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Bennett Lapides' 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.

Bennett Lapides has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?

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.

  • "Last night in a closed Capitol building, the Senate passed this draconian abortion bill, using it as a bargaining chip during budget negotiations. This is another shameless attempt to nullify Roe v. Wade. Our legal system cannot allow the treatment of women as second class citizens to continue." (l.facebook.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Qualified immunity, a doctrine which shields officers from being held personally liable, must be abolished. No one who has acted unlawfully should be above the law." (www.facebook.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • 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.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "If you're honoring John Lewis today, call for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act, and use your right to vote. John Lewis gave his blood to ensure all Americans have that right." (www.facebook.com)
  • Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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:
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No b) In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
c) Other or expanded principles:
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?
f) Other or expanded principles:
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 Tennessee?
No e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
f) Other or expanded principles:
Yes 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?
No d) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
Yes e) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Tennessee?
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?
h) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Tennessee?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Tennessee?
Yes d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Tennessee high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
No e) Do you support requiring transgender athletes to compete in intramural and interscholastic sports that match their biological sex?
Yes f) Do you support allowing college athletes to be compensated for the use of their name, image and likeness?
g) Other or expanded principles:
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?
d) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No 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?
e) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Tennessee's health care programs?
No 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?
Yes e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
Yes f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
g) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Tennessee state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
d) Other or expanded principles:
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top legislative priority and how you plan to fund it.
Legalize Cannabis, put the tax money into schools and infrastructure

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