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Austin Scott's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Republican for U.S. House (GA) - District 8

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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.

  • "There is no disputing that life begins at conception, and today the Supreme Court protected the sanctity of life for future generations by overturning Roe v. Wade." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee (None)
  • Voted against HR 8297 "Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022" (None)
  • "Millions of retired Americans depend on Social Security for their retirement. We must take steps to preserve, protect and strengthen the system for current retirees as well as future generations. Years of reckless spending in Washington have put Social Security in jeopardy and the first step to solving Social Security's problems is to get spending under control and the economy back on track. As we continue to work to halt Washington's spending spree, both parties should forge meaningful, bipartisan reform for the Social Security system that protects the promise of Social Security for the American people for generations to come. We have an obligation to protect Social Security for those Americans at or near retirement who have paid into the system for decades while also preserving the system for our children and grandchildren. I believe that we can find solutions that do both and look forward to working with my colleagues from both parties address the challenges facing Social Security." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • "As we continue to work to halt Washington's spending spree, both parties should forge meaningful, bipartisan reform for the Social Security system that protects the promise of Social Security for the American people for generations to come." (votesmart.org)
  • "Under the Republican plan, Americans who are 55 years or older will see no changes in their Medicare coverage. In the future, beneficiaries will receive a premium subsidy from the government to purchase a Medicare-approved health plan of their choice.Medicare spending will continue to grow every year. However, the rate of growth will slow in order to preserve this important program for future generations. The House Republican plan for saving and strengthening Medicare is based on the same plan that Members of Congress currently have. This plan will encourage competition and help keep health care costs in check." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • Rated 85% by National Tax Limitation Committee (None)
  • "For families across Georgia, today's legislation means more jobs, more take-home pay, and more money in their own pockets," said Rep. Scott. "While I am very happy with the first major overhaul of our tax code in over thirty years, there is still a lot of work to be done getting our economy back on track, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration and my colleagues in Congress to expand our economy, grow wages, and ease burdensome federal regulations." (None)
  • "Hardworking families deserve to keep more of the money they earn in their pocket," said Rep. Scott. "As a small business owner for over twenty years, I have spent countless hours and thousands of dollars a year seeking to comply with our complicated tax code. No American should have to go through the time and expense that our current tax code requires. I look forward to continuing to ease the burden for our families, farmers and ranchers, and small business owners and enabling them to achieve the American dream." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 85% by National Tax Limitation Committee (None)
  • "For families across Georgia, today's legislation means more jobs, more take-home pay, and more money in their own pockets," said Rep. Scott. "While I am very happy with the first major overhaul of our tax code in over thirty years, there is still a lot of work to be done getting our economy back on track, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration and my colleagues in Congress to expand our economy, grow wages, and ease burdensome federal regulations." (None)
  • "Hardworking families deserve to keep more of the money they earn in their pocket," said Rep. Scott. "As a small business owner for over twenty years, I have spent countless hours and thousands of dollars a year seeking to comply with our complicated tax code. No American should have to go through the time and expense that our current tax code requires. I look forward to continuing to ease the burden for our families, farmers and ranchers, and small business owners and enabling them to achieve the American dream." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 6% by Common Cause (None)
  • "I'm very disappointed to see so many of my Democratic colleagues vote to pass H.R. 1, which will mandate sweeping changes to state-run elections and erode states' rights in administering elections. There are changes that need to be made to our election system, but they should be done by state legislatures, not by Washington bureaucrats," (None)
  • Rated 0% by End Citizens United (None)
  • Voted against HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H Con Res 40 "Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enfo ..." (None)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H J Res 42 "Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Re ..." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4365 "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I understand how important it is to have the best equipped and trained military in the world. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution makes clear that one the major duty of Congress is to provide for the common defense. The 8th District is home to Robins and Moody Air Force Bases, two bases that are vital to America's security. I am extremely proud of our installations and the thousands of veterans, military families, and Department of Defense civilian employees that I represent." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (None)
  • "Late last night, the House Armed Services Committee passed the bipartisan FY24 NDAA. This legislation recognizes the global impact that Georgia’s bases have on our nation’s defense and supports our warfighters around the globe," Scott said. "As our adversaries display increasingly aggressive behavior, I am proud to have amendments included to counter the influence of dangerous countries like Russia and Communist China." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • "In the cover of darkness last night, the House passed a Trojan horse ‘infrastructure' bill. It is $1.2 trillion in total spending, but only a sliver of that is dedicated to traditional infrastructure projects, like roads and bridges," said Rep. Scott. "Thirteen Republicans provided the deciding votes for Speaker Pelosi and helped pass a key piece of President Biden’s socialist agenda. Make no mistake about it. The Republicans who Voted in favor of this yesterday helped pave the way for the Reconciliation package to be brought up in the coming weeks, which will lead to higher taxes and more federal control of our lives. The opinion of the public should matter, and the public spoke on Tuesday, where the Democrats’ massive federal encroachment agenda was rejected. Yet, Democrats have again rammed through unpopular liberal policies. They are completely out-of-touch with Americans, or they simply don’t care what they think." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • "Georgians deserve better than the wrecked economy the left's policies and out-of-control spending gave us. When Republicans take back the House, we will work to restore energy independence and our economy." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" (None)
  • "The so-called "Build Back Better Act" is nothing more than a tax & spending spree to fund liberal policies. We are days away from a potential gov shutdown & debt limit default, & all Dems care about is passing another piece of their socialist agenda. It’s baffling & disgraceful." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (None)
  • "The Inflation "Reduction" Act is full of empty promises that harm some of Georgia’s largest employers." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 347 "Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act" (None)
  • Voted against HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "The so-called "Build Back Better Act' is nothing more than a tax and spending spree to fund liberal policies. At a time when many American families are feeling a financial pinch, this bill would dramatically exacerbate inflation, raise taxes on families and small businesses, and expand the size and power of the federal government," said Rep. Scott. "We are just days away from a potential government shutdown and debt limit default, and all Democrats care about is passing another piece of their socialist agenda. It's baffling and disgraceful just how out-of-touch President Biden and Congressional Democrats are with issues impacting American families." (None)
