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Ralph Norman, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Republican for U.S. Senate (SC) - II

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.
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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.

  • "Roe was "egregiously wrong and deeply damaging.""Roe’s constitutional analysis was far outside the bounds of any reasonable interpretation of the various constitutional provisions to which it vaguely pointed."💯 #SCOTUS #RoeVsWade" (x.com)
  • "Tomorrow marks 48 years since the Roe v. Wade decision. Since then, 62 million lives have been lost to abortion. Proud to join @RepTedBudd introducing a resolution to recognize January 22nd as National Sanctity of Human Life Day." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Rught to Life Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 26 "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Every financial package that comes before Congress ~must~ contain responsible spending cuts to keep up on a trajectory to balance the budget within a reasonable 10 year timeframe. Come hell or high water, we're going to get this country's fiscal house in order." (x.com)
  • "Whether you call it "Medicare for All" or socialized medicine, some believe that giving the federal government complete control over the financing of our #healthcare would somehow end well for us. It would not.@housebudgetGOP" (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSM) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 91% by National Taxpayers Union (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 98% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6760: Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "To those who claim, "good, let’s tax the ‘rich’ because they aren’t paying their fair share," remember the top 25% of income earners pay more than 86% of all federal income taxes. So that assertion is rubbish." (norman.house.gov)
  • ""Today was the start as we take advantage of an opportunity of a lifetime: a comprehensive tax overhaul. It has been 31 years since we achieved major tax reform. The American people deserve a fair and simple tax code that works for them, not against them." (norman.house.gov)
  • "As I have said repeatedly, absent a national crisis, I’m simply not going to support new spending without offsets to pay for it. Show me where the money will come from, and it better not be off the backs of our children and grandchildren." (norman.house.gov)
  • "The answer is not the redistribution of wealth. The answer is not more taxes, and/or more borrowing to add to our massive national debt. I’ve said this over and over, but it is not, and CANNOT BE the government’s responsibility to pay for everything from cradle to grave." (norman.house.gov)
  • "To those who claim, "good, let’s tax the ‘rich’ because they aren’t paying their fair share," remember the top 25% of income earners pay more than 86% of all federal income taxes. So that assertion is rubbish." (norman.house.gov)
  • "This goes without saying, but the VERY small minority of officers who disregard our laws must be held to account. I’m all ears on legitimate efforts to improve trust, respect, and accountability between police and those they serve. But those conversations cannot begin with the false premise that police should be defunded or abolished. The focus should be how we improve that bond, not how to get rid of it. " (norman.house.gov)
  • "This one is called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. While there is some overlap with the Justice Act, there are several elements of their bill I cannot support. For example, they allow NO provisions for the use of chokeholds EVEN when an officer’s life is in danger. They make sweeping changes to qualified immunity, which would make it easier to sue officers who are just trying to do their job." (norman.house.gov)
  • Rated 80% by National Association of Police Organizations (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 7120: "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I’ll be a HARD NO on a lot of votes next week. NO on any new spending without offsets elsewhere. NO on foreign military assistance without other spending cuts to pay for it. " (norman.house.gov)
  • "While we must be mindful of military spending, the protection of our nation will always be the federal government's most important responsibility." (www.electralphnorman.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 6395: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 7900: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "2) Our nation $31 trillion in the hole and spiraling towards financial ruin. Major cuts are needed in discretionary, non-military spending. We cannot afford to be using federal dollars to pay for stupid, woke, inappropriate, and irresponsible programs. Enough is enough." (x.com)
  • "I’ll be a HARD NO on a lot of votes next week. NO on any new spending without offsets elsewhere. NO on foreign military assistance without other spending cuts to pay for it. " (norman.house.gov)
  • "SC finished FY20 with a $775 million budget surplus. Now, Democrats in Washington want the taxpayers of states like ours, which have operated within our means, to provide a $350 billion bailout to poorly run state and local governments. All of this disguised as COVID relief." (x.com)
  • Rated 93% by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "(By the way, you all know my private sector experience is in real estate. And all of you would be SHOCKED to understand just how much of new construction costs are due to unnecessary regulations. If my Democrat colleagues really wanted to do something about the high cost of housing, we could quickly slash new housing costs by addressing some of these onerous regulations.)" (norman.house.gov)
  • "If you want to make housing more affordable, the answer is not government subsidies! The answer is not the redistribution of wealth. The answer is not more taxes, and/or more borrowing to add to our massive national debt. I’ve said this over and over, but it is not, and CANNOT BE the government’s responsibility to pay for everything from cradle to grave. Food, clothing, healthcare, housing, education, insurance, transportation, internet, cell phones, the list is a mile long. Name ANYTHING you could possibly need or want on a daily basis, and you can bet there are advocates who believe the government should pay for it with other people’s money." (norman.house.gov)
  • Voted against H.R. 8294 : "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related agencies Appropriations Act" (2023) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (2020) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "In large part, our skyrocketing inflation has been caused by the excessive government stimulus that Ralph has fought against. Compounding the problem is an inadequate response by the Federal Reserve." (www.electralphnorman.com)
  • "Last week, Biden said he takes no blame for America’s inflation crisis, even though inflation has skyrocketed because of the out-of-control spending Democrats have implemented during his presidency. Let’s see what else he lies about tonight. #sotu2023" (x.com)
  • Rated 93% by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Inflation "Reduction" Act is not an investment—it’s bankruptcy." (x.com)
  • "Moments ago the @freedomcaucus outlined common-sense cuts for raising the debt ceiling. We're clawing back:🔴 Biden’s $80B IRS expansion 🔴his $400B student loan debt transfer 🔴 unobligated, unspent Covid funds 🔴 billions in waste from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act." (x.com)
  • "Student debt cannot be "canceled." Whether it’s the federal government or a private lender, you don’t just erase loans off the books. All Biden is doing is saddling OTHER PEOPLE with that debt." (x.com)
  • "You cannot "cancel" student loans any more than you can cancel a car payment or credit card debt. That money has to come from somewhere. Proponents of this literally wanted student loan debt transferred to other people. It’s obnoxious." (x.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 2547: "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • " This state bill also makes voter fraud a felony in South Carolina. Plus it jacked up penalties for people who attempt to vote more than once, those who attempt to vote under someone else’s name, or those who intentionally break our state’s election laws. There several other good provisions in this bill as well. Overall it's a big win for our state. There have been a number of liberal-led efforts in Congress to federalize elections to varying degrees, all of which would have made voting less secure. But the U.S. Constitution is clear: states should handle their own elections, and this bill makes it clear that South Carolina takes that responsibility seriously." (norman.house.gov)
  • "Republicans are not racist for opposing a bill that would strip election safeguards. We want secure elections for EVERY American." (x.com)
  • "This legislation will amend both the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to incorporate several improvements to future federal elections, including: 2. Photo ID Requirements. This bill will require voters to present a valid, state-issued photo ID in order to vote in-person in federal elections. A copy of the voter's photo ID will be required when voting by other means, including absentee by mail. (Important note: this legislation carves out exceptions for citizens who have reasonable impediments to obtaining a photo ID. Additionally, most states, including South Carolina, offer free identification cards to U.S. citizens living in their state)" (norman.house.gov)
  • Rated 6% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "American energy is the cleanest in the world. Buy and produce in the USA!" (x.com)
  • "Until this administration stops its war on energy and gas, inflation will continue and our economy will stall." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1: "Lower Energy Costs Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Whether you call it "Medicare for All" or socialized medicine, some believe that giving the federal government complete control over the financing of our #healthcare would somehow end well for us. It would not.@housebudgetGOP" (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6201: "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "This bill would help crack down on anti-competitive practices by name-brand drug companies. And it's one of many steps we need to make prescription drugs more affordable in our country." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 3: "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5378: "Lower Costs, More Transparency Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833: "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Border security is national security. I'm not sure why this Administration thinks otherwise." (x.com)
  • "Border security is national security. Let's get serious about solving this crisis." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2: "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5525: "Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7691 "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3033 "Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5923 "Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Instead of stopping the invasion at our own border, we are voting on another $61 BILLION for Ukraine right now... Disgraceful." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833 "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 7691 "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Instead of stopping the invasion at our own border, we are voting on another $61 BILLION for Ukraine right now... Disgraceful." (x.com)
  • "Cartels are using Chinese-company-owned Tik Tok to recruit American teenagers to help smuggle illegal immigrants across the border. I wish we still had a President who cared about this kind of threat." (x.com)
  • "Trump considered Tik Tok a national security threat. Biden uses Tik Tok influencers to make excuses for his administration's failures. What a difference." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520 "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7521 "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
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.
b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
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

