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Tom Payne'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.

Tom Payne has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2020 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the 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 2020.

  • Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? "Pro-Choice" (votesmart.org)
  • "I am pro-choice, and I believe that abortions must be available to young women that live proximate the poverty line and have not completed their education. Because having a child at a young age essentially kills her potential to lead a satisfying and happy future life. I say this because the reality that awaits such young women that are not ready for the responsibilities of being a mother, not only places an undue burden on the child and the new mother; but it places an undue financial burden on the young woman's family and on the community as a whole." (votesmart.org)
  • In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I support significant income tax increases on all personal income above $500,000 a year, but such annual income is adjusted according to the cost of living index of the location where the work is performed." (votesmart.org)
  • "We must significantly increase income taxes for high-income taxpayers receiving above $1 million per year! High-income families have the benefit of an upper limit for the required amount to pay Social Security tax. Abolishing this upper limit would prevent the Social Security system from becoming insolvent in the future. Establish a baseline net income below which no income tax is paid! Determine the baseline according to a living wage calculation indexed to the cost of living for each locality. These significant policy changes would provide sufficient funds to reduce or eliminate the federal deficit within our lifetime." (votesmart.org)
  • "In order to save Social Security, I support that the upper limit of income taxed under Social Security be eliminated resulting in every dollar of income of every taxpayer is liable for Social Security attacks on each and every dollar!" (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I do support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions. I believe that the United States should adopt the campaign duration limitations of other industrial nations. I believe that the government should exclusively fund national and state level political campaigns. Thereby, significantly reducing or eliminating the undue influence of money in our political system. Our presidential political campaigns are a disgrace and considered comedy by most of our Allied nations." (votesmart.org)
  • In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? "No" (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, reducing defense spending will ensure that we suffer like Carthage. If you are unaware of Carthage?s fate, then look it up on Google!" (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I do support targeted, federal spending as a means for promoting economic growth. Such federal spending must be similar to previously successful federal spending utilized in promoting the desired economic growth. I support lowering specifically targeted taxes historically proven to have successfully promoted past economic growth. Finally, I do support providing specifically targeted historically, successfully proven tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation. There is no responsible reason not to utilize federal spending in order to accomplish the above objectives, as it is a well-known business principle that in order to make money, you must spend money." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I do support targeted, federal spending as a means for promoting economic growth. Such federal spending must be similar to previously successful federal spending utilized in promoting the desired economic growth. I support lowering specifically targeted taxes historically proven to have successfully promoted past economic growth. Finally, I do support providing specifically targeted historically, successfully proven tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation. There is no responsible reason not to utilize federal spending in order to accomplish the above objectives, as it is a well-known business principle that in order to make money, you must spend money." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? "No" (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I do support providing increased funding for renewable energy technology (e. g. Solar, wind, thermal). I strongly recommend reasonable Federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I do support providing increased funding for renewable energy technology (e. g. Solar, wind, thermal). I strongly recommend reasonable Federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you generally support gun-control legislation? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "I generally support reasonable gun-control legislation. Responsible citizens should be allowed to carry weapons and have weapons in their home for protection. I do not support the possession of automatic assault rifles or semi-automatic assault rifles, capable of easily being converted to automatic assault rifles. I do not support the sale or use of 30+ capacity magazines or similar devices. I do support utilizing a bolt action high-powered rifle only when hunting large game." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 7% by West Virginia Citizen's Defense League. (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? "No" (votesmart.org)
  • "I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT support repealing the 2010 affordable care act (?Obamacare?)! In my view, Obamacare or, a similar single payer health plan, is long overdue for this country, and will propel the United States health system into the 21st century along with those single-payer healthcare systems in Europe and other civilized industrialized nations. I would enthusiastically support proposed legislation to the ?Obamacare? or, as an alternative, creating a single-payer health plan, such as Medicare for all! Repealing ?Obamacare? would, in my opinion, be a colossal mistake and further propel us toward becoming a third world country!" (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border? "No" (votesmart.org)
  • "Most experts agree that a wall along the Mexican border is impractical and unnecessary. I do support returning illegal immigrants to their country of origin. I believe that it would be poor policy and bad judgment to force the return of certain illegal immigrants to their countries of origin. Specifically, if they had established residency, secured employment, paid taxes and committed no felony offenses. If their children were born in the United States, it would be un-American to separate the children from their families by returning the parents only to their country of origin." (votesmart.org)
  • Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? "No" (votesmart.org)
  • "Most experts agree that a wall along the Mexican border is impractical and unnecessary. I do support returning illegal immigrants to their country of origin. I believe that it would be poor policy and bad judgment to force the return of certain illegal immigrants to their countries of origin. Specifically, if they had established residency, secured employment, paid taxes and committed no felony offenses. If their children were born in the United States, it would be un-American to separate the children from their families by returning the parents only to their country of origin." (votesmart.org)
  • Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon? "Yes" (votesmart.org)
  • "The United States should and will use military force, as a last resort, in order to prevent governments or other entities hostile to the United States from possessing the capability of targeting and delivering nuclear weapons against United States interest!" (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.
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.
Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I am pro-choice, and I believe that abortions must be available to young women that live proximate the poverty line and have not completed their education. Because having a child at a young age essentially kills her potential to lead a satisfying and happy future life. I say this because the reality that awaits such young women that are not ready for the responsibilities of being a mother, not only places an undue burden on the child and the new mother; but it places an undue financial burden on the young woman's family and on the community as a whole.
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
No In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
I support significant income tax increases on all personal income above $500,000 a year, adjusted according to the cost of living index of the location where the work is performed or the location of their residence. In order to save Social Security, I support that the upper limit of income taxed under Social Security be eliminated resulting in every dollar of income of every taxpayer is liable for Social Security attacks on each and every dollar! Today, reducing defense spending will ensure that we suffer like Carthage. If you are unaware of Carthage?s fate, then look it up on Google!
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I do support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions. I believe that the United States should adopt the campaign duration limitations of other industrial nations. I believe that the government should exclusively fund national and state level political campaigns. Thereby, significantly reducing or eliminating the undue influence of money in our political system. Our presidential political campaigns are a disgrace and considered comedy by most of our Allied nations.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
I do support targeted, federal spending as a means for promoting economic growth. Such federal spending must be similar to previously successful federal spending utilized in promoting the desired economic growth. I support lowering specifically targeted taxes historically proven to have successfully promoted past economic growth. Finally, I do support providing specifically targeted historically, successfully proven tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation. There is no responsible reason not to utilize federal spending in order to accomplish the above objectives, as it is a well-known business principle that in order to make money, you must spend money.
No Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
I do not support REQUIRING states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants! Each state is unique and has varying degrees of educational reform requirements and fascial resources for implementing such educational reforms. I do believe that the federal government should be involved in the education reform evaluation process to determine the need to implement the required identified education reforms, in the planning process for reducing the determined need for education reform, in the execution of the implementation process in order to identify whether or not the specific education reform processes were ultimately achieved.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
I do support providing increased funding for renewable energy technology (e. g. Solar, wind, thermal). I strongly recommend reasonable Federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
I generally support reasonable gun-control legislation. Responsible citizens should be allowed to carry weapons and have weapons in their home for protection. I do not support the possession of automatic assault rifles or semi-automatic assault rifles, capable of easily being converted to automatic assault rifles. I do not support the sale or use of 30+ capacity magazines or similar devices. I do support utilizing a bolt action high-powered rifle only when hunting large game.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT support repealing the 2010 affordable care act (?Obamacare?)! In my view, Obamacare or, a similar single payer health plan, is long overdue for this country, and will propel the United States health system into the 21st century along with those single-payer healthcare systems in Europe and other civilized industrialized nations. I would enthusiastically support proposed legislation to the ?Obamacare? or, as an alternative, creating a single-payer health plan, such as Medicare for all! Repealing ?Obamacare? would, in my opinion, be a colossal mistake and further propel us toward becoming a third world country!
No Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Most experts agree that a wall along the Mexican border is impractical and unnecessary. I do support returning illegal immigrants to their country of origin. I believe that it would be poor policy and bad judgment to force the return of certain illegal immigrants to their countries of origin. Specifically, if they had established residency, secured employment, paid taxes and committed no felony offenses. If their children were born in the United States, it would be un-American to separate the children from their families by returning the parents only to their country of origin.
Yes Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
I strongly support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes and believe that West Virginia should adopt a system similar to that Colorado, where the economy is booming and housing prices have risen by 10 to 20% since the legalization of recreational marijuana. Further, I believe that such would greatly assist the West Virginia budget and make a tremendous amount of money available for the long ignored structural problems in West Virginia.
Yes Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
No Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
The United States should and will use military force, as a last resort, in order to prevent governments or other entities hostile to the United States from possessing the capability of targeting and delivering nuclear weapons against United States interest! Today, the failure to engage clearly identified hostile terrorist activity anywhere would constitute governmental negligence. The United States government previously ignored many opportunities to crush emerging terrorist organizations early in their formative stages. NOT AGAIN, our failure to prevent the rapid buildup and spread of these terrorist organizations has been UNBELIEVABLY COSTLY!
Defense/Education-according to my West Point classmate, former Under Secretary of Defense for PT&L, the technology gap between the US and our enemies is rapidly shrinking! The Chinese population vastly outnumbers our population. Our very survival depends upon the ability of our citizens to maintain and increase that technological advantage now and in the future. We must consider similar programs from the Great Depression and fund similar programs NOW, regardless of the deficit! If the Republicans reject funding these programs vital to protect our very existence and future because of the additional debt, then we are the next Carthage!

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