  • "The US shouldn't be granting blanket loan payoffs, especially solely on the basis of race or ethnicity. This program is unconstitutional, against our American ideals, & sets a dangerous precedent that could extend to other federal loans like student loans, home loans" (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by National Education Association (None)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "We write to you concerned with the massive executive overreach by President Joseph R. Biden to illegally cancel federal student loan debt. On Wednesday, August 24, President Biden announced that he would cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for individual Americans earning $125,000 or less per year or married couples making less than $250,000 a year. In addition, those who receive federal Pell Grants and make less than $125,000 a year would be eligible for total forgiveness of $20,000. Unfortunately, this policy will cost us over $300 billion and establishes a terrible precedent that will drive up the cost of higher education, exacerbating the very problem President Biden pretends to address." (None)
  • Voted against HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "GA’s election reforms create MORE opportunities to vote while helping to secure our elections by requiring identification for mail-in ballots, just as ID is required to vote in person. This is nothing more than a liberal agenda to remove all voter ID laws in our country." (x.com)
  • Rated 6% by Common Cause (None)
  • Voted in favor of H Con Res 86 "Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy." (None)
  • "It is crucial that we reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Our national security and economy both depend on a new national energy policy that does not include sending billions of dollars a year to foreign countries. We must develop an energy supply that is reliable, protected, and affordable. To achieve this we must explore all of our options. There is not a single solution to our nation's energy requirements. That is why I believe in an energy policy that includes increased domestic oil exploration, increased refining capacity within the United States and increased production of domestic oil, natural gas and clean coal. We must also free private industry to research and develop promising new energy resources and technologies." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of H Res 987 "Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and for other purposes." (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1: "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Biden's ban on Russian oil is better late than never, but the solution isn't buying oil from other authoritarian regimes. The only energy we can trust is domestic. Why does Biden trust countries like Venezuela instead of America?" (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 21: "Strategic Production Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 2938 "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (None)
  • "The Founding Fathers valued the right to bear arms so much that it was included as the Second Amendment to the Constitution. I believe that our right to keep and bear arms is as important today as it was then. I also believe that it is unwise to blame lawful gun ownership for criminal acts. Congress cannot remove evil from this world through legislative action. We can fight crime by holding criminals accountable for their actions, not by disregarding the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and adding layers of gun control that would do little to nothing to protect our citizens. I will continue to support and protect our rights afforded under the Second amendment which allows us to secure the safety of our homes and families." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • Voted against HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (None)
  • "I got a little heated this week when my Democratic colleagues suggested that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is good as-is and doesn't need any major changes to better help the American people. That couldn't be further from the truth, and they know it." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201: "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5378: "Lower Costs, More Transparency Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3: "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833: "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5283 "Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act" (None)
  • "Like most Americans, I am deeply concerned about illegal immigration and I recognize the danger it poses to our society and our economy. Our country is a nation of immigrants and I believe that we should welcome immigrants that seek to come to this country through lawful channels to live, work or study. However, illegal immigration is an issue that must be addressed. We must first secure our borders, remove the illegal immigrants currently in our country and enforce our existing immigration laws before we attempt to implement any type of immigration reform. Illegal immigrants living in our country today are placing an unacceptable burden on the American taxpayer. Illegal immigrants place great strain on our prison system, healthcare system, and educational system. It is because of this reason that this is one of the most important domestic issues facing our nation today. Should legislation concerning immigration reform come to the House floor for a vote, I will consider it with your thoughts in mind." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • "The numbers don't lie: President Biden continues to show failed leadership at the border. This is a problem he helped to create by endorsing open border policies." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of H Res 1065 "Denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies." (None)
  • Voted against HR 6: "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "Migrant Protection Protocols like Remain in Mexico" were created to keep asylum seekers in Mexico prior to their immigration court dates. .@POTUS wants to gut this process - doing so will increase the number of illegals flooding into our country!" (twitter.com)
  • "President Biden's raging border crisis and the harm it inflicts on our great country, the dangerous catastrophes that I simply cannot ignore. We are talking about over 2 million illegal crossings in a single year, thousands of pounds of fentanyl seized, as we just talked about, and an unknown number of illegal migrants, some with criminal records, some on the terrorist watch list, released into hundreds of communities across the Nation." (None)
  • "I am fully committed to working with President Trump to bring a solution to the immigration problems plaguing our country while protecting the integrity of our borders and our immigration system," said Rep. Scott. "It would be helpful if Democrats would work with us instead of simply voting ‘no.’" (austinscott.house.gov)
  • "Under no circumstances should Iran be allowed to have nuclear weapons. My colleagues and I sent a letter to Secretary Blinken, urging him to withdraw from the Vienna talks and enforce strong sanctions against Iran. It's time this administration stops caving into Iran’s demands." (x.com)
  • "As your Representative of Congress, a top priority of mine will always be ensuring the safety and security of our great nation. Central to this belief is the recognition that the national security of the United States is directly tied to the strength and security of the State of Israel. My commitment to the security of Israel has been unwavering. In recent months, we have witnessed a succession of mass protests and turmoil in many Middle East nations. This regional upheaval clearly underscores the importance of Israel as the preeminent, stable democracy in the Middle East and America's strongest democratic ally in the region. Therefore, I believe that ensuring Israel's continued qualitative military edge in the region and completing the U.S.-Israel 10-year Memorandum of Understanding for military assistance remains a key American national security priority. Israel currently faces threats from escalating instability in Egypt, Hezbollah rockets in Lebanon, Hamas terrorists in Gaza and the existential danger posed by Iran's nuclear program. U.S. security assistance to Israel, including supporting Israel's acquisition of the Iron Dome rocket defense system, has never been more important for our own national security interests." (austinscott.house.gov)
  • "The Biden Administration needs to explain why they haven’t enforced existing sanctions on Russia. This has allowed Russia to rebuild their economy and their military-industrial complex." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7217 "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • "Republicans want Ukraine to win and Putin to lose.I told @SecDef that in order to help Ukraine win the war against Russia, Biden has to enforce the sanctions against them." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7521: "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (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.

