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David Sanders' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for State Senate (IN) - District 23

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?

Indiana Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test

Abortion Issues

		b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
Yes		c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes		d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
Yes		e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?
		f) Other or expanded principles
Unknown Position		a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
David Sanders. 2006. Project Vote Smart: Indiana Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape;" "e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered;" Abortion Issues: g) Other or expanded principles: "The right to privacy must be protected. Women must have access to the safe contraceptives of their choice."

Budget, Spending, and Tax Issues

1) SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.

Maintain Status		a) Agriculture
Maintain Status		b) Arts
Maintain Status		c) Defense
Maintain Status		1) Intelligence operations
Maintain Status		2) Military hardware
Eliminate		3) National missile defense
Maintain Status		4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
Maintain Status		5) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Maintain Status		6) Research and development of new weapons
Maintain Status		d) Education
Maintain Status		e) Environment
Maintain Status		f) Homeland security
Maintain Status		g) International aid
Slightly Increase		h) Medical research
Slightly Increase		i) Scientific research
Maintain Status		j) Space exploration
Maintain Status		k) United Nations
Maintain Status		l) Welfare
Slightly Increase		a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase		b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase		c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status		d) Corporate taxes
Slightly Increase		e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Maintain Status		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Slightly Increase		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
No		3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax?
No		4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
Yes		5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?
My pledge is to examine each spending bill individually to make sure that allocations are in the national interest. I pledge that my votes will favor a net REDUCTION in national government spending during my term in office. Every spending bill must include enhanced aspects of waste and fraud reduction. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?
The deficit poses a long-term threat to our economic growth. Spending cuts are primary, but revenue enhancement is also required. Closing tax loopholes and more fair enforcement are essential. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?
I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Business and Employment Issues

No		a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?
Yes		b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No		c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
Yes		d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize?
Yes		e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues

No		a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?
Yes		b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No		c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
Yes		d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
No		e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
Yes		f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Crime Issues

No		a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes		b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?
Yes		c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
No		d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?
No		e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?
I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Education Issues

No		a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?
Yes		b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
No		c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
No		d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
Yes		e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Environment and Energy Issues

Yes		a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
Yes		b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
No		c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?
Yes		d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?
No		e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?
Yes		f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy?
		g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors?
I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Gun Issues

		b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
Yes		c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
No		d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?
Yes		a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
David Sanders. 2006. Project Vote Smart: Indiana Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns." David Sanders. Guns, a General Statement. 1 November 2006. "Current legislation needs to be enforced to keep guns out of the hands of criminals? I do not now see the need for any additional gun legislation." (vote-in.org) David Sanders. Issue Position: 2nd Amendment. "David Sanders supports the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I Section 32 of the Indiana State Constitution. He does not support additional gun legislation." (votesmart.org)
On this "Test" many questions do not have simple answers. For example, I believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to purchase and possess guns, but I do not think that felons should have that same right. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Health Issues

Yes		b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
No		c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
		d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
		e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?
David Sanders. 2006. Project Vote Smart: Indiana Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income." David Sanders. David Sanders On Medical Insurance. 1 November 2006. "I favor universal medical insurance." (vote-in.org) Allen, Scott. 2010. Monticello Herald Journal: Democratic candidate for District 4 holds conference, discusses scientific strength. 23 June 2010. "But Sanders explained he believes health care reform is a positive measure, though it may need tweaked as it's implemented. "I believe that this health care bill is a step in the right direction. We need to work on that to make sure that is affordable (to small businesses)," he said. "We know how essential small business is because of our economy." (www.sandersforcongress.org) David Sanders. Issue Position: Health Care. "I differ with Rep. Steve Buyer who says that affordable health care for all is not the government's business. If I am elected, I will work to ensure that high-quality health care is available to all -- to the most vulnerable in our society, to our veterans and to the elderly, who have contributed so much over their life spans and still have so much to contribute." (votesmart.org) David Sanders. Issue Position: Health Care. "The health-care legislation extends coverage to millions of currently uninsured Americans. It provides small businesses with tax cuts so they can provide health coverage for their employees. Americans will be protected against having their insurance revoked when they become ill. Americans favor these provisions. My opponent favors eliminating Medicare prescription drug coverage (Medicare part D). I support reducing its costs through prescription drug price negotiation similar to that conducted by the Veterans Administration and private insurance companies." (votesmart.org)
On this "Test" many questions do not have simple answers. For example, reimportation of American-made pharmaceuticals is very different from importation of prescription drugs or their ingredients from some countries where we have seen tainted materials. Malpractice reform should accompany increased healthcare accountability standards. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Immigration Issues

No		b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?
No		c) Do you support establishing English as the official national language?
		d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?
David Sanders. David Sanders on Immigration. 1 November 2006. "Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants: Opposed" (www.vote-usa.org) David Sanders. David Sanders on Immigration. 1 November 2006. "I favor increasing security at U.S. borders and ports...I do not support expansion of guest worker programs, because they do not contribute to a long-term solution to the situation. I believe that current laws against employing illegal immigrants need to be enforced. New technologies that can enhance border security and employer's abilities to identify illegal immigrants should be deployed. NAFTA, a poorly designed free-trade agreement, gave away American sovereignty and increased illegal immigration to the United States." (www.vote-usa.org) David Sanders. Issue Position: Illegal Immigration. "Secure the borders and ports. Enforce existing labor laws to prevent the exploitation of the labor of illegal immigrants." (votesmart.org)
We must secure the borders AND the ports. We must uniformly enforce labor laws, so that exploitation of illegal immigrant labor is stopped. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

International Policy Issues

		b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?
Yes		c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan?
Yes		d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?
Yes		e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States?
		f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes		g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
Yes		h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq?
		i) Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?
David Sanders. 2006. Project Vote Smart: Indiana Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Selected NO for: "d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?;" "e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?" David Sanders. Issue Position: Afghanistan. "Finishing the war in Afghanistan should have been the priority years ago. I am willing to give the military some time for its new strategy to work. Given my background in working to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, my main concern is potential instability in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state. However, the patience of the American people is limited, and the corruption in the Afghan government is very troubling. We should know within the next year whether the new approaches are productive." (votesmart.org)
On this "Test" many questions do not have simple answers. For example, I support international free trade but do not support U.S. sovereignty-infringing provisions such as Chapter 11 of NAFTA. Military action has both immediate costs and creates long-term obligations and must be initiated only when the facts warrant it. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Social Issues

Yes		b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military?
Yes		c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
		d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs?
Unknown Position		a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
David Sanders. 2006. Project Vote Smart: Indiana Congressional Election 2006 National Political Awareness Test. Selected NO for: "i) Do you support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and woman?"
On this "Test" many questions do not have simple answers. For example, on marriage, I believe that religious organizations have the right to decide which marriages to perform without government interference. I have demonstrated my willingness to state my positions in public through participation in debates, going door-to-door throughout the district, attending the Fairs in each of the 12 Counties of the District, and providing my answers to the Political Courage Test. Is this true for the other major party candidate?

Legislative Priorities

Improved pandemic preparation, reducing deaths of bacterial infections acquired in the hospital, water resources, and health benefits for people serving in the military, veterans, and their families with a focus on mental health and a reduction in homelessness.

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