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Dennis Kucinich's 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.

Dennis Kucinich did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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.

  • 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.
  • "In Congress, Dennis has fought to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. There is a shocking amount of corruption in the government, wasting tens of billions of dollars, making fiscal integrity, not tax increases, in order." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Families on both sides of party lines want things like quality public education & affordable healthcare. Instead of giving massive tax breaks to wealthy CEOs, we should be funding our schools & healthcare centers. Our working families are our future & it's time we put them first!" (x.com)
  • "In Congress, Dennis has fought to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. There is a shocking amount of corruption in the government, wasting tens of billions of dollars, making fiscal integrity, not tax increases, in order." (www.kucinich.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.
  • "America is at risk from warmongers pocketing your hard-earned tax dollars in on one war after another. Dennis fearlessly exposes the lies that take us to war. He is steadfast for the peace and the prosperity of the AMERICAN people." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Over $8 trillion of the $35 trillion deficit is due to the cost of endless wars, with a trillion dollar interest on the debt being added this year. American must stop financing foreign adventures and stop getting dragged into more wars at great cost to our own national security and our national treasury." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "We’re losing our country to endless war when we put a higher priority on funding wars in other countries than we do in taking care of our own people. We’ve reached a moment of discovery, not unlike that moment hundreds of years ago when our founders understood the need to usher in a new order." (x.com)
  • "In Congress, Dennis has fought to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. There is a shocking amount of corruption in the government, wasting tens of billions of dollars, making fiscal integrity, not tax increases, in order." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Over $8 trillion of the $35 trillion deficit is due to the cost of endless wars, with a trillion dollar interest on the debt being added this year. American must stop financing foreign adventures and stop getting dragged into more wars at great cost to our own national security and our national treasury." (www.kucinich.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Inflation is an extra tax on each and every family. It’s impossible to effectively manage an economy in the interest of the American people if we keep spending trillions of dollars for war; we are now 35 trillion in debt and putting the bill for foreign wars on the national credit card. We need to reestablish our national priorities." (x.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.
  • "Why have I pledged to take on the big oil and gas industries and transition #Ohio to 100% renewable energy? Because access to clean, safe drinking water is a human right worth fighting for. #PowerToWeThePeople #OHGov" (x.com)
  • "Why have I pledged to take on the big oil and gas industries and transition #Ohio to 100% renewable energy? Because access to clean, safe drinking water is a human right worth fighting for. #PowerToWeThePeople #OHGov" (x.com)
  • "Enough is enough. We don't need thoughts and prayers. We don't need empty promises from gun lobby politicians, or lawmakers seeking a 'middle ground' on this issue. We need to #BanAssaultWeapons and stop this senseless, preventable violence before more lives are lost. #Enough" (x.com)
  • "I #StandWithStudents in Parkland. I #StandWithStudents in Columbus, Cleveland & Cincinnati. I #StandWithStudents in OH & nationwide fighting for their lives & those of future generations. To all the gun lobby politicians that dare underestimate them: Your time is running out." (x.com)
  • "Thank you to @MomsDemand for naming me a "Gun Sense Candidate" for Ohio! Our grassroots campaign is leading the charge to #BanAssaultWeapons in Ohio, and we're gaining momentum fast. Join our movement for safer classrooms at #OHGov #PowerToWeThePeople" (kucinich.com)
  • "Make no mistake – healthcare is a driving force in this election. As a Congressman, I wrote the bill for universal, single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare. I wrote it to get rid of the premiums & co-pays crushing Ohio working families." (x.com)
  • "Medicare for all. Jobs for all. Education for all. We can have a state government that works for the people – not the corporate lobbyists and for-profit interest groups." (x.com)
  • "Our campaign supports: Paid family & medical leave" (x.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "I'm ready to be your voice in Washington but I need your help to carry the message to voters to seal the border, cut the deficit, stop endless wars, uphold the Constitution and protect our freedoms." (x.com)
  • "Our scarce resources and jobs should be preserved for U.S. citizens, including those who immigrated here legally. Wrong-headed thinking about an open border has created serious economic and security problems for America. The border must be sealed and America must return to a traditional program with rewards LEGAL immigration." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "The American people are not being fooled by a policy which puts politics above our national security and economic well-being. The open southern border has cost the American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars per year. #sealtheborder #OH7" (x.com)
  • "Our scarce resources and jobs should be preserved for U.S. citizens, including those who immigrated here legally. Wrong-headed thinking about an open border has created serious economic and security problems for America. The border must be sealed and America must return to a traditional program with rewards LEGAL immigration." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Wars create refugees. Refugees seek safe havens. Stop the forever wars and illegal border crossing becomes less of an issue. The best policy: Stop the forever wars, seal the border, and return to an immigration policy that emphasizes legal entry." (x.com)
  • "America is at risk from warmongers pocketing your hard-earned tax dollars in on one war after another. Dennis fearlessly exposes the lies that take us to war. He is steadfast for the peace and the prosperity of the AMERICAN people." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Over $8 trillion of the $35 trillion deficit is due to the cost of endless wars, with a trillion dollar interest on the debt being added this year. American must stop financing foreign adventures and stop getting dragged into more wars at great cost to our own national security and our national treasury." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Under the guise of supporting "freedom," Ukraine is being turned into a 10-year welfare program for the military industrial complex. Of the "$61 Billion" for Ukraine, 80% goes to US arms manufacturers. #wargrifters" (x.com)
  • "We’re losing our country to endless war when we put a higher priority on funding wars in other countries than we do in taking care of our own people. We’ve reached a moment of discovery, not unlike that moment hundreds of years ago when our founders understood the need to usher in a new order." (x.com)
  • "America is at risk from warmongers pocketing your hard-earned tax dollars in on one war after another. Dennis fearlessly exposes the lies that take us to war. He is steadfast for the peace and the prosperity of the AMERICAN people." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "Over $8 trillion of the $35 trillion deficit is due to the cost of endless wars, with a trillion dollar interest on the debt being added this year. American must stop financing foreign adventures and stop getting dragged into more wars at great cost to our own national security and our national treasury." (www.kucinich.com)
  • "This war has been ruinous to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. To sacrifice hundreds of thousands of brave Ukrainian men and women to the whims of people who want to play the game of nations is not forgivable. Anthony Blinken, Victoria Nuland and Boris Johnson all share responsibility for scuttling a peace agreement that would have preserved Ukraine's neutrality while keeping NATO at bay. Further proof that this gang never wanted peace and still do not. The American people are fed up with these forever wars and those who concoct them." (x.com)
  • "Under the guise of supporting "freedom," Ukraine is being turned into a 10-year welfare program for the military industrial complex. Of the "$61 Billion" for Ukraine, 80% goes to US arms manufacturers. #wargrifters" (x.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Other or expanded principles

Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once.Budget Priorities

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Arts
Greatly Decrease c) Defense
Greatly Increase d) Education
Greatly Increase e) Environment
Maintain Status f) Homeland security
Maintain Status g) International aid
Maintain Status h) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase i) Medical research
Greatly Increase j) National parks
Greatly Increase k) Public health services
Slightly Increase l) Scientific research
Slightly Increase m) Space exploration programs
Maintain Status n) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase o) Welfare
Slightly Increase p) Emergency preparedness
q) Other or expanded categories

Defense Spending

Greatly Increase a) Armed forces personnel training
Maintain Status b) Intelligence operations
Greatly Decrease c) Military hardware
Maintain Status d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Eliminate e) National missile defense
Maintain Status f) Pay for active duty personnel
Maintain Status g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Greatly Decrease h) Research and development of new weapons
Greatly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories

Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:

Eliminate a) Less than $25,000
Slightly Decrease b) $25,000-$75,000
Maintain Status c) $75,000-$150,000
Greatly Increase d) Over $150,000
f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Greatly Increase b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Increase d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Greatly Increase f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Charitable contributions
Slightly Increase b) Child tax credit
Greatly Increase c) Earned income tax credit
Slightly Increase d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Slightly Increase f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
Greatly increase over $1,000,000
No 4) Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
No 5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?
7) Other or expanded principles
Congressman Kucinich believes the budget fails to fund veterans, school repair and construction, teachers, affordable healthcare including prescription drugs for eveybody, and affordable housing. These expenditures do not require larger deficits. Instead the budget should be balanced with rollbacks of tax breaks for the wealthiest. Getting out of Iraq will save hundreds of billions of dollars in long-term borrowing. And eliminating unnecessary weapons sytems that only enrich defense contractors will save billions of taxpayer dollars.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

X a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
d) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
e) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
f) Require Section 527 organizations to register with the Federal Election Commission as Political Action Committees.
Yes g) Do you support instant run-off voting?
Yes h) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
No i) Do you support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and woman?
j) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with educational, vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
e) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
X f) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
X g) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of corporate crimes.
h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs.

a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
X c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
X d) Allow doctors to recommend marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
X g) Support a federal law to standardize testing and penalties for steroid use in professional sports.
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers, (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers, (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
X e) Reward teachers with merit pay for working in low-income schools.
X f) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
X g) Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
X h) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
X i) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
j) Other or expanded principles

1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.

a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
X d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
X h) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
i) Other or expanded principles
X a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
X c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
d) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
X b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Support Clear Skies Act to reduce power plant emissions by setting a national cap on pollutants.
d) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
e) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
f) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
g) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X h) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
i) Support opening a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
X j) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
X k) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
X l) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
X m) Support the Kyoto Protocol to limit global warming.
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

X a) Reauthorize the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
X b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X f) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X g) Require a license for gun possession.
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health care.

a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
c) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
d) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X e) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
f) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X g) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
h) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
X i) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research.
j) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration.

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
c) Support a temporary worker program that would enable illegal immigrants to work in the United States legally.
d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using government funded social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States.
f) Other or expanded principles

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.

X a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) International Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles

International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.

Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
Yes b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
No d) Should the United States send more troops to Iraq?
e) Discuss your proposals for an exit strategy in Iraq. (75 words or less. Please use an attached page if the space below is not adequate.)
f) Other or expanded principles
a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
No b) Should the United States use military force to dismantle the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
No c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
Yes d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
No e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
No b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
Yes c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
Yes 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
No 5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs?"
Yes 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
No 7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund abstinence education?
8) Other or expanded principles

International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

No 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
No 2) Do you support the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?
No 3) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
No 4) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Yes 5) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
No 6) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
Yes 7) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
8) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
No b) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
c) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes d) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
Yes e) Do you support the prohibition of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of prisoners in U.S. custody?
No f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive military strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to U.S. national security?
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
c) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities.
d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases.
f) Raise the retirement age for individual eligibility to receive full Social Security benefits.
g) Other of expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.

X a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
c) Implement government regulation of Internet content.
d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
X f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet.
g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government.
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Increase funding for child care programs.
c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
e) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
X f) Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
g) Other or expanded principles
We must pass the Medicare for All Act, the only bill in Congress that would guarantee access to medical care for every American. We must also end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home. To that end, I have developed an exit strategy. We must protect Social Security, a sound program, from the political forces engineering a "crisis" in an effort to privatize and gain control of the retirement security of senior citizens.

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