Baramdai Sharma's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
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Baramdai Sharma has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2023 Political Courage Test.
New Jersey State Legislative Election 2023 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 rapes? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds (e.g. Medicaid) for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| c) Most Americans support Medicaid coverage of abortion services, just as it covers other pregnancy-related care. We do not always know a person circumstances; we are not in their shoes. When Medicaid covers pregnancy-related care but withholds coverage for abortion, we are taking away a persons ability to make important personal decisions based on what is best for their circumstances? | |||
| No | a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions? | ||
| No | b) Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to balance the budget in your state? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs in your state? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the legalization and regulation of wagering on collegiate sporting events involving NJ based teams? | ||
| No | e) Do you support a reduction in State and Local Tax Deductions, otherwise known as SALT? | ||
| b) As an accountant, I understand the significance of a balanced budget and its impact on overall financial stability. While lowering income taxes may give people short-term relief, it is critical to assess the potential long-term repercussions and alternative options. To establish a sustainable and equitable budget plan, a detailed examination of revenue sources, expenditure patterns, and prospective cost-cutting areas should be done. I will gladly reduce income tax if there is an alternative source of revenue to offset the shortfall. | |||
| No | a) Do you support capital punishment for violent crimes? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the use of private prisons? | ||
| No | e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders? | ||
| c) While I support this, it is a delicate matter and we should thoroughly assess each case and work with all related parties to come to a solution. Allowing state and local police to enforce federal immigration restrictions can boost national security and ensure that immigration laws are applied consistently. However, trust between immigrants and local law enforcement is eroding, so if immigrants are afraid of being deported, they may be less likely to disclose crimes or assist police investigations, thereby posing a larger risk to public safety.? | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of New Jersey? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support government spending on affordable housing projects in New Jersey? | ||
| b) While I support this, the question of whether to reduce state government regulations on the private sector is a complex and multifaceted one, and the answer can vary depending on the specific circumstances, priorities, etc. Decisions about regulation should ideally be made through a democratic process that takes into account the interests of all stakeholders. | |||
| No | a) Do you support adopting federal education standards (e.g. Common Core) in New Jersey? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in New Jersey? | ||
| Yes | d) Should immigrants in the United States who graduate from New Jersey high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities, regardless of immigration status? | ||
| a) I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all rule for education because every student learns differently. While there are certain core subjects that should be taught across the board the methodology in teaching should be flexible to accommodate students to meet them where they're at in their learning process. We should help students to be successful not hinder them. b)I believe we have a great public school system in New Jersey that should be the priority for state funding. Allocating funds to charter schools would divert resources away from public schools, potentially compromising the quality of education for all students. Additionally, there is a lack of accountability and oversight in the charter school system, which raises concerns about how taxpayer dollars are being spent and criteria for admission into these schools. d) Immigrants who come to this country are looking for a better life for themself and their families. I believe we should help them achieve that and eventually, they will contribute back to society. I am an immigrant myself and I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would live in the United States and run for public office at the state level. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state governments allowing permits for drilling on public lands? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| a) & c) - I would support funding provided that the state has money to allocate for this in the budget. I would not support these if it means additionally pressuring NJ taxpayers. If there are federal grants, sure! b) I said no because NJ New Jersey's commitment to clean energy is part of a broader effort to combat climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system. These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also create jobs and provide economic opportunities in the clean energy sector. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the regulation of campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the use of an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| No | c) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support automatic voter registration? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the implementation of ranked choice voting in New Jersey? | ||
| C) While I say no at this time, In the future, I believe steps should be put in place to safeguard the integrity of the voting process and boost public trust in the electoral system by offering a transparent and secure mechanism of validating voters' identities. However, if this should not place a financial burden on voters or disenfranchise them in any manner. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loophole)? | ||
| Yes | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the right to concealed carry in New Jersey? | ||
| c) while I support the right to concealed carry in NJ, I also support the state's present gun rules defining where a concealed weapon is permitted. | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program such as Medicare-for-All? | ||
| Yes | c) Should an individual have the right to choose to die (e.g. those with a terminal illness) through euthanasia? | ||
| No | d) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)? | ||
| Yes | f) Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support the state legislature expanding the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act to include outdoor public spaces such as Atlantic City casinos that have traditionally allowed it? | ||
| d) While I do not advocate for the elimination of religious exemptions for vaccination since I believe in respecting individuals' freedom of religion and their ability to make decisions based on their own beliefs, I do believe it is important to ensure that public health is not compromised. Therefore, implementing measures that strike a balance between religious freedom and public safety, such as strict monitoring and education on the importance of vaccinations, can be a more effective approach. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support inclusion of sexual orientation in New Jersey anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Jersey anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support greater efforts by the New Jersey state government in closing gender, racial, and other wage gaps? | ||
| Education, I believe that education is the key. Nelson Mandela said it best: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". With an educated population, we ensure we equip people with the skills needed to become successful. When the population is educated and successful, the communities and the State benefit as well. I would like to see a program that automatically enrolls students from high school into community colleges and technical schools. I would propose more state funding for public education, including community colleges and technical schools. Not everyone would want to take the four-year traditional college route; for those who can't, there should be options for them. We need skilled workers in NJ; we need more electricians, plumbers, mechanics, etc. Funding should come from the state budget and also advocate on a federal level for more funding. I believe there should be more funding at the federal level for education. Climate change would be another area, especially with all the heatwaves, hurricanes, storms, forest fires, and flooding we have been having in NJ and in the USA. I support the Murphy administration's initiatives to combat climate change. I believe these initiatives are necessary to reduce New Jersey's reliance on fossil fuels and to create a cleaner, healthier environment. Climate change is real, although some would like to think differently, according to the 2020 NJ Scientific Report on Climate Change "As atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases increase, New Jersey will experience significant direct and secondary changes in its environment. These include increases in temperature, variability in precipitation, frequency and intensity of storms, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and the associated impacts to ecological systems, natural resources, human health, and the economy". Affordable housing - There are many factors contributing to housing insecurities, such as the high cost of rent, lack of affordable housing, unemployment due to COVID-19, etc. Some ways legislatures can help: - Building more affordable housing This can be done by using tax breaks to encourage developers to build affordable housing or by using eminent domain to acquire land for affordable housing development. - Reforming the state's rent control laws: the current rent control laws in New Jersey are not very effective. They only apply to certain types of properties, and they are not enforced very well. Reforming the rent control laws would make it easier for people to rent apartments at a fair price. - Providing financial assistance to low-income renters This can be done by providing rental assistance or by increasing the minimum wage. Rental assistance can help low-income renters afford their rent, and increasing the minimum wage would give low-income workers more money to spend on housing. |
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