10) require that war be declared by Congress. | |||
| Yes | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? | ||
| We must privatize Social Security and treat it more like a 401k. We have learned from sad experience what many of us have been saying all along, that government cannot be trusted. We cannot take money away from the older generation (i.e. 55 and older) that has rightfully earned that money and is counting on it. Constitutionally, the states should administer Social Security. | |||
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.
| Eliminate | a) Agriculture | ||
| Greatly Decrease | b) Arts | ||
| Greatly Increase | c) Defense | ||
| Eliminate | d) Education | ||
| Greatly Decrease | e) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Homeland Security | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) International aid | ||
| Greatly Decrease | h) Medical Research | ||
| Greatly Decrease | i) Scientific Research | ||
| Maintain Status | j) Space exploration | ||
| Eliminate | k) United Nations | ||
| Eliminate | l) Welfare | ||
| Eliminate | a) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Eliminate | b) Corporate taxes | ||
| Eliminate | c) Small business taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Excise taxes (alcohol) | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Excise taxes (cigarettes) | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) | ||
| Eliminate | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | j) Inheritance taxes | ||
| Eliminate | k) Payroll taxes | ||
| The federal government does not have the Constitutional right to collect nor spend money on things that are not specifically enumerated in the US Constitution (Article 1, Section 8) without making an amendment to the US Constitution. The promotion of great ideas and programs (health care, education, welfare, land management, etc.) should be administered at the state level. Research and development in the arts and sciences should be inspired through tax incentives to companies and individuals rather than tax funding. The federal government is responsible for our security, which requires the strongest military in the world and a secure border. | |||
| All taxes should be eliminated with the exception of sales tax, as exampled in the FAIR tax. Rebates can be provided for charitable contributions. One of my three major areas of focus is Tax Reform: 1) Federal taxes only in accordance with the US Constitution. 2) A one-page tax code 3) The same rate for ALL Americans since I am against socialism. 4) The lowest budget possible and balance the budget. Trickle-down economics works. Lower taxes and less regulations lead to economic growth and prosperity for everyone. 5) 100% congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve to prevent "taxation without representation". | |||
| My highest priorities are "Keeping God in this Country" and "Upholding and Defending the US Constitution". My three main initiatives are, in no particular order: 1) Tax Reform that is highly focused on State's Rights 2) Social Laws determined at the state level not in Washington (i.e. Constitutional Implementation) 3) Border Control. My seven key principles are: A Free market, Small and Local Governments, States' Rights and a Limited Federal Government, A Proper System of Checks and Balances, A Balanced and Approved Budget, Religious Freedom and The Family as the Fundamental Unit of Society. |
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