X a) Abortions should always be illegal.
b) Abortions should always be legal.
X 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.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Abortions should be subject to a mandatory waiting period.
X g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
Abortion should be illegal; hower, I would support legislation that limited abortions to the first trimester. No public funds for abortion.

State Budget: Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.State Taxes: Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.

Slightly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Emergency preparedness
Maintain Status d) Environment
Slightly Increase e) Health care
Greatly Increase f) Law enforcement
Maintain Status g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Decrease h) Welfare
Maintain Status i) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase b) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Decrease c) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status d) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease e) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Maintain Status f) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Slightly Decrease g) Property taxes
Slightly Increase h) Sales taxes
Maintain Status i) Vehicle taxes
Maintain Status j) Other or expanded categories
Yes 1) Should state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
Yes 2) Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?
No 3) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
Budget must be balanced and spending can not exceed revenues
collection of taxes due is key to reducing other taxes
give department of revenue tools to collect taxes owed after tax payor has been given right ot appeal and access to court

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of terms for Georgia governors?
Yes b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Georgia state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state-level political campaigns?
Yes f) Should Georgia participate in the federal REAL ID program?
No g) Should the state government give county governments the authority to levy a 1 percent sales tax, if approved by county voters, for transportation projects?
Allow more flexibility for school systems with splost funds

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

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
X b) Support the death penalty in Georgia.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
e) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
f) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X g) Support state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws.
h) Support hate crime legislation.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support state funding of universal pre-K programs.
b) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
X c) Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.
d) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
e) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
f) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X g) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
h) Support using a merit pay system for teachers.
X i) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
j) Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of Georgia to pay in-state tuition at public universities.
k) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
X b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
X c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
f) Include sexual orientation in Georgia's anti-discrimination laws.
g) Include gender identity in Georgia's anti-discrimination laws.
h) Increase the state minimum wage.
i) Support laws that prevent employers from dismissing employees at will.
X j) Support financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
X k) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
l) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
m) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
X b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc).
c) Support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops.
X d) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
e) Support funding for improvements to Georgia's power generating and transmission facilities.
f) Support funding for open space preservation.
g) Limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
h) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
Expand domestic drilling and nuclear power projects EPA standards should have cost/benefit analysis done before implementing

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

No a) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes b) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
No c) Should a license be required for gun possession?
Yes d) Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Yes e) Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
f) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
X b) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Allow patients to sue their HMOs.
X e) Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.
f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Georgia.
g) Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X h) Fund the Trauma Care Network by increasing vehicle registration fees $10.
transparency measures that provide information about quality and price with regard to healthcare should be expanded.

['Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.', 'Legislative Priorities']

No a) Should Georgia recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
No b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
No c) Should Georgia provide state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples?
Yes d) Do you support a moment of silence in public schools?
Yes e) Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools?
No f) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
Yes g) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
No h) Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?
No i) Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?
No j) Should Georgia continue affirmative action programs?
Yes k) Do you support state funding of stem cell research?
No l) Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research?
Yes m) Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it?
n) Other or expanded principles
fair and balanced government that encourages personal responsibility and competition.

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