Card image cap

Thomas Hansen'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.

Thomas Hansen has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2020 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Iowa Congressional Election 2020 Political Courage Test

Pro-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I was taught as an EMT that Life ends when the heart ceases to beat, no matter the condition of the body or the environment it is in. So logic would dictate that Life begins when the heart starts to beat no matter the condition of the body or the environment it is in. I do not believe in banning abortions completely because that leads to other social problems. I also believe this is a State's Rights issue and does not belong at the Federal level.
No In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
These are not entitlement programs, these are programs that we all paid into throughout our lives with the promise that we would get the money back when we retired so they have to be kept solvent and there are definite ways to do that without increasing taxes. Reform of our tax system being chief amongst them. I have already made the campaign pledge that I will not vote for anything less than a budget freeze (military spending exempted) and then a 1% reduction per year over the next decade to reduce our ever increasing debt. The rest at hansenforcongress.com
Unknown Position Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Lumping these two completely different entities together makes this question impossible to answer. Corporations are privately owned and the money they spend on campaigns voluntarily comes from the owners of the corporations who have the right of free speech. Unions dues used for campaign purposes are compulsatory from its members who may or may not support the position of the unions and therefore are not true free speech. The recent Janus decision by SCOTUS corrected some of this.
Yes Do you support increasing defense spending?
The safety and security of the citizens of our Nation is the number one Constitutional obligation of the government and everything possible should be done to ensure it. That does not however mean that there should not be strict oversite of military spending to ensure the taxpayer is not being swindled. Peace is derived through strength and our strength should never be questioned by an aggressor.
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
I do not believe in the government subsidizing any privately owned business or recusing it when it fails no matter how large it is. However, this current situation is not the result of free market forces, it is the direct result of the government destroying those market forces so they bear resposibility. Hopefully the people have learned an expensive lesson and will not let this happen again. Tax implications are the number one consideration of businesses making financial decisions. They should be simple and promote economic competitiveness with the rest of the world.
No Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
I believe states vary widely on their priorities in education and curriculums should be left up to the states. Every student deserve an equal opportunity of a good basic education but the recent economic boom also showed us the fallacy of believing in a one side fits all college education for everyone. Education should bring forth and help students identify their God given talents and assist them in finding careers that match those talents that will give them the greatest opportunity to climb the socio-economic ladder. I do support vouchers to achieve this goal.
No Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
There is no other country in the world that has done more to clean up their messes, and the messes of others, than the United States through our innovations. Unfortunately, history has also shown this has rarely been done without a little encouragement from the government. Again, back to the Constitution and the safety of the people being a priority. I believe in this balance but also believe all regulations need to be voted on by Congress not implemented by unelected officials at various federal agencies.
No Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
The Second Amendment is there to allow all law abiding citizens to purchase, own and use firearms to defend themselves, their families, their neighborhoods, their states and America against all powers foriegn and domestic that may wish to restrict their Rights and Liberties unconstitutionally by force, period the end. "Shall not be infringed" means just that. We have enough rules on the books right now to ensure our safety, enforce them.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
No Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
My family has been without health insurance for over 23 years now. I have learned all there is to know about what is wrong with the system and how to fix it and payed our medical bills through negotiations using this knowledge. I have laid out my plans to fix our medical system on my web page: hansenforcongress.com Reforms encompass insurance companies, medical providers, lawyers, government and ourselves. Please read it.
Yes Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
Yes Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Here again I have laid out my plans for solving this on my web page: hansenforcongress.com The main part of my reforms include my "Red Card" program which allows illegal immigrants to gain lawful status in America without amnesty or the possibility of citizenship or voting rights. President Eisenhower stated that "American citizenship is the greatest prize in the world". Anyone that broke the law getting here should not be eligible for it. My program does make exceptions for minors who were brought here illegally but requires them to go through an extensive program to achieve it.
Yes Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
Yes Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
If nations are in violation of international treaties, than yes, the United States and other nations should enforce the rules and prohibit those countries from acquiring those weapons. If those countries are not signatories of those treaties but pose a threat to world peace, again yes. Appeasement never works and leads to situtations worsening (Hitler). America should also continues to divest itself as the world policeman and monetary provider for other nations safety and security while encouraging other nations to take on more responsibility.
Yes Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
If tariffs are used for protectionism they are terrible. If tariffs are user to encourage other nations to expand free and fair trade they are great. This is a simple international economic trade rule that goes back to Adam Smith and 'The Wealth of Nations" and should be enforced as it leads economic stabilization for everyone involved. We need trade boost our economy but it should not come at the exspense of the destruction of our own manufacturing capabilities.
Top priority making sure the Constitution is adhered to and to put an end to the Socialists' agenda of making government our master instead of our servant. No appeasement. Beyond that, Health Care reform, Tax reform and Immigration reform. I have laid out, in writing, a health care plan, tax plan, and immigration reform plan along with many others on hansenforcongress.com You may go there to find out all the details.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward