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Herb Sennett's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Herb Sennett has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2020 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Florida State Legislative Election 2020 Political Courage Test

Pro-life 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?
Yes c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
I support state and federally funded adoption programs for unwanted children as an alternative to funding abortions.
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?
Yes c) Should tax be charged on online sales from retailers based outside Florida?
No d) Do you support charging bottled water companies an excise tax on water extraction?
e) 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?
No c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
No e) Do you support automatic voter registration?
f) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Yes d) Do you support the use of private prisons in Florida?
e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
b) I support allowing judges to have hearings on whether a person under 18 should or should not be prosecuted as an adult. e) I support judges having the flexibility to decide each case on the evidence.
a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
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 Florida?
No f) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
g) Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
a) Spending for promoting economic growth should be limited only to those means where funds do not go to the companies being invited--no direct payments/bribes. b) Florida has no personal income tax. g) Support should be in the form of tax incentives.
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Florida?
Yes b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Florida?
No d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Florida high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
a) All educational curriculum decisions should be up to the local school boards. d) Immigrants who want to take advantage of tax paid privileges should file for citizenship and start paying taxes.
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
a) The development of renewable energy should be privately funded then offered through the public market.
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?
c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom after passing gun safety training?
Yes d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
c) Teachers ought to be fully trained in gun safety and self-defense. However, I do not see any reason for teachers to carry guns.
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Florida's health care programs?
No c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
No 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?
f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
b) This question is extremely complicated and cannot be answered "yes" or "no" since the Florida Health Care program is so large and complex. Portions should be expanded, but others should not. f) I do not believe that the state or the federal government has the right to close any business "during health crises,. such as COVID-19. I believe that what happened to the US during the crisis was illegal and should have been challenged in federal court.
a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Florida's anti-discrimination laws?
b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Florida's anti-discrimination laws?
c) Do you support greater efforts by Florida state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
d) Do you support expanding anti-discrimination laws to include hair textures and protective hairstyles?
Florida's anti-discrimination laws are extremely complex and should never be addressed as "yes" or "no." Discrimination has and always will be a matter of "lack of respect." Forcing people to "respect" others has become almost "too vague" to be enforced. We need to teach our children how to respect other people rather than forcing them.
1. Florida's Education System and its relationship to the Lottery--loss of revenue and spending practices. 2. Damage to Florida's economic system brought on by policies forced on the state by the CDC. 3. Population growth in the counties surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades--environmental impact.
I believe Florida's Department of Education needs to be thoroughly audited from top to bottom to discover just what, where, and why the money is being spent the way it is. Our state's schools are failing the students by graduating more and more functionally illiterate people for the past forty years. As a former teacher and professor, I have noted an increased lowering of standards since 1985. As a Legislator, I will find out why. This will require a minimum amount of funding since state auditors and inspectors would be used to carry out the Legislative mandate I will offer.

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