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Jerrod Sessler'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.
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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.

  • "Takes my breath away that abortion made it to the floor of the Senate. Seriously. Such a scary thing to consider our legislative branch entertained making murder legal. Astounding. Replace the 49 that voted for it with people that love God, life & that have read the Constitution." (x.com)
  • "Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? Pro-life (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Life begins as conception. Life is already protected under the constitution and other founding documents. All we need to do nationally is simply articulate when life begins which should be fairly easy to do within Congress." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "If Roe V Wade was constitutional, leftists in Congress would have passed it a long time ago. It is worth celebrating God's goodness that after 50 years, we can still see the light of morality in this country and around this topic. Now, let the states deal with it as they should." (x.com)
  • "Do you support the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Life begins as conception. Life is already protected under the constitution and other founding documents. All we need to do nationally is simply articulate when life begins which should be fairly easy to do within Congress." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It amazes me that the demolition party created the biggest economic crisis in American history and now they are spinning the narrative to indicate that it is conservatives fault because they say they intend to cut off entitlements such as Medicare and social security. The two topics actually have very little in common. The entitlements have been on a well-know crash course for decades for example social security lacks the deposits it needs to cover expenses. Don’t be fooled by the political marketing that can sway an otherwise clear situation to seem mucked up." (x.com)
  • "Do you support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Social security is an invested asset that many deserve a reasonable return upon. That is not an ideal situation but we cannot abandon those that have paid into it. Medicare is vital for many. I personally feel that most of our social support should come from local resources and the federal government should merely ensure there is a legal path for that support to happen and be encouraged similar to tithes being tax deductible." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Balancing the budget, in my view begins with election people that have an appetite for reducing the national debt and getting off the debt spiral that seems to never end. What happens when we really need some debt to protect ourselves from an adversary? That is when we should consider debt, not for daily operations. We SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY and until that attitude about that changes in DC, nothing will change in America." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to balance the budget? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I Jerrod Sessler Hereby pledge to support repeal of the FEDERAL ESTATE TAX" (www.facebook.com)
  • "Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I feel that the entire PAC & Super PAC process should be eliminated. Individual donations up to a certain value should be the limit of what can be given. The entire system is a mess as a result of the manipulation of funding sources. But, the bigger issue is that the uniparty does not follow any of the rules or laws. Look at the corrupt mess that is ActBlue." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Absolutely but there needs to be clear lines between openly breaking the law for personal gain versus just trying to do the job." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We are being overwhelmed globally with regards to our military. Trump invested in our military. Illegitimate Biden has destroyed it." (x.com)
  • "Do you support increasing defense spending? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The question is limited. I agree with spending what we need and what makes sense in order to keep Americans safe. The primary role of the Federal Gov under a dual federalism system is to keep the people safe. The states should handle most everything else." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "It’s time for the crazy spending spree the demolition party started ends. Defunding many of their pet projects and reducing the overall federal budget is a win." (x.com)
  • "Capitalism works best when left alone." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Senate Democrats demonstrate their ignorance by touting the so-called "Inflation Reduction Act" as a national debt reduction effort because it raises taxes… that’s a lie." (x.com)
  • "Capitalism works best when left alone." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The illegitimate @potus is most certainly headed for another defeat by @scotus. This article highlights why this is such a big deal. Academia has become big business on the backs of cheap gov-backed student loan debt and it continues. Why would a college CEO be paid hundreds of millions of $$$? Why? Because they have plenty of cheap money!"Biden’s loan forgiveness program will only worsen this problem by failing to hold colleges accountable and giving them a blank check to continue price gouging," @Elaine_Parker of the @jcalliance says." (x.com)
  • "Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We just paid off our daughter's college tuition and other fees this year as she graduated. We likely have standing for a lawsuit against this lunacy." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The idea that we DO NOT have full access to our elections in America is astounding! Election DAY! Holiday if needed. In person. Must have ID. Must be a citizen. Gather by precinct. Paper ballots. Hand counting. Lots of eyes. Lots of verification. Public reporting by precinct so the sum of all cannot be manipulated at any level. Transparency. Period. Voting if a sovereign right of citizens and it should be taken seriously." (x.com)
  • "1 day, in person, precinct level voting, paper ballots, ID required, citizens only, done that night" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "💯 however "fossil fuel" is a marketing term. Petroleum is a natural by product of the God-made earth’s cycle and it is a renewable. We should be inventive with energy sources for sure but we should not restrict the use of natural crude. Cheap energy leads to human flourishing. Leland Olds knew this and significantly improved the lives of millions of American!" (x.com)
  • "Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Read the multi-purpose option within the public lands act. We are supposed to and should be using these lands to the benefit of the nation. My position has a different take on this overall. I see no reason why the Federal government or local/state government should own land beyond what they need to operate offices, etc. The land should be sold to the American people and businesses and that income should be used to pay down the national debt." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "💯 however "fossil fuel" is a marketing term. Petroleum is a natural by product of the God-made earth’s cycle and it is a renewable. We should be inventive with energy sources for sure but we should not restrict the use of natural crude. Cheap energy leads to human flourishing. Leland Olds knew this and significantly improved the lives of millions of American!" (x.com)
