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Hank Linderman'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.
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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 2024.

  • "And just like that, the historic precedent of Roe vs Wade was overturned. None of us should be surprised; opponents of women's rights have been working towards this moment for 50 years." (twitter.com)
  • "George Orwell's book "1984" featured language ("Newspeak") that was designed to "mask the truth and deceive the public." The term "Pro-Life" as it is used by abortion opponents is Newspeak. Which leads to my question: in reality, what does it mean to be "Pro-Life"?" (twitter.com)
  • "I am pro choice. We can also make abortion less likely / necessary by paying working people more, having a national child-care and pre-school system, & a health care system that's less predatory re profit$. #healthcare #AbortionBan #Democrats #Kentucky" (twitter.com)
  • "Ummm, no. You chose not to be there, even T said that was a mistake, as was overturning Roe. Otoh, glad you are showing your true colors. #RoeOverturned #Democrats #January6thCommitteeHearings" (twitter.com)
  • "ALL of us benefit from some govt program. I live on a lake made by the TVA, I get SS, Medicare. Ky gets more back from Fed Gvt than it pays in taxes, @ $2.60 for every $1 paid. Levy Inst at Bard studied the loans, says paying them off would b net positive for the economy." (twitter.com)
  • "Also : $15 minimum wage, expansion of Medicare, action on climate change, getting Covid under control. On that last point, Biden waited a year to take serious action on free masks and tests. Yes there was obstruction, but clearly those actions should come long ago." (twitter.com)
  • "I live in a Republican neighborhood, all my neighbors will drop whatever they are doing if I need help, a few of them tell me they vote for me, and only one of them calls me a communist to my face. (He likes his Social Security and Medicare if you catch my drift.)" (twitter.com)
  • "And here is the heart of the problem - the wealthy get lower taxes and the rest of us get an increase. This is austerity in action and we have had enough. Remember to vote Democrat in November! #kyga18 #kypolitics #GoVoteKy" (twitter.com)
  • "Larry Elder knows nothing about liberals. Fwiw, even though only Elon is still alive I wouldn't shoot him. I would like to see progressive taxation applied to him and other billionaires though, let's use the revenue to end poverty, beginning with children." (twitter.com)
  • "The root of many of the problems we face - income inequality. We need the return of progressive income taxes, as well as increases in the #minimumwage." (twitter.com)
  • "And here is the heart of the problem - the wealthy get lower taxes and the rest of us get an increase. This is austerity in action and we have had enough. Remember to vote Democrat in November! #kyga18 #kypolitics #GoVoteKy" (twitter.com)
  • "Larry Elder knows nothing about liberals. Fwiw, even though only Elon is still alive I wouldn't shoot him. I would like to see progressive taxation applied to him and other billionaires though, let's use the revenue to end poverty, beginning with children." (twitter.com)
  • "The root of many of the problems we face - income inequality. We need the return of progressive income taxes, as well as increases in the #minimumwage." (twitter.com)
  • "Chuck Schumer is the #2 recipient of Big Pharma contributions? FFS. Big Pharma OWNS our Congress and Senate. DISGUSTING. I will NEVER take Big Pharma ca$h." (twitter.com)
  • "Hey voters - the candidate with the most money usually wins. What do you think Congress would be like if we all voted for the candidate with LESS money, with NO CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS? #Democrats #ProgressiveAlliance #Kentucky" (twitter.com)
  • "The polarization in politics is bigger than actual disagreement on issues. This polarization allows corporations to control our government by awarding huge contributions to politicians who do their bidding. #GoVoteKY #kypolitics" (twitter.com)
  • "They own both parties. My R opponent is funded by Big Pharma, insurance companies, Wall Street, Silicon Valley. Schumer is the #2 recipient of Big Pharma contributions." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Yes, to a point. Spending is okay, depends on what you're spending the money on. We have spent @ $6T on Syraqistan, def haven't gotten our money's worth there. That money could have been spent on infrastructure for ex." (twitter.com)
  • "You have a point - it matters where revenue is spent. An option would be to cut back on *defense* spending, like the F-35. We spend $2B+/day on defense, but can't afford to fix water in Flint MI. The simple answer is that we need to focus on the 90%." (twitter.com)
  • "So we may be heading into a recession. What better time to begin to re-industrialize our nation, rebuild the working middle class and our supply chain? Yes, the deficit. But this is the best reason I can think of to print some money. Invest in workers, invest in Americans." (twitter.com)
  • "This is a critical investment in the future of America, and programs like the Connect America Fund must be expanded until every citizen is online. #RuralBroadband #CriticalInfrastructure #infrastructure #ConnectAmerica" (twitter.com)
