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Susan Heitzman'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.

Susan Heitzman has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2014 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Indiana Congressional Election 2014 Political Courage Test

Abortion

Unknown Position		Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
"All life is precious, yet I do not want to see abortion criminalized. In 1969 white male politicians urged us to support legalized abortion. These types wanted to decrease poor black population. Stupidity; women whose ancestors were slaves have respect for life far deeper than my understanding. When this didn't work this same ilk of politician began using this issue to polarize women and control how they voted. All agonize over such decisions; as people who love, we can help take fear out of bringing child into world and then help all children. We must keep abortion legal and safe." -- 2014 PCT "All life is precious, yet I do not want to see abortion criminalized. In 1969 white male politicians urged us to support legalized abortion. These types wanted to decrease poor black population. Stupidity; women whose ancestors were slaves have respect for life far deeper than my understanding. When this didn't work this same ilk of politician began using this issue to polarize women and control how they voted. All agonize over such decisions; as people who love, we can help take fear out of bringing child into world and then help all children. We must keep abortion legal and safe." -- 2014 PCT
All life is precious, yet I do not want to see abortion criminalized. In 1969 white male politicians urged us to support legalized abortion. These types wanted to decrease poor black population. Stupidity; women whose ancestors were slaves have respect for life far deeper than my understanding. When this didn't work this same ilk of politician began using this issue to polarize women and control how they voted. All agonize over such decisions; as people who love, we can help take fear out of bringing child into world and then help all children. We must keep abortion legal and safe.

Budget

		In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Yes		In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
National budget is a game of mirrors. Money is arbitrary entity; power is issue. Power-mongers have taken our choices. There is larger unseen budget within our system than the one that cuts programs that help. We can eliminate those narrow, ignorant egos and there will be plenty of money to balance a budget and to be a light to the world. In the last 30 years we have abdicated our responsibilities as citizens. We have allowed those for whom money is power to accumulate much of our tax money, depleting, endangering planet because of oil, causing war.

Campaign Finance

		Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Some corps. have integrity. Some do not. None are human. 30 years has brought us to our knees as a nation. This is not a polarity between corps. and unions. What a farce; but, if either/or can be promoted those in power are skillful and we play into their game. Life is complex. We must reward corps. and unions that honor their workers and our republic; we must promote cooperatives. Many elections do not need to have money involved at all. E. Warren says: "If you are not at the table you are on the menu." Together we can.

Capital Punishment

		Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Capital punishment adds to the violence of our society. Making that person who has committed an evil act live out their days seems more of a punishment than killing them. Killing them reflects more on us. Violence, disrespect for life is rampant in our culture. To be in the 21st century and listen to any of our young children who have not been protected from our daily news, our games and toys, gives one a glimpse of the future. Violence at all levels only promotes more violence.

Economy

		Do you support lowering taxes as a way of promoting growth in the economy?
		Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
Unknown Position		Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.
We need to focus on possibilities and problems of communities at the local level. And there we find the infrastructure is crumbling. This is basic. Our taxes have been used to create chaos across the planet. Our taxes have been used to line the pockets of those who have created the wars for their own benefit. It seems too simple, too logical that taxes should be used to repair our own systems thus creating jobs. There is always a trade off. Inflation can be seen as taxes we were not willing to pay.

Education

Unknown Position		Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
"Lets clarify what we want for education. Is education an exploration of the possible, an empowerment of our youth to bring us into a sustainable future... or someone's need for a certain kind of worker? As long as all we do is test students, like machines...there is no value. This is not reform. Workforce development costs should be borne by corps.; apprenticeships, shared industrial training, taking care of the most important part of mfg.--the human piece-- can create the loyalty needed to create good product. When avoiding costs; commandeering the educational system to ensure profit margin; everyone loses." -- 014 PCT "Lets clarify what we want for education. Is education an exploration of the possible, an empowerment of our youth to bring us into a sustainable future... or someone's need for a certain kind of worker? As long as all we do is test students, like machines...there is no value. This is not reform. Workforce development costs should be borne by corps.; apprenticeships, shared industrial training, taking care of the most important part of mfg.--the human piece-- can create the loyalty needed to create good product. When avoiding costs; commandeering the educational system to ensure profit margin; everyone loses." -- 014 PCT
Lets clarify what we want for education. Is education an exploration of the possible, an empowerment of our youth to bring us into a sustainable future... or someone's need for a certain kind of worker? As long as all we do is test students, like machines...there is no value. This is not reform. Workforce development costs should be borne by corps.; apprenticeships, shared industrial training, taking care of the most important part of mfg.--the human piece-- can create the loyalty needed to create good product. When avoiding costs; commandeering the educational system to ensure profit margin; everyone loses.

