Manny Lopez's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Manny Lopez is currently being tested through the 2024 Political Courage Test.
Florida Congressional Election 2024 Political Courage Test
| 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? | ||
| We need to codify Reproduction Rights in Congress. Reproduction rights is Healthcare and should be the decision of the patient, the family, and the patients doctors. We need to oppose Project 2025. | |||
| Yes | Do you support expanding federal funding to support social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| I am for a balanced budget. I would gladly support a decrease in income taxes if it helps to balance the budget. However, I do not see how reduction in taxes will help balance the budget while increasing public programs. I would like more information on how that can be done. I would think a wealth tax would help finance public programs but that is an increase in taxes. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals? | ||
| I support regulations that identifies the financial contributors, the source of the donations, and the amounts whether direct or indirect. Citizens need to know who is funding candidates. | |||
| No | Do you support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct? | ||
| I do not support protecting government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct. If the conduct is proven to be intentional or negligent misconduct then it should be open to personal liability. No liability for misconduct opens the door to abuse and more misconduct. | |||
| No | Do you support increasing defense spending? | ||
| I do not support increasing the military budget until we have a better accountability and oversight of present spending. Overspending on equipment and material for the military industries need stronger oversight, controls, and management. Examples of $435 for a hammer, $600 for a toilet seat, and $7,000 for an aircraft coffee maker in the 1980's show overspending by the military in the past. Those expenses are gone but other overspending today is prevalent with contract budgets constantly being increased. We have bases in areas around the world that could be reduced, consolidated, or eliminated. I would be an advocate for increased spending when needed once we efficiently handle the present military budget. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Targeted federal spending increases could stimulate economic growth tied to tax incentives or grants which can stimulate businesses to take action to get the tax breaks or money to invest for production, increased pay for employees, hiring, upgrade environmental protections, and other programs that could stimulate growth or protection of the people and the environment. Business would take positive action to get grants or tax incentives. We need to update HUD housing programs for renters and home owners. There are not enough homes for qualified Section 8 renters as there are long waiting lists for housing by people qualified to get assistance. More housing for section 8 renters is needed. A National Home Insurance program similar to the National Flood insurance program could help lower insurance rates. The saved money for home owners could pass the savings on to renters instead of increasing rates to cover the higher insurance costs. Affordable Housing is a national problem and needs federal help. Reducing inflation is good for consumer confidence in the government and their pocketbooks. Programs to accomplish inflation would be good coming from the federal government or the federal reserve. I would think that both working together would help improve inflation. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the forgiveness of federal student loan debt? | ||
| We should have education as a right to all Americans for college and vocational trade schools. Forgiveness of federal student loan debt would be a step in making advanced education a right. Presently, students are financially strapped with student debts when it should be free. The rest of the industrialized world has education paid by the government. We are the wealthiest country in the world. We should have free education for all citizens as a right. An educated population makes the country stronger. A free education is an investment in our country. | |||
| Yes | Do you support requiring a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| Yes we should require a government-issued identification in order to vote at the polls. It would insure that voter fraud is averted. One needs identification to register to vote. States could use provisional ballots when there is a question about a voter's eligibility without identification at election time. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Government should assist with funding for development of renewable energy. America is behind many countries in renewable energy development. We should be a leader in it. More renewable energy projects will eventually lower energy costs and help reduce or prevent negative Climate Change. Investing in the renewable energy industry will create good paying jobs and give us better energy sources. I do not support drilling on public lands due to potential pollutions and damages to our public lands. | |||
| Yes | Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loopholes)? | ||
| Gun safety is about preventing gun violence. We need common-sense gun safety measures that will help keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them. These are common sense items for legislation: � Ban Assault Weapons � Stronger enforcement of existing laws � No Guns in Schools � Red Flags � People with a violent criminal history, Domestic Violence, & the certified insane � Stricter Background Checks for Gun Shows & Identify those who should be Red Flagged � Oppose Charleston Loophole � Waiting Period- Allow for a cooling period for the passionate purchase and provide time to do background checks � Oppose State Reciprocity of concealed weapons � Repeal PLCAA � Support secure storage laws with penalties for ignoring laws � Eliminate Ghost Guns and Bump Stocks Death rate by guns dropped when assault weapons were banned then increased when the ban was lifted. Assault weapons should be banned. | |||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| We should have a Universal Healthcare type system such as Medicare-for-All. We are one of a few industrialized countries in the world that does not have a universal healthcare system for it's citizens. Quality healthcare should be a right for Americans. Paid family and/or medical leave benefits should be available as part of healthcare coverage. Many countries have it and we should also. Maternity leave is essential in family support and unity. Bonding with the newborn and the parent is neglected without maternity leave. The bonding is beneficial to the family and society as it increases the child's security and reduces societal problems as the child matures. American taxpayers help subsidize Big Pharma research and development. Hence, taxpayers should not be paying the the highest prices in the world for drugs. Government should intervene with regulation if Big Pharma does not fairly charge the taxpayers who helped fund the pharmaceutical development. Medicare should be able to negotiate all drug 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? | ||
