Project Vote Smart; U.S. Senate (Michigan) Edition Part II

On this Part II of the U.S. Senate (Michigan) Edition, I will talk about Jack Hoogendyke’s Political Courage Test results.  If you did not check out the first part of this segment, I ask that you check out Part I, in order to learn about the Political Curage Test.   Due to the fact that Jack Hoogendyke currently holds a seat in the Michigan House, I will first link to Mr. Hoogendyke’s Voting Record Page at Project Vote Smart, here.

Here is Jack’s results in the Political Courage Test;

Please NoteThe 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.  Project Vote Smart

 

He answerd the same way as Scotty Boman on “Abortion Issues.”  They both support “Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered” and “Medicare, Medicaid, and federal subsidies should be prohibited from being used on abortion procedures.”

On the “Budget Priorities” section of the “Budgetary, Spending and Tax Issues”, as with Scotty Boman, he too wants to eliminate Arts.  He also wants to eliminate United Nations and greatly decrease welfare.

I pretty much agree with his answers on the “Defense Spending” section of “Budgetary, Spending and Tax Issues”.

Within the “Family Income Taxes” sub-category in the “Taxes” section of “Budgetary, Spending and Tax Issues” I mostly agree with his answers to “Greatly Decrease” “Less than $12,000″, “Greatly Decrease” “$12,001-$40,000″, “Greatly Decrease “$40,001-$100,000″, “Maintain Status” “$100,001-$180,000″ “Maintain Status” “$180,001-$350,000″ and “Maintain Status” “$350,001 and above”

OK, I so disagree with him on his answers to “Maintain Status” “Alcohol taxes”, “Maintain Status” “Cigarette taxes” and “Maintain Status” “Gasoline taxes.”  But I do agree on his answers to “Eliminate” “Capital gains taxes” and “Inheritance taxes”, within the subcategory of “Other Taxes” in the “Taxes” section of “Budgetary, Spending and Tax Issues.”

In the “Deductions/Credits” sub-category in the “Taxes” section of “Budgetary, Spending and Tax Issues” he answered “Yes” to “Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?” and “Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?”

In the “Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues” he supports “Support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns”, “Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties” and “Support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations.

He didn’t really answer that he supports anything in the “Crime Issues.”  Hmm, and I thought Repbicans were supposed to be “tough on crime”?

On “Education Issues” he supports “Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school”, “Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college”, “Require universities to disclose financial relationships with lenders” and “Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).”

On “Employment Issues” he supports ” Reduce government regulation of the private sector.”  Here is his essay answer;

“I support the right of workers to NOT join a union or pay dues to that union. (Right to Work)”

I pretty much agree with where he stands on “Environment and Energy Issues.”

On “Gun Issues” he supports to “Allow individuals to carry concealed guns.”  He answered “Eliminate” to “Enforcement of existing restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns” and “Restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.”

I am not too awful concerned with “Health Issues” in this election.  But I do agree with his thinking that “Providing healthcare is not a responsibility of the federal government.”

For real, I definitely like his answers to the “Immigration Issues” better than Scotty Boman’s.  He supports “Establish English as the official national language.”  You better believe that if you live in this country you better be speaking English.  It is just freakin awesome that he “Support harsher financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.”  Hell yeah, someone better be holding them accountable.  He also supports that ” Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship.”

I am going to skip his positions on “International Aid, International Policy and International Trade Issues.”  Just as with all of the links I provided, click on the link to read his answers.

On “National Security Issues” I agree with his “Yes” answer to “Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?”  Don’t agree with his “Yes” answer to “Should law enforcement agencies have greater discretion to monitor domestic communications, to prevent future terrorist attacks?”  He answered “Undecided” to ” Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?” Now, personally, I think if you are going to run for U.S. Senate, you should have a definite answer to that question, regardless of yes or no.  I’m kinda scared that he didn’t give any sort of an answer to “Do you support the creation of a federal identification card system?”  Nope, not even an undecided.

Well y’all know my thought on “Social Issues” in politics, but everyone seems to make such a big fuss about it, so if it makes ya happy; I do agree with his “No” answer to Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?”  But I do not agree with his “Yes” answer to “Do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman?”  I do agree with his “No” answers to “ Do you support federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem cell lines?” and “Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?”  For sure agree with his “No” answer to “Should the federal government consider race and gender in government contracting decisions?” and “Should the federal government regulate internet gambling?”  Although, I do not agree with his “Yes” answer to “Should the federal government continue affirmative action programs?”  Surprised that a Republican doesn’t have a big long essay answer to “Social Issues.”

Like I said in the Scotty Boman post, I have to admit that I am not too awful concerned with the “Social Security Issues”, though I probably should be. So, I will just leave that one alone.

Thoroughly, thoroughly I agree waaay more with Scotty Boman’s take on the “Welfare and Poverty Issues.”  Here is what Jack supports in regards to the afore mentioned issue, “Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.”

In conclusion to Jack’s Political Courage test;

 

Please explain in a total of 100 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.

Balanced budget, limit spending to rate of inflation plus population growth, reduce business taxes and make the 2001-03 tax relief permanent. Ensure a strong military and national security.  Project Vote Smart

Project Vote Smart I am going to end this Part II of the U.S. Senate (Michigan) Edition similar to the way ended the Part I of the Scotty Boman Post.  With an exception being that I have to add in; I am not favoring Scotty over Jack by including Scotty’s essay answers and not adding Jack’s essay answers.  Jack did not give any essay answers.  Except for the one on “Employment Issues.”  Within the majority of this ‘08 election, I have learned agree or disagree, like or don’t like Libertarians; They do have one thing going for them.  They speak their mind and lay it out for all to see.  Unlike Republicans and Democrats who just use talking points and fill out questinaires how they think the party should want them to.

The answers I posted here is not Jack’s test in it’s full entirety. I implore that y’all click on the links I provided to the issues and read it all yourselves. My purpose was to inform you and let you know where to look for all the voting info you need.