Energy

		Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
Unknown Position		Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.
We are in a paradigm shift in this area. First the hybrid, then efficient electric motors, then hydrogen with water as the exhaust means change is coming--in process! Do the research we are on the way! The last 30 years we have let one industry take us into war, create devastation in so many places, and benefit so few. Taking oil shale out of play before we damage more life giving water and land; and redirecting efforts into what will work and be sustainable for the planet is crucial.

Environment

		Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Yes		Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
"Our country's stand on climate change could revolutionize what other nations do. America's technology - in so many other instances - has changed the world repeatedly. Government policies should reward bold innovation in green industries and establish more subsidies for renewable energy resources. Corporations that imperil the environment should be held to task by more strict regulation of fossil fuels and other toxic emissions." (votesmart.org) "Our country's stand on climate change could revolutionize what other nations do. America's technology - in so many other instances - has changed the world repeatedly. Government policies should reward bold innovation in green industries and establish more subsidies for renewable energy resources. Corporations that imperil the environment should be held to task by more strict regulation of fossil fuels and other toxic emissions." (votesmart.org)
The energy old-guard will necessarily give up; the language above created by obstructionists keeps us from moving on. We spend our energy trying to defeat this legislation or get that legislation passed and those who have lined their pockets at our expense are laughing. They don't care. No wonder some feel Armageddon is here. And guess what it is not because God is judging us--it is because we are not willing to open our hearts and minds to honor the Divine inspiration available. The U.S. is behind so many here and it has to do with fossilized minds.

Guns

Unknown Position		Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
"We find small amounts of truth on all sides of this issue. The government has lied to us. The government has perpetrated violence and spying on us. It is a also a wedge issue to keep people voting against their own best interests. Fear is cultivated to inflame gun owners. There needs to be many minds address this complex issue. Violence in our culture means the more guns, the more horrific headlines of mass shootings, accidental shootings, murder for guns. Gabby Gifford's take on guns is the most coherent approach. Can we stand by and go through another Newtown?" -- 2014 PCT "We find small amounts of truth on all sides of this issue. The government has lied to us. The government has perpetrated violence and spying on us. It is a also a wedge issue to keep people voting against their own best interests. Fear is cultivated to inflame gun owners. There needs to be many minds address this complex issue. Violence in our culture means the more guns, the more horrific headlines of mass shootings, accidental shootings, murder for guns. Gabby Gifford's take on guns is the most coherent approach. Can we stand by and go through another Newtown?" -- 2014 PCT
We find small amounts of truth on all sides of this issue. The government has lied to us. The government has perpetrated violence and spying on us. It is a also a wedge issue to keep people voting against their own best interests. Fear is cultivated to inflame gun owners. There needs to be many minds address this complex issue. Violence in our culture means the more guns, the more horrific headlines of mass shootings, accidental shootings, murder for guns. Gabby Gifford's take on guns is the most coherent approach. Can we stand by and go through another Newtown?

Health Care

Unknown Position		Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
"At least the U.S. has a beginning. Medicare works. And it could be tweaked for everyone. The ACA was written by the insurance industry. The majority of our legislation is written by corporations now. What do we expect? It is never read by our legislators and no one deals with it until it goes into the implementation phase. Jobs are created: not in direct health care; not to make the process flexible and efficient; but to create the paper trail. We must keep trying to get healthcare for all. The ACA is a beginning. Everyone benefits when all are healthy." -- 2014 PCT "At least the U.S. has a beginning. Medicare works. And it could be tweaked for everyone. The ACA was written by the insurance industry. The majority of our legislation is written by corporations now. What do we expect? It is never read by our legislators and no one deals with it until it goes into the implementation phase. Jobs are created: not in direct health care; not to make the process flexible and efficient; but to create the paper trail. We must keep trying to get healthcare for all. The ACA is a beginning. Everyone benefits when all are healthy." -- 2014 PCT
At least the U.S. has a beginning. Medicare works. And it could be tweaked for everyone. The ACA was written by the insurance industry. The majority of our legislation is written by corporations now. What do we expect? It is never read by our legislators and no one deals with it until it goes into the implementation phase. Jobs are created: not in direct health care; not to make the process flexible and efficient; but to create the paper trail. We must keep trying to get healthcare for all. The ACA is a beginning. Everyone benefits when all are healthy.

Immigration

Unknown Position		Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
"We have so many ugly immigrant stories. A new one for me is that we massacred Chinese brought in to work on the railroads once the railroads were finished. Add to this our treatment of the Native American, the African American, the Japanese American. Surely in the 21st century we can avoid demonizing and ostracizing. Few have any pure ethnicity or race, we are gradually melding into a composite DNA physically; humanity needs to see all of this movement of potential from country to country as opportunity. How do we know what challenges are around the corner; we need everyone." -- 2014 PCT "We have so many ugly immigrant stories. A new one for me is that we massacred Chinese brought in to work on the railroads once the railroads were finished. Add to this our treatment of the Native American, the African American, the Japanese American. Surely in the 21st century we can avoid demonizing and ostracizing. Few have any pure ethnicity or race, we are gradually melding into a composite DNA physically; humanity needs to see all of this movement of potential from country to country as opportunity. How do we know what challenges are around the corner; we need everyone." -- 2014 PCT
We have so many ugly immigrant stories. A new one for me is that we massacred Chinese brought in to work on the railroads once the railroads were finished. Add to this our treatment of the Native American, the African American, the Japanese American. Surely in the 21st century we can avoid demonizing and ostracizing. Few have any pure ethnicity or race, we are gradually melding into a composite DNA physically; humanity needs to see all of this movement of potential from country to country as opportunity. How do we know what challenges are around the corner; we need everyone.