| We need to increase manpower at the border to better secure illegal entries. Until we have the manpower needed by Immigration, ICE, Border Security and other personnel; we should consider using the Coast Guard or other military personnel until we get the others staffed at appropriate levels to handle the need. The Coast Guard or other military personnel could also handle the shortage of judges and courts to process immigrants faster. I do not support requiring immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, regardless of their immigration status. Unfortunately, the process to designate eligibility can take years. Sending people back to their home country who truly deserve asylum could be harmed in their return and the years to achieve legal status would be counterproductive towards legal immigration. We need more housing facilities and be able to track immigrants within our country while they wait for processing. Additionally, immigrants who are legally processing should be able to work immediately. | |||
| 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? | ||
| I do support economic intervention as a means of resolving international conflicts at certain times when the conflict is going against American interests. An example is with the Israel and Hamas conflict. I believe that American interest is being harmed by the way Netanyahu and his extreme right wing Knesset members is executing the war. The October 7th assault was barbarically horrendous and Israel has aright to defend it self. However, the retaliation on Hamas is causing extreme casualties. The inhumane food and medical assistance shortages to the Palestinians is also horrendous along with the displacement of the Palestinians. The animosity created with the Arab world will create another generation of hate towards the United States for funding the Israel assaults. The U.S. should put conditions on the use of the aid we provide them in the fight against Hamas. If they do not comply then we should reduce or cut aid. In contrast, the U.S. should end the Cuban Embargo. We then could assist Cuban citizens with economic intervention in their effort to develop capitalism in Cuba which will help overthrow communism in Cuba. The economic intervention would change the way government is run in Cuba within a few years changing this international conflict. The U.S. should fund Ukraine in their fight against Russia. We need to stop Russia from advancing into NATO countries which is Putin's objective. Not paying aide now to Ukraine in order to defeat Russia will cost America more money and our soldier?s blood. | |||
| Yes | Do you generally support increased regulations on social media companies (e.g. Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.)? | ||
| Social Media companies need regulation for the protection of our society, especially the youth, and to protect the safety of our country. Our youth are highly vulnerable to the abuse of Social Media on privacy and in forming decisions. Many youth and adults are unknowingly victims to misinformation and algorithms. Social Media owned by other countries like Tik Tok with China represent a threat to America. China can gather plenty of information and influence Americans that can be used to harmfully manipulate our citizenry. AI will be a greater problem with Social Media if we do not regulate them. Congress needs to put regulations on all social media companies operating in the U.S. to protect our national security and safety of our children. | |||
| Protecting Our Democracy, Reproductive Rights, and Social Security are my three top priorities. We need to elect Kamala Harris and stop Project 2025 to protect our Democracy along with Supreme Court reforms, Congressional term limits, ending the Filibuster and the Electoral College. Kamala Harris needs to be elected because Trump wants to dismantle our Democracy and implement Project 2025. Project 2025 is a manisfesto to destroy our Democracy and needs to be stopped. The Supreme Court needs to have a Code of Ethics, term limits, expanded to 13 members to reflect the 13 federal appellate courts, and have justices appointed that have years of experience sitting as a judge. Congressional term limits will bring fresh ideas and people into government. It will reduce the influence of excessive lobbyist's influence and political corruption. Congressmen would be less tied to lobbyist and could spend more time legislating instead of raising money. The Electoral College is outdated and is not reflective of being a Republic since the majority of the people do not elect the people. The Electoral College elects the President. The President is the only representative of the people not elected by the majority of the people which is what a Republic is suppose to do. Reproductive Rights is healthcare. Reproductive rights should be a decision made by the patient, the patients family and doctor - not politicians. Politicians should not dictate the healthcare of any person. Reproductive Rights needs to be codified in Congress. The Social Security earnings cap of $168,000 needs to be eliminated. Eliminating the Social Security cap will increase benefits and make Social Security solvent for many decades. Millionaires pay less than 1% of their earnings while people earning less than $168,000 pays 6.2% of their earnings. Presently, the more the wealthy earn the less percentage they pay in Social Security tax. The wealthy need to pay their fair share to increase benefits and make Social Security solvent. We need to protect senior citizens. |
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