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Brian Pedigo'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.

Brian Pedigo has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2020 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?
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.

Kentucky Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Unknown Position Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I'm by definition pro-choice because I don't believe government should tell people how to make their healthcare decisions. Also I don't like the way those terms are defined most pro-life are simply pro-birth not pro-life. If they truly valued life they would not try to cut children's healthcare, or cut other social programs that help in the ability for children to have a chance at a decent life,
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
I would support raising taxes on people making $500,000 or more or couples making over $1million back to the 2016 pre-tax cut level. I would support closing loopholes that allow individuals and corporations to hide money outside the country. There are some projects that even the Pentagon would like to see cut or even ended but some members of congress keep them alive because they would affect their district. This is part of the "corporate welfare" that is part of the real drain on our budget.
Unknown Position Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes, money has corrupted our political system to the point a majority of Americans don't trust their own government. Their should be a strict regulation of any and all contributions to all campaigns.
Unknown Position Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Unknown Position Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Federal spending on our infrastructure is an integral part of growth especially when recovering from a recession or a slow growth period. The need is there, whether its bridges, roads, overhauling our power grid or investing in high speed rail where its feasible, we need to invest. I have no problem with our corporate taxes being competitive but I would like to see loopholes closed that allow them to hide money over seas, or that allow them to pay little to no tax at all.
Unknown Position Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
Many decisions on education can be best made at the local and state level, but there have to be standards set for all schools to ensure children from every state have the opportunity to succeed. Standards on science for example, evolution and climate change must be accepted as the facts they are and not theory. If we allow certain states to set low standards then let those kids down.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Unknown Position Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes renewable energy is the future of our nation and the world. Millions of jobs are set to be a reality when we as a nation embrace this and move away from carbon based fuels. We should out perform the Paris agreement rather than just rejoin it, we should, we should be the leader of this and not a bystander. Greenhouse gases must be regulated in order to slow down the climate changes that are coming, hopefully we can act fast and minimalize the damage.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
The time for doing nothing is over, we must take action. I would like to see a test both written and field, for any person looking to buy a gun. We can look at Japan's test as an example. We must have expanded back ground checks, and have serious consequences for them to be followed. I would like to see us look at a national registration for all firearms. We need to be able to follow the guns more efficiently.
Unknown Position Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
I have a plan for universal healthcare using the Medicare system already established so no new bureaucracy created. It will cover all medical situations-medical, dental, vision, hearing and mental. My plan will not blow up the budget I have details of my plan on my facebook page Brian Pedigo for Congress. I could never explain it in 100 words.
Unknown Position Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
Unknown Position Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
I don't believe a wall is the answer, I do want to keep our border secure but a wall will not do that. The work visa program needs to be overhauled so that when they come here to work it will allow them to be here, do the jobs they come over for and then return but not loose their place in order for citizenship. Those covered by DACA should be given a fast track to citizenship. Those that join the military should be granted a faster track to citizenship.
Unknown Position Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
I would take marijuana off the Schedule One list that treats it like heroin or cocaine, its crazy that its on that list. I would place it under the same guidelines as alcohol. I would decriminalize it from the federal perspective and would allow states to vote on whether they would legalize it. I want people to have the opportunity but I don't want to force it. Also if counties or municipalities would like to vote in the event a statewide vote failed. Medical cannibus should be a legal option now without a question.
Unknown Position Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
Diplomacy should always be first option, we should work with our allies because that is what works, The Iran deal came about from diplomacy, the US role in the Middle East should not include military action without clear set of goals and an exit strategy. We should support those in the region who are more moderate economically not with military intervention.
Establishing a system of universal healthcare is my primary goal. I want to write legislation that states money collected for SSI be only spent on SSI, no longer should Congress be able to borrow from our safety net to pay for billionaires tax cuts. Thirdly I want to take federal restrictions off industrial hemp, I want farmers to have a cash crop to bank on. With thousands of uses possible, the creation of millions of "green jobs" could create an economic boon with industrial hemp. We can create jobs that are good for the environment.

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