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

Defense Spending

Greatly Increase a) Armed forces personnel training
Greatly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Greatly Increase c) Military hardware
Greatly Increase d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Greatly Increase e) National missile defense
Maintain Status f) Pay for active duty personnel
Maintain Status g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Greatly Increase 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:

Maintain Status a) Less than $25,000
Maintain Status b) $25,000-$75,000
Maintain Status c) $75,000-$150,000
Slightly Increase d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Greatly Decrease b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Decrease d) Corporate taxes
Slightly Decrease e) Gasoline taxes
Eliminate f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Increase a) Charitable contributions
Slightly Increase b) Child tax credit
Slightly Increase c) Earned income tax credit
Slightly Increase d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Slightly Decrease f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
Yes 4) Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
Yes 5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?
7) Other or expanded principles
1) Cut entitlements 2) Press line item veto 2) Fund fraud rep. plan 3) Eliminate unfunded mandates

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

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.
X f) Require Section 527 organizations to register with the Federal Election Commission as Political Action Committees.
No g) Do you support instant run-off voting?
Undecided h) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
Yes 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.

X a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
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.
d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
e) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
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.
X 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.

X a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
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.

X a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
X b) Allow parents to use vouchers, (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
X c) Allow parents to use vouchers, (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
X 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.
f) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
g) Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
h) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
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.

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
X 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.
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.
f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
h) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
i) Other or expanded principles
a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
X b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
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.

a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
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.
X d) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
X e) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
X f) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
X 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.
X 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.
l) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
m) Support the Kyoto Protocol to limit global warming.
n) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Reauthorize the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X 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.
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.
b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
X c) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
X d) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
e) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X f) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
g) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
X h) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
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.

X a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
X b) Establish English as the official national language.
X 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.

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?
Undecided b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
No c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
Yes 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
Yes a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
b) Should the United States use military force to dismantle the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
No a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
Yes b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
No c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
Undecided 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
Undecided 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?
Yes 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.

Yes 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
Yes 2) Do you support the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?
Undecided 3) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
Yes 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?
Yes 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?
Yes 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?
Yes 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?
Yes 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.

X 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.

a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
X 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.
X e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
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.

X a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
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.
f) Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
g) Other or expanded principles
On an attached page, disk, or via email, please explain in a total of 75 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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