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Ruth Torres' 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.
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.

  • "CLEAR exceptions due to rape / incest and defined medical necessity because TODAY a pregnant woman is dying in Texas because she had a miscarriage and can’t get a D&C. There has been a 56% increase in pregnant women dying in TX since the abortion ban. Did you know abortion bans are forcing women to continue pregnancies that risk their lives and ability to have children in the future?" (truthincongress.com)
  • "Protect women’s rights to utilize birth control and in vitro fertilization (IVF)" (truthincongress.com)
  • Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? "Pro-Choice" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Expand a ffordable housing programs & turn empty commercial buildings into mixed use." (truthincongress.com)
  • Do you support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the federal government allowing permits for drilling on public lands? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Criminal and civil liability for ALL gun sellers who violate laws or provide access knowing a high risk of injury or death exists." (truthincongress.com)
  • "Require training & license permits, universal background checks, red flag, and safe storage laws." (truthincongress.com)
  • Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Medicaid expansion, regulation of prescription drug costs & improving Medicare benefits with vision, hearing and dental coverage" (truthincongress.com)
  • Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Medicaid expansion, regulation of prescription drug costs & improving Medicare benefits with vision, hearing and dental coverage" (truthincongress.com)
  • Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Funding for staff & resources to secure our border & quickly process applications" (truthincongress.com)
  • "Ruth will WORK for immigration reform, instead of blocking laws to blame and complain. We need balanced solutions, not extremes of chaos at our border with years of unprocessed applications nor unconstitutional treatment and dehumanizing, racist LIES and false narratives." (truthincongress.com)
  • Do you support increasing security along the southern US border? "Yes" (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? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)? "Yes" (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-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No Do you support the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade?
The role and authority of government is not to control what people do with their own body undermining God-given "free will". Who do you think God is more upset with, those who make the laws (in the Lord's name) causing & allowing poverty, abuse & oppression, the church that fails to speak for the poor, abused & oppressed or the victims that act in desperation because of it? God tells us in Isaiah 1:11-17, 9:14-16, 10:1-3, 31:1-3. The abortion ban has resulted in 56% increase in pregnant women dying in TX because hospitals can't even perform D&C after a miscarriage so women are getting infection & dying. Women with cancer can't get treatment so baby is born to be an orphan. TX has highest number of people without medical insurance, tens of thousands of rape kits that sat unprocessed for over 20 years and a broken fostercare system where children are being abused and raped in fostercare. Women are paid as low as 57 to the dollar compared to men in the same exact jobs. I will WORK for a balanced approach that gives clear exceptions for medical necessity, rape and incest and deals with WHY women have abortions: poverty & abuse. I'll work to reduce the gender wage gap, increase access to medical care, require timely processing of rape kits, paid medical leave, child support enforcement and hold men accountable for influencing or demanding an abortion so they don't have to pay child support. I'll work for a national standard to address fostercare failures so kids have lives worth living.
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?
Yes Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs?
We need REFORM throughout every branch and level to have a government by the people, FOR THE PEOPLE as intended by our founders. The wealthy need to pay their fair share. We must stop the 1% from being richer by robbing the 99%. We must have a balanced budget that is fiscally responsible, fuels our economy and gives our future generations inheritance instead of burden. Public programs need reform so that our most vulnerable are able to live above poverty level but also reduce waste and abuse, and equip all able with the resources to break cycles of poverty and move from dependence to independence.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
It is time to reclaim the American dream, to stop the buying of public policy by the 1% to make the rest of us poorer and sicker. We must rise to VOTE together for a representative government that works for all the people with balanced solutions, term limits and reforms against corruption and abuse throughout our government. We must enforce our constitutions contractual obligation to equally provide each of us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must rise to VOTE together to shore up the purpose and integrity of every branch of our government, preventing it from being chopped down and sold to the highest bidder. We must rise to VOTE together to disarm those whose strategy for wealth and power using fear, weaponized religion and culture wars to divide and turn us against each other. We must stop our vote from being marginalized, our food industry monopolized, our homes commercialized, our healthcare and public education systems profitized, priming our children to be institutionalized.
No Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
Government immunity is for people doing their best to serve in official roles who make an honest mistake or circumstances out of their control happen. There should be NO immunity nor taxpayer burden for those that knowingly, intentionally or extremely negligently violate law. Neither should a candidate or official get to use campaign donations to pay for legal defense for intentional violations of law. Those entrusted to offices of power should be held personally, financially and criminally accountable for intentional and knowing abuses and exploitation of that power. The standards of accountability should be at least equal to, not less than that of non-government positions. Taxpayers should NOT be burdened with the costs to defend against or settle the liability of a government official who intentionally and knowingly violates their oath of office or any law.
Unknown Position Do you support increasing defense spending?
I would need information from the experts on this. The US currently spends more on defense spending than the next 10 countries combined. We need far greater controls on how these funds are spent and eliminate waste and abuses. All decisions require fact based reporting and just cause as well as a plan for WHO and HOW any funding is paid for.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
Yes Do you support the federal government increasing funding for affordable housing programs?
Yes Do you support the federal government taking action, beyond those of the Federal Reserve, to alleviate inflation?
I support responsible, wise federal spending. Inflation is being fueled by monopolies, price-gouging and abuses which must be dealt with in public policy in and outside of the Federal Reserve. A handful of companies control major industries like our food chain, energy, housing and other critical supply systems which is putting working families and senior citizens in poverty, crippling our economy and destroying our "free market" that relies on entrepreneurship. We must stop this from happening and support small and medium sized farms and businesses so that competition thrives and reduces prices on consumers. We must stop giving corporate welfare to subsidize industries and businesses making record profits, stock buy-backs and executives making 300+ times more than their employees. I support building more single family homes and limiting big business for short-term rentals and foreign investors from buying up homes and robbing us of the American Dream. Federal funding for affordable housing already available needs better controls and corrective actions to stop waste and abuses. The Community Reinvestment Act has been perverted and abused with developers and owners receiving 8 BILLION EVERY YEAR in tax benefits while perpetuating red lining and cycles of poverty. Billions more in HUD money is distributed every year "waiving" the requirement for 51% to be "low to moderate income" units down to as low as 10% for decades. The housing bust of the 2000's resulted in companies buying up homes at rock bottom prices and commercializing our residential communities. This combination is robbing Americans of achieving the dream of home ownership. Those who received housing programs 30 years ago are still there, with the original units to house children at the time who are now parents and even grandparents. It's time to replace learned dependency with enabled independence and home ownership whenever possible.
Yes Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt?
I support responsible, balanced and wise fiscal policies. I don't support blanket forgiveness of all student loan debt. I do support loan forgiveness for those whose higher education institution employed fraud or misrepresentation or no longer exist so credits or degree are worthless. I support loan forgiveness for those working as teachers, law enforcement, first responders or other civil service or military service after a reasonable time period. I support retro-calculation of loans with abusive fees and interest rates. I support reform of bankruptcy laws to consider student loan debt because millionaires are wiping out their debt everyday. I support incentivizing employer funded reimbursement or student debt payment programs and exchanging / satisfying student debt with volunteer work with qualified non-profits. We must recognize how institutions have been allowed to inflate higher education costs and abuses of student loans, implement controls to mitigate perpetuation of the issue and provide achievable reduction / elimination of existing debt to fuel our economy. High schools need to do more to equip students for skilled trade employment/ business ownership or college credits before graduation. Higher Ed institutions need more accountability for the completion of programs and employability of students at income level sufficient to pay loans in reasonable time frame of 7-10 years maximum. There should be controls and limits on costs for Pell Grant recipients, especially for out of state fees or other fees for which the institution does not incur expenses. Institutions that have abused their power or failed to enable gainful employment sufficient to pay loan debts need to be held financially responsible for it.
Yes Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls?