Marriage

Yes		Do you support same-sex marriage?
"It is very important that the human rights of groups with differing sexual orientations be protected..." (votesmart.org) "It is very important that the human rights of groups with differing sexual orientations be protected..." (votesmart.org)
Would it help if we invented new words? Home/family Start-ups? Our language may be outdated; another wedge issue. We are all created so differently; isn't it a blessing when two people find each other and are willing to go forward in life to love each other, to create family. A 95 year old grieving for his wife of 68 years said: "Every day I must still make decisions and there is no one there to help." Co-creativity gives us strength. This is an issue we need to put behind us. Sanctity of marriage was co-opted by Abraham...

National Security

		Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position		Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
"Another ploy to privatize something without good research. Indiana's famous Toll Road sell off has now collapsed because the private firm has declared bankruptcy. When the government has shown for many decades that it can make Social Security work, why do we want to change it? I am suspicious of the underlying intention. We can tweak this; there are several ideas out there to make Social Security sustainable with what we know. We need to reframe the questions, question the intent of the language, and pool our minds to move on. The Wall St. House of Cards will fall first." --- 2014 PCT "Another ploy to privatize something without good research. Indiana's famous Toll Road sell off has now collapsed because the private firm has declared bankruptcy. When the government has shown for many decades that it can make Social Security work, why do we want to change it? I am suspicious of the underlying intention. We can tweak this; there are several ideas out there to make Social Security sustainable with what we know. We need to reframe the questions, question the intent of the language, and pool our minds to move on. The Wall St. House of Cards will fall first." --- 2014 PCT
Since the rest of the world probably has it right that we are the most dangerous entity/country on the planet; this seems like another way those who benefit from war can keep us right where they want us. They take our hard earned tax dollars, fill up their personal coffers and create the need for coffins. When you read Russ Baker or Naomi Klein's research you wake up to why nations are hostile to us. What would happen if we radically stepped back from the violence?

Social Security

Unknown Position		Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.
Another ploy to privatize something without good research. Indiana's famous Toll Road sell off has now collapsed because the private firm has declared bankruptcy. When the government has shown for many decades that it can make Social Security work, why do we want to change it? I am suspicious of the underlying intention. We can tweak this; there are several ideas out there to make Social Security sustainable with what we know. We need to reframe the questions, question the intent of the language, and pool our minds to move on. The Wall St. House of Cards will fall first.

Spending and Taxes

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

		a) Agriculture
		b) Arts
		c) Defense
		d) Education
		e) Environment
		f) Homeland Security
		g) International aid
		h) Medical Research
		i) Scientific Research
		j) Space exploration
		k) United Nations
		l) Welfare
		a) Capital gains taxes
		b) Corporate taxes
		c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
		d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
		e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
		i) Inheritance taxes
		j) Payroll taxes
This should not be a candidate survey; but one all Americans respond to. It is challenging to ones own views to play this game. One human ego is not capable of knowing enough to eliminate bias and misinformation. Idealism makes us want to answer one way, pragmatism offers other paths of response. We see people working the system in every case. And sometimes the system works them. This is a tool for us to use when our District creates shared governance. As we come together to create policy using dialogic process our minds and intent can bring forth wisdom.
Fair Tax people haven't got it right yet; but have begun a great conversation! Another great tool for groups of minds; not individuals with limited knowledge. Taxes are the greatest wedge issue, the greatest place of fear mongering and voter control. Awareness that no person or group has all answers; know that taxes are not inherently evil; but, allow us to combine our power for good for all. Taxes allow us to be communities that raise the next generation, they take us to the moon. Taxes provide parks, historic places, good research, art, music, safe utilities. Hope.

Administrative Priorities

Initially share salary , minus transportation for voting purposes, reconfigure 17? paid positions that come with representative's office, put Congressional Community Coordinator in most/all counties of District creating local access. County buy-in can change the way we send someone to Washington! CCCs would need expertise in legislative areas so that coherent policy comes forth when this brain trust gathers-- around table and electronically. Future candidates surface and gain knowledge and election because someone with integrity in each county can attest to their abilities. By-pass lobbyist, eliminate need for outside money, help citizens. Keep representation in District, create shared governance.

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