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Steven Wendelin'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.
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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.

  • "Mountaineers should always be free to choose. West Virginians are fiercely independent. We want to be left alone to live our lives as we see fit. Why should politicians dictate what we can and cannot do with our bodies? This includes women’s health issues and end of life decisions for the terminally ill. These are choices we should be allowed to make free from government interference." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "Mountaineers should always be free to choose. West Virginians are fiercely independent. We want to be left alone to live our lives as we see fit. Why should politicians dictate what we can and cannot do with our bodies? This includes women’s health issues and end of life decisions for the terminally ill. These are choices we should be allowed to make free from government interference." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "No loopholes for the rich at the expense of working folks. The graduated income tax system is broken beyond repair. We all need to pay the same tax rate, whether it’s for money earned at a job or from investments. If we do this without exception, the tax burden will be dramatically reduced for all of us." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "The Constitution makes Congress responsible for managing the country’s finances, but it constantly fails. The last budget passed on time was in 1997. The last balanced budget was in 2001. I propose members of Congress be required to forfeit their pay when they don’t do their job. It’s time our elected officials lived by the same rules the rest of us do." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "We need to balance our budget. Not just once in a generation, but every year. How do we do that? Simple. Decrease what we spend and increase our revenue. We do that by eliminating waste, corporate welfare, AND ensuring that EVERYONE pays their fair share. This can only be done by completely overhauling our tax system. We must make it the law of the land that we can’t spend more than we take in unless we are in a declared war or are facing a national crisis that threatens our continued existence." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "No loopholes for the rich at the expense of working folks. The graduated income tax system is broken beyond repair. We all need to pay the same tax rate, whether it’s for money earned at a job or from investments. If we do this without exception, the tax burden will be dramatically reduced for all of us." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "We need to balance our budget. Not just once in a generation, but every year. How do we do that? Simple. Decrease what we spend and increase our revenue. We do that by eliminating waste, corporate welfare, AND ensuring that EVERYONE pays their fair share. This can only be done by completely overhauling our tax system. We must make it the law of the land that we can’t spend more than we take in unless we are in a declared war or are facing a national crisis that threatens our continued existence." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "Stop the selling of politicians to the highest bidder. Running for office in our current system requires big money. This forces even the most well-meaning candidates to put all their time into fundraising. It also gives special interest groups unfair influence. Citizens United was a bad ruling because it gave corporations the same rights as citizens and defined money as free speech. It’s time to reverse that ruling." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "Until we can get the soft and dark money out of our political process we can’t fix ANYTHING. Each of us has guaranteed freedom of speech and each of us gets one vote. Giant corporations, oligarchs, foreign actors, and special interest groups should not be allowed to bulldoze their way over individual citizens by purchasing undue influence." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • 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.
  • "The Constitution makes Congress responsible for managing the country’s finances, but it constantly fails. The last budget passed on time was in 1997. The last balanced budget was in 2001. I propose members of Congress be required to forfeit their pay when they don’t do their job. It’s time our elected officials lived by the same rules the rest of us do." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • "We need to balance our budget. Not just once in a generation, but every year. How do we do that? Simple. Decrease what we spend and increase our revenue. We do that by eliminating waste, corporate welfare, AND ensuring that EVERYONE pays their fair share. This can only be done by completely overhauling our tax system. We must make it the law of the land that we can’t spend more than we take in unless we are in a declared war or are facing a national crisis that threatens our continued existence." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • 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.
  • "People shouldn’t have to choose between going to the doctor or paying the rent. The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet most of us are only one major accident or illness away from financial ruin. We need to control escalating costs by capping prices of medical procedures, prescriptions, and malpractice insurance." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "People shouldn’t have to choose between going to the doctor or paying the rent. The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet most of us are only one major accident or illness away from financial ruin. We need to control escalating costs by capping prices of medical procedures, prescriptions, and malpractice insurance." (wendelinforcongress.com)
  • 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.
  • "Stop corporations from selling our personal data. Anyone who uses a computer or cell phone leaves a digital trail online. It includes our demographics, buying habits, and personal data. This information is valuable and it’s being sold, but we don’t see any of the money. Instead, our personal data is used to deliver targeted news, encourage us to buy products, and even send us dangerous misinformation. Corporations must be regulated and forced to respect our privacy." (wendelinforcongress.com)
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?
Personal health care issues should never be legislated at any level of government.
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?
To balance the budget requires two things. Eliminate waste - specifically waste in the DoD as well as ensuring that inherently Government functions are performed by the government and NOT contracted out. The second half is that the super wealthy need to pay their fair share of the taxes as well as cutting corporate welfare like subsidies to oil companies.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
We need to get dark and soft money out of politics.
No Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
No one is above the law. That said, people who bring about unfounded civil suits for the purpose of harassment or personal gain should be held accountable and criminally liable by the courts.
No Do you support increasing defense spending?
The military needs to be able to run full audits and account for the money that is being spent right now. That said, more money needs to go towards personnel pay and quality of life, while decreasing the amount of money spent on contractors.
No 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?
Yes - by enforcing anti trust laws and going after corporations that price gouge.
Yes Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt?
For individuals who enter into public service; e.g. military, medical, teaching, first responder, etc. Also - the Government must take back the administration and underwriting of student loans. This should have never been privatized.
Yes Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No Do you support the federal government allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)?
It is time that we, as a nation, define what a "well regulated militia" is. Universal background checks, required secure storage and criminal liability if your weapon is used in a violent crime, accident, or suicide. These are NOT infringements, they are responsibilities that go along with your rights.
No Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program, such as Medicare-for-All?
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?
Use existing anti-trust laws to go after medical insurance companies and big pharma to level the playing field.
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?
We need to document all immigrants so they can pay taxes. If they cannot find work and start paying into our system within six months they need to return to the country of origin. Also - any US employer, who hires undocumented workers need to be prosecuted.
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?
Economic sanctions is major tool in the US arsenal in shaping global policies. Aid to Ukraine is required if we are going to stem the tied of Putin's aggression. Furthermore US munition makers and our economy benefits from the aid.
Yes Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)?
Yelling fire in a crowded theater is not protected speech. Typing that members of a political party are all pedophiles is not protected speech either. We need to return to the days where people will held accountable for liable and slander.
Please explain in a total of 500 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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