Government issued ID is a reasonable requirement as long as poverty, age or other discriminatory factor does not preclude access to that identification. For example, an elderly person's identification that is expired should not prevent them from using it for voting purposes. There should be minimal $5 or less or NO cost for an ID that is only for voting purposes and it needs to be accessible to get it. TX DPS is giving appointments 6 months out! That's not reasonable. There should be a limited exception if the identification was lost or stolen within 10 days of the election requiring sworn affidavit. School ID's should be upgraded to count as most High school & college students have school ID's (which should count as government ID's) but not state issued ID's because they don't drive.
Yes 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?
I support renewable energy, conservation and protection of our natural resources. Federal policies should provide protections and incentives for renewable energy more than or equal to direct funding which promotes partnership with and transition from non-renewable energy. Public lands need environmental protection while also being fiscally responsible to promote domestic independence. However, the resources from US, especially public lands should not cost US consumers more than foreign consumers. Further, companies need to be held responsible for abandoned wells polluting our lands and waters.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)?
I support protecting our children's lives over protecting the gun industry so that our kids and teachers come home from school in the same condition and don't need to live like they are in maximum security prison. A typical police officer "good guy with a gun" is no match for a bad guy with an assault rifle. I support immediate elimination of Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which protects the gun industry from liability. I support implementation of red flag laws, closing boyfriend loopholes and ensuring protection against domestic violence, universal background checks, raising the minimum age of weapons and ammunition to 21, limits and reporting on weapon and ammunition purchases, as well as increased communications and accountability when military personnel or law enforcement has cause or warning to act to remove weapons. I support criminal and civil liability for gun sellers, parents and anyone who provides access to weapons to someone a reasonable person would identify as having a concern they will hurt themselves or others. I support social media accountability to act immediately to notify law enforcement and potential targets when a threat is made and to prevent public view of violent acts. I support legislation that requires training on gun usage, storage and laws. I oppose open carry laws. I oppose 3d printed or gun kits which avoid compliance with laws. I support an assault weapons ban but will consider exceptions to shooting ranges as well as to grandfathered individuals who register their weapons, submit to annual mental health exam, safe storage regulations and insurance. We must STOP sending assault weapons to criminals in other countries causing the instability, crime and migration issues.
Yes Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
Yes Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
Unknown Position Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All?
Access to affordable, quality medical care is a government responsibility. Our healthcare system needs reform to control costs and increase access as well as provide incentive and some level of accountability to consumers for health choices within their control, like encouraging regular check-ups for preventative care and early diagnosis. I am cautious about a single-payer system absent fixing the current abuses and ensuring consumers are in control of the plans they want. Today, Medicare & Medicaid are abused, wasteful and mismanaged systems that deny or limit access because providers can discriminate to see limited number of these patients, require 2-5 visits for what can be done in 1 visit so they get paid more, specialists are not available in areas that need them the most, nor are patients typically provided access to the same medications and treatment options in medicaid/ medicare versus private insurance. Consumers need better education and resources to make better informed decisions on their healthcare. We need options that remove employers from healthcare management and allow consumers to choose the plan that best fits their needs, at an affordable price and put whoever they want on their plan without explanation or restrictions of age or relationship. Then it won't matter if we change jobs, your job doesn't need to know your private health matters. In support of more women physically and financially enabled to have children, I support maternity leave benefits. Government should regulate prescription drugs and every product / service when providers monopolize and price-gouge consumers and ensure US is not paying significantly more than other countries for the same drug. Government should also regulate prices of all products which the government provided funding to source or create that product. We need to stop Taxpayers funding vaccines and then they make billions in profit with no control on prices.
Yes Do you support increasing security along the southern US border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, regardless of their immigration status?
