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Michael De Mauricio'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.
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.

Michael De Mauricio has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

California Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Unknown Position Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
There is a need to recognize that pro-life, is only for the birth of the child. I believe, Pro-life as being the support of the mother and the child, so that there is proper care, nutrition and educational opportunities for the child. I see the right of a woman, her spouse/family, to decide on matters that are personal to them to be there right of choice and neither myself or any other entity has the right to infringe on upon her/their right to make a choice appropriate for them.
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
The balancing of the budget ismore complex then a tax increase on any particular tax bracket. There is a need to remove many, if not most, of the tax incentives that currently exist today. We have to look honestly, at what is important for our country in terms of revenue, which incentives we must "sundown." We must recognize that our tax laws are not current, they do not adequately reflect our current industries and the current state of the individual/family tax payers, those who live paycheck to paycheck and those who are wealthy.
Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
We must bring equality to all voters so that the "voice" of each voter regardless of income, contribution capability is equal among us all, so that no one voice (contribution) is greater then another, so that all can and will be fairly and earnestly represented at levels of government.
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?
Here in California, with the passage of Prop 47, one of the unintended consequences is that there has been an increase in property crimes by 250%, as we are no longer locking up persons for drug offenses. We as a society, as a government, need to address the disease of addiction to reduce property crimes and to reduce recurring drug use and to have broader support for organizations that work to place recovering addicts in jobs that will allow them to remain sober and move forward with their lives.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
Unknown Position Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Using tax incentives to promote economic growth or job creation, is not the best solution. The private sector has means in which it can raise capital to hire new employees, build a factory, etc. The use of federal dollars to promote economic growth, that will directly impact economic growth and spur job creation is best spent by investing in those projects/initiatives, that invest in science/technology development and modernization across industries - agriculture, commerce, transportation, aviation are a few examples of smart investments of federal dollars that will promote economic growth without lowering taxes.
Unknown Position Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
I believe that states have the right to choose their course for education. If a state, chooses to opt-out of federal grants that is a states right to do so. For a state that does choose to receive federal grant(s), fair, measurable and beneficial educational reforms that meet a state's particular needs should be established and agreed to by that state and the federal government providing the grant as a condition for receiving the grant.
No 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?
These energy sources (fossil and renewable) do not address, the long term needs of our country or our economy. We need to provide an energy solution that will sustain our country for the next 150 years. I believe and will advocate for the development of fusion technogolgy for our energy sustainability for the present and future needs of our country.
Yes Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
In California, we have seen the benefits of reducing emissions. I enjoy seeing the LA skyline, our mountains and hills and the beauty of Southern California. I and 18 million other people enjoy these views because of our States regulation of emissions, which are contributing to climate change.
Unknown Position Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
There is a need to move the conversation beyond "gun-control." We as a society, have a lack of respect of firearms and as such too many of us resort to firearms to resolve a problem and cause harm to one another. We as a nation, should have one uniform standard for the purchase of any firearm, anywhere. There needs to be a uniform judicial approach, to remove firearms from persons who may be mentally unhealthy either temporarily or in an extreme situation permanently. We need to remove firearm's from batterers until judicially there right to posses is restored.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
No Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
I do not have an answer for what the approach ought to be for transitioning an undocumented person to that of being documented. However, I do not believe that granting them citizenship should be offered. Those person's who are undocumented should and ought to be granted "resident alien" status. As the ultimate cost for being undocumented, we can not and should not offer undocumented persons the right to vote. As fines or other financial penalties may be unfair and undue burden upon them.
Yes Do you support same-sex marriage?
People are people and love is universal.
Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
If we are unable to capture a suspected terrorist, we should use the imperfect solution of targeting them. I would prefer the use of forces capable of "neutralizing" a person directly rather then a drone strike risking the lives of innocents in the vicinity. This is not ideal to me and not necessarily a reality or a capability that we have. The use of force to prevent another government from obtaining a nuclear weapon should not be our first or most sought option. We must use other tools/capabilities as deterrents before we consider the use of force.
Yes Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
If an individual would like to divert a portion of their Social Security into a personal retirement account should be their decision. So long as they accept the risk, the potential lose of that retirement income, the possibility that they may need to work longer beyond a planned retirement date should be an individuals right to choose. There should also be federal protections to prevent predatory practices and fraud to protect the individual as well.

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.

Greatly Increase a) Agriculture
Greatly Increase b) Arts
Slightly Decrease c) Defense
Greatly Increase d) Education
Greatly Increase e) Environment
Maintain Status f) Homeland Security
Maintain Status g) International aid
Greatly Increase h) Medical Research
Greatly Increase i) Scientific Research
Greatly Increase j) Space exploration
Maintain Status k) United Nations
Greatly Increase l) Welfare
Greatly Increase a) Capital gains taxes
Greatly Increase b) Corporate taxes
Slightly Decrease c) Small business taxes
Maintain Status d) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Maintain Status e) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Maintain Status f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Greatly Decrease g) Income taxes (low-income families)
Greatly Decrease h) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Slightly Increase i) Income taxes (high-income families)
Greatly Increase j) Inheritance taxes
Greatly Decrease k) Payroll taxes
In California, our greatest economic product is agriculture. With our changing climate (regardless of cause) we need to invest in improving our agriculture practices to sustain crops/livestock. Development desalinization and water recycling/treatment technology to support our growing population and agricultural needs. Education should be used to expand arts and science in our schools which will increase our children's interest in space, medicine, science, music, arts and our world.
As I answered previously we need to move our tax code to reflect our current and future economy. Identify those existing "incentives" which we must sundown to bring in the revenue necessary to support our country for the next 150 years and beyond. This conversation of recognizing the change we desperately need for our tax system must start by recognizing where we once were, where we are now and where it is we are going.
My top priorities are to establish, in the public schools, free morning and after school day care. The federal de-criminalization of marijuana for personal use and the taxation of marijuana. The federal funding of police/sheriff departments to support their ability to address quality of life issues in the district, the identifying of drug offenders to be provided with rehabilitation and job programs. These programs would be funded by the taxation of legal marijuana sold in the district. Investing in desalination to provide water for California's farms and people for the next 150 years, to offset droughts caused by climate change.

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