Tim Bjorkman's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Tim Bjorkman has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2018 Political Courage Test.
South Dakota Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| I believe that the fetus is a human life deserving legal protection, a view I've unwaveringly held since 1973. But it is not enough to simply oppose abortion. I am pro-life for the whole of life. Most of those I saw as a judge in felony court grew up with little direction, values, or a work ethic and they, their children, and all of society suffers. We must regain respect for and protect young life on both sides of the birth process. Every position I take is based on what appears best for the American family, the nucleus of democracy. | |||
| Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? | ||
| Just as families can't spend more than they take in, neither can a nation without finally reaching a day of reckoning. So, first, we should roll back the tax cuts to the rich and corporations in the 2017 tax bill, and, as with the 1986 Reagan tax reform, enact revenue-neutral tax reform. For corporations that means lowering rates and closing loopholes, allowing repatriation of money held overseas. For individual income taxes, we should close loopholes only the well-off can access, and re-direct the savings to tax cuts for those who really need it -- middle class families and small businesses. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Yes I do. And I refuse to accept any special interest (PAC) money from any source whatsoever. This election is a test as to who is more powerful today: the special interests or "We the People." When united, the people have more power than all the PACs combined, and we must learn to reject those who rely on special interest money to get into office and remain there. Opposing special interest money in politics isn't enough, because you can't really overcome special interests if you take their money. | |||
| No | 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? | ||
| Let free enterprise, rather than tax law govern economic growth. With unprecedented corporate profits and all-time market highs, giant corporations didn't need a tax break and we couldn't afford to give them one. Lowering their taxes will likely not stimulate long term growth as shown in the government projections and past experience. While there were some initital one-time bonuses to workers, there were far fewer meaningful wage increases. More frequently companies used the savings to buy back corporate stock and increase their profits for shareholders, to whom they are answerable. This doesn't promote economic growth for middle class families. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? | ||
| I believe in local control of education requirements, and see any standards best left in the hands of state and local government. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Yes. I believe we are charged with the duty to take care of the soil, air, and water on earth and to ensure we pass it on in as good or better shape than we received it for future generations to live in and enjoy. Sensible regulations, already adopted by many corporations who also find clean energy to be good business, is the way to hold accountable rogue entities who would abuse our water and air for profit and to the detriment of future generations. | |||
| No | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| But I do advocate these efforts: 1. Uniform background checks on all gun sales, with free service at sheriffs' offices for private transfers; 2. Prohibiting devices that convert semi-automatic into automatic weapons; 3. Prohibiting individuals on the government's terrorist watch list from buying firearms; 4. Encouraging adoption of red flag laws allowing a court to temporarily remove guns from a person who poses a danger to self or others; 5. Promoting interventions that reach out to at-risk youths; 6. A national effort to treat mental illness and ensure affordable health coverage; 7. Removing the ban on CDC studying firearm violence; | |||
| No | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| The ACA needs significant reform to better control costs, especially pharmaceutical and hospital, but Republican efforts to dismantle it have caused rates to further skyrocket. Those sent to our prisons nearly all lacked treatment for their mental illness and addiction, but once in jail received care, paid for by South Dakotans who themselves too often can't afford it. The lack of timely healthcare is linked to our workforce shortages, explosion in prison numbers, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. For now, let's allow those who currently lack access to health coverage the option to enroll in Medicare. It's the wise thing economically. | |||
| No | Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border? | ||
| Yes | Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| I support: 1. Strengthening border security with more agents and technology, including continued expansion of smart fences. 2. A grace period of twelve months to allow otherwise law-abiding adults here illegally to apply to remain working in the country, without a path to citizenship. 3. Making it a felony to hire an illegal, imposed against a company's CEO, with a defense for E-Verify use. 4. Allowing those who came here as children of illegals to apply for citizenship. 5. Reducing legal immigration as we work to restore to productivity those Americans not in the workforce to support their families. | |||
| No | Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes? | ||
| First, as a matter of states' rights, the states should be free to pass laws as to its use without federal intervention, in order to allow the laboratory of the states to work as to each state's policy. I don't support legal recreational marijuana in South Dakota. I believe we can learn from other states' experience with it and further study. I'm also very concerned with marijuana's impact on the adolescent brain. I support medical marijuana, preferably in pill form that retains its medicinal benefits, but I oppose prescriptions that simply allow an individual to buy marijuana. | |||
| No | 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? | ||
| As parents of three Army vets who served in recent wars, Kay and I, like millions of American families who have watched America's youths go off to war, know that the war doesn't end when they return home. We understand the significance of a vote to send America's youth into harm's way and I won't do it unless I'm convinced America's interests and safety are threatened, that diplomatic efforts have failed, and that any resolution of war include a new tax to pay for it. I'll support military force preventing others from obtaining a nuclear weapon only in extreme circumstances. | |||
| 1. Working across the aisles for affordable healthcare for every American and standing guard over Social Security and Medicare; 2. Fighting for South Dakotans by: lowering taxes for middle income families; promoting economic development; serving our veterans faithfully; standing with family farmers; making college more affordable, and fighting for equal educational opportunities for all, respecting work and supporting decent wages for every adult who works. 3. Fighting for fundamental reform in Congress: term limits, no fundraising while Congress is in session, insisting Congress live with the same health coverage as most Americans, and opposing the corrupt "congressional dues" system. |
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