Vote Smart - Facts For All

Cheryl Hudspeth'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.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Kansas Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test

Abortion Issues

		b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
		c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
		d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
		e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?
Unknown Position		a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
Cheryl Hudspeth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Abortion Issues: Other or expanded principles: "I will swear to uphold ALL of the Constitution and the rulings of the Supreme Court, regardless of my personal feelings on controversial issues. I will abide by and honor the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions."
I will swear to uphold ALL of the Constitution and the rulings of the Supreme Court, regardless of my personal feelings on controversial issues. I will abide by and honor the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions.

Budget, Spending, and Tax Issues

1) SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.

Maintain Status		a) Agriculture
Maintain Status		b) Arts
Slightly Decrease		c) Defense
Slightly Decrease		1) Intelligence operations
Slightly Decrease		2) Military hardware
Greatly Decrease		3) National missile defense
Slightly Increase		4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase		5) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Slightly Decrease		6) Research and development of new weapons
Slightly Increase		d) Education
Maintain Status		e) Environment
Slightly Decrease		f) Homeland security
Maintain Status		g) International aid
Slightly Increase		h) Medical research
Slightly Increase		i) Scientific research
Maintain Status		j) Space exploration
Maintain Status		k) United Nations
Maintain Status		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status		a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status		b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status		c) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Increase		d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status		e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Maintain Status		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Slightly Increase		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
No		3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax?
No		4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
Yes		5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?
Close corporate loopholes, particularly on corporations that export jobs and import workers during this period of high unemployment. Decrease the tax and regulatory burden on small businesses with less than 50 employees.
During this recession the government must work with the private sector, creating public/private partnerships, that build the next generation infrastructure for our nation. Our future prosperity, our ability to competitively conduct commerce locally and globally, will depend our ability to securely conduct business electronically, as well as move goods by road, rail, air and sea. We must accelerate domestic renewable energy production and end our reliance on foreign fuel. Additionally, we must accelerate energy efficiency in home, business and transportation. Creating clean and affordable energy sources should be a national priority and will result in a stronger more stable economy.

Business and Employment Issues

No		a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?
Yes		b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No		c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
Yes		d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize?
Yes		e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
I do not support increasing the federal minimum wage at this time, but I do think it is appropriate to review and adjust it periodically.

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues

No		a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?
Yes		b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No		c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
Yes		d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
No		e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
Yes		f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
I do not support the current funding of campaigns with corporate and lobbyist funds. If we are to have affective governance "by the people, for the people," we must end the corporate influence buying. Most campaigns for federal office spend more than the salary earned while holding office.

Crime Issues

Yes		a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes		b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?
Yes		c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
Yes		d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?
No		e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?
Capital punishment is a state's rights issue.

Education Issues

Yes		a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?
No		b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
No		c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
No		d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
Yes		e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
Our public schools need improvement. I support national general education standards, not teach to the test. I support modernization of our teaching methodologies and technologies. I supporting strengthening our public education system, not fragmenting it. I support efforts that create affordable access to higher education for all.

Environment and Energy Issues

Yes		b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
		c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?
Yes		d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?
No		e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?
Yes		f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy?
No		g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors?
Yes		a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
Cheryl Hudspeth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Environment and Energy Issues: Other or expanded principles:"The future of our nation depends on our ability to develop clean, safe, renewable and affordable energy sources. In addition, we should reduce our use through conservation measure." Cheryl Hudspeth. Issue Position: Energy. "The majority of our energy is produced by combustion, we burn petroleum, gas, coal, and biomass. Combustion produces bi-products, most notably Carbon dioxide (CO2). Emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere have increased 650% since 1950. Our scientific community has told us climate change is the consequence. Global Warming is not a humorous sound-bite." (votesmart.org) Cheryl Hudspeth. Issue Position: Enviornment. "We can and must protect Kansas families from existing man-made environmental hazards; and we can prevent new contaminations. We must fund the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at a level sufficient for it to achieve its mission. We must give the EPA the tools and authority necessary for the mission to have impact." (votesmart.org)
The future of our nation depends on our ability to develop clean, safe, renewable and affordable energy sources. In addition, we should reduce our use through conservation measure.

Gun Issues

		b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
		c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
		d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Cheryl Hudspeth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Gun Issues: Other or expanded principles: "I will swear to uphold ALL of the Constitution and the rulings of the Supreme Court, regardless of my personal feelings on controversial issues. I support the rights of local governments and private property owners to enact and enforce restrictions on the use and possession of fire arms as permitted under law."
I will swear to uphold ALL of the Constitution and the rulings of the Supreme Court, regardless of my personal feelings on controversial issues. I support the rights of local governments and private property owners to enact and enforce restrictions on the use and possession of fire arms as permitted under law.

