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Dennis Murphy'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.

Dennis Murphy has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Michigan Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Abortion

Pro-choice

Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?

Budget

Yes		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?
Those are poorly framed questions. Some defense programs could likely be cut and some taxes could be increased but the questions are presented in a way frame an answer

Campaign Finance

Yes		Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I would like to see federal funding for candidates for President, Senate and US House and ban campaigns from taking any other money- they could ONLY use the federal money. Further, all outside PACs cannot be prevented from spending but should be regulated so that ALL contributions are public disclosures

Crime

No		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?
The Criminal Justice system needs major reform. We are convicting innocent people, feeding a privatized prison industry and decimating minority populations ability to work due to criminal records. Ban the box.

Economy

		Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
Yes		Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
"create graduated standard deductions based in reverse on income scale- the lower the income the higher the deduction." http://votersguide.michigan.com/race-detail.do?id=14916057 (votersguide.michigan.com)
Yes		Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
"create graduated standard deductions based in reverse on income scale- the lower the income the higher the deduction." http://votersguide.michigan.com/race-detail.do?id=14916057 (votersguide.michigan.com)

Education

Unknown Position		Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Energy

		Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
Unknown Position		Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
"We need to encourage and support clean energy approaches such as wind and solar." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/1123966/issue-position-energy (votesmart.org)
Yes		Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
"We need to encourage and support clean energy approaches such as wind and solar." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/1123966/issue-position-energy (votesmart.org)

Environment

		Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
No		Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
"I oppose Cap&Trade because I think it is merely another means to enrich Wall St." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/1123966/issue-position-energy (votesmart.org)

Guns

Unknown Position		Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Health Care

No		Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
"Defend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act so citizens in the 2nd District are not deprived of medical insurance." http://dennismurphyforcongress.com/issues (dennismurphyforcongress.com)

Immigration

No		Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
"My concern is NOT with advancing deportations or citizenship. My concern is to take the small step of DOCUMENTATION. We need to bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows. People here illegally are prey to criminals and unethical businesses precisely because they fear reporting crimes and abuse. My plan would propose a window of time in which all illegal immigrants would go to a defined government entity and be documented with I.D. and provided a work visa for a fixed number of years subject to renewal. The window of time and the years on the visa are negotiable, in my opinion, within bi-partisan discussion." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/1123988/issue-position-immigration-reform (votesmart.org)

Marriage

Unknown Position		Do you support same-sex marriage?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

National Security

		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 increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Social Security

No		Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
"Protect and preserve the promise of social security and medicare not only for current and soon-to-be retirees but for future generations" http://dennismurphyforcongress.com/issues (dennismurphyforcongress.com)

Spending and Taxes

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.

		a) Agriculture
		b) Arts
		c) Defense
		d) Education
		e) Environment
		f) Homeland Security
		g) International aid
		h) Medical Research
		i) Scientific Research
		j) Space exploration
		k) United Nations
		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
		a) Capital gains taxes
		b) Corporate taxes
		c) Small business taxes
		d) Excise taxes (alcohol)
		e) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
		f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
		g) Income taxes (low-income families)
		h) Income taxes (middle-income families)
		i) Income taxes (high-income families)
		j) Inheritance taxes
		k) Payroll taxes
		l) Other or expanded categories

Administrative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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