  • "What matters is what we are spending it on. Subsidizing fossil fuels? Building cruise missiles? Or bridges and roads? How about paying off $1.7 trillion in student debt? Our national priorities need to shift back towards people, and away from corporate greed." (twitter.com)
  • "Yes, to a point. Spending is okay, depends on what you're spending the money on. We have spent @ $6T on Syraqistan, def haven't gotten our money's worth there. That money could have been spent on infrastructure for ex." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Don't be fooled by all of the inflation scaremongering: it's because of supply chain problems. The right answer? Invest in rebuilding America's supply chain." (twitter.com)
  • "Forgiving ALL STUDENT LOAN DEBT would shut down an entire appendage of predatory capitalism, AND it would lead to an improved economy. We bail out banks, Wall Street, car manufacturers, drug companies but "dammit students have to PAY?" ForF*ck's$ake. #studentloans" (twitter.com)
  • "Forgiving student loans, even up to 100%, would be a net positive for the economy. Dems, we can't run on ideas like this and then fail to deliver. At least allow bankruptcy for these debts, same as we do for real estate developers like you know who." (twitter.com)
  • "I support cancelling it all. If students were businesses, we'd see these loans as a bad business decision, and they'd have already gone bankrupt. No matter what, most of these loans won't be repaid, but lives will be senselessly ruined. #StudentLoans #Kentucky #Democrats" (twitter.com)
  • "It is no joke that after 2 years of a pandemic, we hardly hear about fixing our broken health care system. Or $15 an hour minimum wage. Or student debt relief." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Biodiversity is disappearing, this is a very bad sign of things to come. I will support policies to address #climatechange including ending the use of non bio-degradeable plastics, renewable energy, and a carbon tax. #biodegradeable #RenewableEnergy #renewables #carbontax" (twitter.com)
  • "Clean energy, including natural gas, #SolarEnergy, #WindEnergy, hydro, nuclear, #ElectricVehicles, #biofuels and other technologies, is creating jobs faster than any other segment of the economy, generating $200 billion in revenue each year & employing 2.7 million people in U.S." (twitter.com)
  • "Congress must support tax credits and incentives for generating clean energy, but should also fund job retraining for those who lose their jobs because of changes in the industry." (twitter.com)
  • "Energy has long been an important industry in Kentucky. State officials and businesses must look for new opportunities in #cleanenergy that further economic development and job opportunities for Kentuckians." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "All of this is to say guns and gun violence are a complex set of problems requiring more than simple solutions. An overwhelming majority of the public supports gun reform, but too many politicians serve their donors rather than the public." (twitter.com)
  • "If, according to the NRA, the problem is *evil* - how do we keep evil people from having guns? Serious question for gun owners." (twitter.com)
  • "Thoughts and prayers are insufficient for the families who have lost a child in a school shooting. There is common ground. We can find it and end these tragedies by working together." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Why are we allowing deranged violent maniacs the right to legally purchase multiple guns?" (twitter.com)
  • "Heartbreaking. I support single payer, like Medicare for All, and a $15 an hour minimum wage. Meanwhile, Brett has gotten verrrry wealthy while in Congress, maybe that's the point of his being there? $4.37 MILLION in PPP funds for his family business, so he's good." (twitter.com)
  • "I support Medicare for All." (twitter.com)
  • "Medicare for ALL. Americans are getting fed up with half measures." (twitter.com)
  • "This pandemic should have moved us to a single-payer system, like Medicare For All. But no, we chose a different approach, one that maximizes profits. So, at least the economy is okay..." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Price controls on 10 drugs, Medicare only - in 4 years? Followed by 10 more in another 3? 20k drugs already, more added each year. This is a HUGE victory, 4 BIG PHARMA." (twitter.com)
  • "Are you saying you support Medicare negotiating all drug prices, as candidate Trump did? I could support that." (twitter.com)
  • "Let's remember that from WW2 to 1986 or so, American workers shared in prosperity. Since then, wages have flattened, wealth has skyrocketed, and our govt is now owned by wealthy biz and people. For ex, there is no free market in drugs, it is controlled by Big Pharma." (twitter.com)
  • "Medicare can negotiate prices on 10 drugs - in 4 years?? Another 10, 3 yrs later?? We already have 20k drugs, this is a disaster. No, I mean VICTORY - 4 BIG PHARMA & Schumer, #2 in Big Pharma ca$h." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "I want to start a conversation about restructuring ice and granting amnesty to the 10 million plus people who are already here." (twitter.com)
