William Van Helmond's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
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William Van Helmond has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2020 Political Courage Test.
New York State Legislative Election 2020 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| d) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Yes | a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions? | ||
| Yes | b) In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| I would not support any pay raises while the state carries a deficit. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| No | d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support automatic voter registration? | ||
| I would also support term limits of all state elected and appointed positions. This will help eliminate corruption with a cap on campaign contributions. | |||
| No | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| No | b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the use of private prisons in New York? | ||
| No | e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? | ||
| No | f) Do you support eliminating cash bail for all crimes? | ||
| On Answer C I would support this if there is a history of violent crimes. On Answer E I would support the descresionary rule by a qualified judge if warranted. | |||
| No | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits? | ||
| No | e) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of New York? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support the legalization of mobile sports betting and wagering? | ||
| On Answer F - I see an insurance policy shared by employer and employee for this situation which would help both if occured. | |||
| No | a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in New York? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| No | c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in New York? | ||
| No | d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from New York high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| I feel in general that NYS sets to many unfunded mandates on localities and need to be redesigned/upgraded. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| I'd like to have all renewable energy evaluated as it appears to me a lot of natural resources including petroleum seem to be in high use to make solar panels and wind towers - how does that impact natural resources? | |||
| Yes | a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom after passing gun safety training? | ||
| No | d) Should a license be required for gun ownership? | ||
| I'm concerned about the "Red Flag" laws. There is more than enough legislation on our 2nd Amendment already. It's unnecessary taxation of $ for ammo a gun sales already. I do not support HR 5717 on increasing taxes on ammo & to own a gun. Although if elected I cannot vote on it. | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through New York's health care programs? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia? | ||
| No | e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19? | ||
| g) Do you support suspending rent payments for at least 90 days during public health crises, such as COVID-19? | |||
| All my answer exist to an open market for insurance - creating competition to lower prices and increase services. Its my belief as long as government is not imposing on civil rights I would support it. So like Answer C would be of their choice. The same for Answer D their choice. Both E and F infringe on rights of those who have religious beliefs and owners of small business that have budjets and stay within their means. Government could learn a few lessons there. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New York's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New York's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | c) Do you support greater efforts by New York state government in closing the pay gap between men and women? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support requiring all public female-designated restrooms to provide free feminine hygiene products? | ||
| On Answer C I believe it would prohibit men from receive pay. Also women in my opinion will out earn men within my life time due to their continue desire to be a part of everything society offers where men have to get over entitlement which will shortly not exist. | |||
| I believe in the "Doctrine of Free Will" and in our Constitution. Meaning although not perfect that everyone has the rights to make decisions for themselfs - Not government. I also belief that government role is to work for all NYS voters not vested groups or any oligarchy measures and/or gerrymandering. I would also implement reducing the size and scope of government so it can be used as the people see fit. | |||
| I see bail reform and foundation and being totally overhauled. Both Houses of the NYS Legislature need to work more towards unity than division. The control of one dominant party "rubberstamping" example bail reform is short sited @ best and the other dominant party blaming the others for all that is wrong accomplishes nothing. Its now about our state and each and every one of use has a state in its success or failure. United we stand/Divided we fall. Once united all things fall in place by respecting each other and focusing not on the blame but each problem. |
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