Health Issues

Yes		a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?
Yes		b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
Yes		c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
No		d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
Yes		e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs?
		f) Other or expanded principles

Immigration Issues

		b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?
		c) Do you support establishing English as the official national language?
		d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?
Cheryl Hudspeth. Candidates Stump For Office. 12 August 2010. "Hudspeth also said she had personal experience with illegal immigration as a student in El Paso, Texas, and she believes that the government should enact harsh penalties for employers that hire illegal aliens. Once the source of money is eliminated, the illegal aliens will stop coming across the border, she said." (graphic-online.com) Cheryl Hudspeth. Candidates hear voices -- their own: Fewer than 10 show up to hear hopefuls. 12 August 2010. "Being in Congress, Hudspeth said dealing with the problem of illegal immigrants will be at the forefront. Building a wall along the 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico isn't cost effective, she said, saying its construction and continual maintenance will require more than $1 trillion, and 'that's not even including buying the land right of way from private property holders.'While it may be very emotionally satisifying to say let's build a fence,' it's not the most effective, she said. Going after employers would be, she said. If there are no jobs available, immigrants won't come. The U.S. Government's E-Verify system is a better approach to finding illegal immigrants, Hudspeth said. This Internet-based system is a nationwide database that can verify two forms of identification submitted by employees." (www.iolaregister.com) Cheryl Hudspeth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Immigration Issues: Other or expanded principles: "I support the use of better technologies in the enforcement of federal immigration law including; verification of citizenship as a condition of employment; better monitoring of VISA and work permit immigrants. I support penalties for employers that knowingly hire undocumented workers. I believe we need to set higher criteria for technical worker VISAs, many of whom do nothing more than undercut the wages of qualified American workers. Furthermore, we must create provisions for the lawful entry of the families of permitted workers if we expect to control the flow of illegal immigrations, without a military style encampment across the borders."
I support the use of better technologies in the enforcement of federal immigration law including; verification of citizenship as a condition of employment; better monitoring of VISA and work permit immigrants. I support penalties for employers that knowingly hire undocumented workers. I believe we need to set higher criteria for technical worker VISAs, many of whom do nothing more than undercut the wages of qualified American workers. Furthermore, we must create provisions for the lawful entry of the families of permitted workers if we expect to control the flow of illegal immigrations, without a military style encampment across the borders.

International Policy Issues

		b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?
		c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan?
		d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?
Yes		e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States?
Yes		f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes		g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
Yes		h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq?
Yes		i) Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements?
Unknown Position		a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?
Cheryl Hudspeth. Candidates hear voices -- their own: Fewer than 10 show up to hear hopefuls. 12 August 2010. "Declaring two wars - Iraq and Afghanistan - early in the George W. Bush administration without funding them in the budget was unconscionable, Hudspeth said. 'Never have we engaged in a foreign war without asking U.S. citizens to pay for it,' Hudspeth said. The results have been a ballooning deficit." (www.iolaregister.com) Cheryl Hudspeth. It's Not Over In The KS-02. 12 August 2010. "The war status that we have going right now is sucking the money out of our pockets. There was a great segment on the news the other night questioning whether or not this war is viable. We have to be smarter in our strategy, we cannot fight terrorism in a ground war in one country. We have to work to get out of this horrific deficit we are in. War is a huge deficit issue, that's where the money is going." (forwardkansas.com) Cheryl Hudspeth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. International Policy Issues: Other or expanded principles: "Our history of military involvement in Afghanistan has not served the interests of the American or Afghanistan people well, and tragically has resulted in great loss of life and limb. I am not convinced that our military ground game is the correct response to mobile international terrorist threats. The U.S. military is currently ten times larger than that of all military forces on the planet. We have become the world police at great expense to our economy. While we provide the first line of defense by deficit financing our military engagements, other nations are building wealth, industry and infrastructure."
Our history of military involvement in Afghanistan has not served the interests of the American or Afghanistan people well, and tragically has resulted in great loss of life and limb. I am not convinced that our military ground game is the correct response to mobile international terrorist threats. The U.S. military is currently ten times larger than that of all military forces on the planet. We have become the world police at great expense to our economy. While we provide the first line of defense by deficit financing our military engagements, other nations are building wealth, industry and infrastructure.

Social Issues

Yes		b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military?
Yes		c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
No		d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs?
Unknown Position		a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Cheryl Hudspeth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test. Social Issues: Other or expanded principles: "I will swear to uphold ALL of the Constitution and the rulings of the court, regardless of my personal feelings on controversial issues. I believe that same-sex marriage is an equal rights issue that will be decided by the Supreme Court in the very near future. That does not mean that every church is required to condone or perform same-sex marriages. Some will and some will not. That is religious freedom."
I will swear to uphold ALL of the Constitution and the rulings of the court, regardless of my personal feelings on controversial issues. I believe that same-sex marriage is an equal rights issue that will be decided by the Supreme Court in the very near future. That does not mean that every church is required to condone or perform same-sex marriages. Some will and some will not. That is religious freedom.

Legislative Priorities

Jobs, energy and health care policies. I believe that we can rebuild our economy by rebuilding our national energy production industries. Additionally, we must take further steps to increase access to affordable health care for all Americans.

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