  • "Our system of dealing with illegal immigration is broken, unjust, and needs to be fixed. Hank isn’t for open borders, but a solution that recognizes the reality of our current situation- like Reagan did- is the only way." (twitter.com)
  • "The Reagan Amnesty was largely a success, meaning people came out of the shadows and started paying taxes. Congress was unwilling to fund a program to secure the borders. We need to do better this time." (twitter.com)
  • "Yes, to a point. Spending is okay, depends on what you're spending the money on. We have spent @ $6T on Syraqistan, def haven't gotten our money's worth there. That money could have been spent on infrastructure for ex." (twitter.com)
  • 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 but I am in favor of reducing abortions, not by making them illegal, but by addressing the need for abortion. This means addressing systemic economic inequality, establishing national child care, modernizing our health care system, and making contraception widely available.
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
I object to the framing of your question - but to use your flawed language, Americans are entitled to a social safety net. We are entitled to a modern health care system that is regulated to prevent excessive profit taking, one that honestly covers everyone, that is easier to use and that gets better results. We are entitled to the opportunity to retire with dignity. We are entitled to a government that serves citizens at least as much as corporate interests. Re taxation - an easy way to increase taxes is to increase the amount working people are paid.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Of course. Dark money must be eliminated, or at least become transparent, with public disclosure of where it came from. I would also be in favor of complete elimination of corporate and union political contributions.
Unknown Position Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
Yes Do you support increasing defense spending?
I could have answered either way - another terribly flawed question. I support proper, generous funding of personel, from service through retirement. I also believe there is far too much waste, the F-35 program is a perfect example - and that that waste is rooted in corporate profiteering. In the time of pandemics, our health care system needs massive overhaul, and that needs to be seen as a defense issue.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Unknown Position Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
I support limited growth - we are going to need to address climate damage, and until there are successful ways of doing that, growth may need to suffer. Sustainability must be the new goal. Unlimited growth at any cost is not sustainable.
Yes Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
We also need federal education opportunity. College should be free or very inexpensive, this is an investment in our collective future. Profiteering must be eliminated from the funding of higher enducation. All college debt should be forgiven.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
This is really the only issue facing humanity - will we address human caused climate damage seriously enough to preserve our environment?
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
I support whatever it takes to eliminate mass shootings. Responsible gun ownership is not the problem.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Unknown Position Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
Yes/no is insufficient as an answer. I support modernizing our health care system so that it is much less expensive, honestly covers everyone, is easier to use, and gets better results. If the ACA can be successfully modified to reach these goals, fine. If not, it needs to go.
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?
Yes/no - once again insufficient to provide an answer. All nations must control their borders, and walls are necessary, but not for every single mile of the border. I believe we need another amnesty program similar to Reagan's, but only when we have settled our goals and policies on immigration.
Yes Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
Yes Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
We have weapons of mass destruction so other nations want to counter that. Diplomacy is the correct course.
No Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
Trade has become too globalized at the expense of American workers. Additionally, travel related to global trade is a major factor in the current pandemic. For the health of the planet, local food must be encouraged over global food. We need to re-establish local supply chains for critical industries, including electronics and large scale manufacturing.
A modern health care system, revitalization of rural America, much higher pay for people who work, minimizing social and economic inequality - but most important is rebalancing the relationship between citizens and corporations. After the $2.2 trillion economic bailout, the question of how to fund social programs is answered - if we decide we need something, we can find the money.

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