  • "Do you support the federal government allowing permits for drilling on public lands? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Read the multi-purpose option within the public lands act. We are supposed to and should be using these lands to the benefit of the nation. My position has a different take on this overall. I see no reason why the Federal government or local/state government should own land beyond what they need to operate offices, etc. The land should be sold to the American people and businesses and that income should be used to pay down the national debt." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "10 republicans are set to betray their constituents and law abiding citizens on gun control. A topic they likely ran on so you would elect them. Hold them accountable. #2A #ShallNotBeInfringed" (x.com)
  • "Absolutely no gun control. Freedom is not safe. Take your pick but if you pick safety over freedom then you should study the social compact. As American's we have a responsibility to each other. That is our ultimate source of safety and security." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Government should be focused on education of a lifestyle that encourages people to personal ownership so they do not need drugs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "If we do not have a secure border then we are not safe. The primary role of the federal government is our safety & security!" (x.com)
  • "Do you support increasing security along the southern US border? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, regardless of their immigration status? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts? Yes (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I’m flabbergasted that @RepNewhouse skipped the @WAGOP state convention for floor votes only to once again side with the Democrats to send another $60B to Ukraine. Then they desecrate the People’s house by waiving a foreign flag. One should have a basic level of loyalty to this great country and at least an ounce of common sense if they expect to have the honor of representing the people." (x.com)
  • "All aid should be tied to assets or valuable favors that benefit the American people. These should be free of corruption and should be focused solely on safety and security." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Do you support the US providing increased offensive military aid to Ukraine? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Putting a stop to unjust authoritarianism within big tech is not as difficult as one may think. @JasonFyk has the solution and the momentum to get it in front of the SCOTUS." (x.com)
  • "Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)? No (2024)" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
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-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes Do you support the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade?
Life begins as conception. Life is already protected under the constitution and other founding documents. All we need to do nationally is simply articulate when life begins which should be fairly easy to do within Congress.
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
Yes Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to balance the budget?
No Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs?
Social security is an invested asset that many deserve a reasonable return upon. That is not an ideal situation but we cannot abandon those that have paid into it. Medicare is vital for many. I personally feel that most of our social support should come from local resources and the federal government should merely ensure there is a legal path for that support to happen and be encouraged similar to tithes being tax deductible. Balancing the budget, in my view begins with election people that have an appetite for reducing the national debt and getting off the debt spiral that seems to never end. What happens when we really need some debt to protect ourselves from an adversary? That is when we should consider debt, not for daily operations. We SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY and until that attitude about that changes in DC, nothing will change in America.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
I feel that the entire PAC & Super PAC process should be eliminated. Individual donations up to a certain value should be the limit of what can be given. The entire system is a mess as a result of the manipulation of funding sources. But, the bigger issue is that the uniparty does not follow any of the rules or laws. Look at the corrupt mess that is ActBlue.
Yes Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
Absolutely but there needs to be clear lines between openly breaking the law for personal gain versus just trying to do the job.
Yes Do you support increasing defense spending?
The question is limited. I agree with spending what we need and what makes sense in order to keep Americans safe. The primary role of the Federal Gov under a dual federalism system is to keep the people safe. The states should handle most everything else.
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
No Do you support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs?
No Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation?
Capitalism works best when left alone.
No Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt?
We just paid off our daughter's college tuition and other fees this year as she graduated. We likely have standing for a lawsuit against this lunacy.
Yes Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls?
1 day, in person, precinct level voting, paper ballots, ID required, citizens only, done that night
No Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal government allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
Read the multi-purpose option within the public lands act. We are supposed to and should be using these lands to the benefit of the nation. My position has a different take on this overall. I see no reason why the Federal government or local/state government should own land beyond what they need to operate offices, etc. The land should be sold to the American people and businesses and that income should be used to pay down the national debt.
No Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)?
Absolutely no gun control. Freedom is not safe. Take your pick but if you pick safety over freedom then you should study the social compact. As American's we have a responsibility to each other. That is our ultimate source of safety and security.
No Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All?
No Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
No Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
Government should be focused on education of a lifestyle that encourages people to personal ownership so they do not need drugs.
Yes Do you support increasing security along the southern US border?
Yes Do you support requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, regardless of their immigration status?
Yes Do you support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts?
No Do you support the US providing increased offensive military aid to Ukraine?
All aid should be tied to assets or valuable favors that benefit the American people. These should be free of corruption and should be focused solely on safety and security.
No Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)?
Make America Safe Again. Secure the border and expose corrupt actors. Hold corruption accountable again. Dismantle the administrative state and defund their unAmerica endeavors. Reign in the intel agencies to ensure they are operating in the best interest in American's. Reduces expenses to within a reasonable budget. Hold members of Congress accountable to spending within our means. Deregulation & decentralization. Government has become way too big. We need to repeal the 16th & 17th Amendments and put the authority back into the hands of the state legislatures. Implement a Critical Infrastructure Act that would protect, as an example, our power generating infrastructure such as hydro dams, nuclear power plants, etc. Stand against the lunacy that says there is anything wrong with petroleum power, coal power, hydro power, nuclear power, etc. These are all viable and cheap forms of energy and the true engineering says these are the paths forward to see incredible human flourishing worldwide.

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