I support policies which enable efficient processes securing our border, STOP surges, protect lives and prohibit separation of families. Security funding is better with motion sensors, drones and staffing than a physical wall that is easily destroyed or bypassed, harms the environment and gives kickback to politicians awarding government contracts. We must STOP sending assault weapons to criminals in other countries causing the instability, crime and migration issues. I am opposed to giving benefits to anyone that is unavailable to US citizens. I am opposed to allowing unregulated entry or lack of enforcement after visas or permits expire. I oppose saws, barbed wire or creating or furthering situations that cause people to drown or die seeking entry. I oppose "catch & release" and family separation policies. I oppose false narratives; fear-mongering alleging immigrants are criminals and Neo-fascist playbook or commentary. I oppose discrimination, fear and abuse of power to marginalize and oppress any group. I support policies that prohibit companies from engaging in worker discrimination, abuses and wage theft; modern-day slavery tactics. I support allowing entry with an immediate work permit and allocation to area that has housing resources and employment immediately available to help fuel our economy and fund social security for our senior citizens. Prior to allowing new immigrants entry, I support identifying and enabling the existing labor resources already in the US, already invested in with US funded education to provide immediate work permits. Then, quotas for new entrants should be based on a formula tied to data points like unemployment rate to automatically adjust and mitigate future issues, also need self-reporting & assessment on employable skills, incentivize learning English with language resources in home country and in US. I support path to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and for those who have honorably served in our military. I am opposed to requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin to apply for work visa or citizenship as the only purpose is to create an extreme barrier, expense and risk.
Yes Do you support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts?
Yes Do you support the US providing increased offensive military aid to Ukraine?
Ukraine is fighting our enemy and is doing it valuing the lives of Russian civilians, despite Russia intentionally seeking to harm Ukraine civilians. We need to support those fighting our common enemy and prevent Putin from trying to destabilize and invade NATO allies. We need ONE policy in use of US weapons, not allowed to use against civilian populations, not allowed to be used by those engaged in war crimes.
Yes Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)?
Social media needs to be held accountable to protect youth and stop the spread of misinformation. I am concerned on use of AI to manipulate and spread misinformation. Public policy needs to keep up with technology. I would like to see a new and improved Fairness Doctrine and penalties for speech that is a lie, promotes self harm or violence, on both the poster and the platform. I would like to see technology create ratings / categories that are set at each posting and each user sets its preference so that consumers and parents have controls on the category and volume within each category of postings we and our children see.
I'm committed to doing the WORK to improve the lives of the families & communities of CD5. 1. Democracy protection: Support passage of Freedom to Vote / John R. Lewis Act and For the People Act, amend adding: a) congressional term Limits (consecutive and lifetime) b) prohibition of stock trades using insider information by government officials. c) strengthen VRA to protect private right to sue & ability for multiple minority groups to form coalition under Voting Rights Act. Consider and undermine new strategies that may arise to threaten VRA. d) Implement improved Fairness Doctrine & Truth in Political Speech (equal to truth in advertising) e) Government & Judicial Immunity revised to remove & hold officials accountable for knowing & intentional illegal acts. 2. Economy: a) Legislation that breaks up monopolies and stops price-gouging controlling critical supply chains (groceries, housing, energy, and pharmaceuticals) while supporting small and medium sized farms and businesses. Funding from penalties to companies violating anti-trust laws and reallocation of subsidies, tax breaks and other existing incentives and funding. b) Bring the funding for infrastructure needs internet, roads, water, emergency services, etc. to CD5. 3. Immigration reform which enables efficient processes securing our border, STOP surges, dramatically reduces immigrant entry that is not pre-approved with an immediate work permit and allocation to area that has housing and employment immediately available based on workforce needs, path to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and for those who have honorably served in our military. The funding should come from reallocation of currently spending resources to process surges and giving benefits US citizens are ineligible for. Funding will also come from the $70B (2022) the US is sending to almost 180 countries. We need to become critical of who we send money to, how much, why and reduce money to countries that are driving immigration to US. The funding should also partially come from the workers wage tax and employers receiving these workers. 4. Protect public education from voucher scam which seeks to dismantle our infrastructure and make trillion dollar public land grabs in every county. I have a draft bill which calls for transparency and accountability in public education so that taxpayers get what they pay for and our children have the education needed to compete in a world economy. 5. Gun safety legislation which protects 2nd Amendment keeping weapons out of the hands of those who should not have them and STOP sending assault weapons to criminals in other countries causing the instability, crime and migration issues.

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