John McNeil'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.
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John McNeil has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.
North Carolina Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| The abortion debate is distracting from the real issues that can move our Country forward, protect all lives, and allow for a better America. Until every person can afford the medical expenses, daycare expenses, food expenses, education expenses, and earn sufficient income to care for themselves and their child, the issue is meant to divide or pander for votes. I do not propose restricting abortion rights, let alone for the least among us. No parent should become impoverished simply because they choose to have a child, and because parents are not financially protected, poverty is often the sentence. | |||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| I am in favor of ending Sequester which causes military cuts to the troops but does nothing to address the out-of-control expenditures by contractors. Our income tax system is skewed. America's small businesses and the Middle Class are being told to give more while those of means are allowed to give less. Our deficit has increased because of decades-long wars, those who have the means to give to politicians are being allowed to write the tax laws. It is no surprise that our current system of "Trickle Down Economics" has failed the real job-creators: small businesses and the Middle Class. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Free Speech will not survive is those who have the means are permitted unregulated access to our political leaders. For far too long, our politicians have spent their time and effort courting unregulated funds while ignoring their voters. | |||
| Yes | Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| Yes | Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? | ||
| I support CP for the most heinous crimes such as terrorism. Our criminal justice system has needed reform for decades. It is well-past time to have thoughtful, reasoned and knowledgeable reforms which protect American citizens while permitting a safe, sound, and reasoned reform to take place. Our citizens should not be in fear of criminals, nor should our society be afraid to change failed policies which have American prisons housing more prisoners than any country in the world. | |||
| Yes | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| I support reducing taxes for those who need it most, the Middle Class and small businesses. Sound negotiated tax incentives will create jobs in North Carolina. Unsound tax incentives which are gained through political donations usually end with the business taking the funds and then leaving without fulfilling their responsibilities to the citizens of North Carolina. Trickle Down Economics is a fraud which is bankrupting our Nation. | |||
| Yes | Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? | ||
| I received the endorsement of the North Carolina Association of Educators. I am an advocate for our teachers, students and our education system. Where our State fails our students, I support the implementation of Federal Standards to help fix the situation. | |||
| No | Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline? | ||
| Yes | Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| Yes | Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? | ||
| I strongly oppose Keystone and Fracking. It is an unsound and unsafe use of our precious property and destroys the environment. Our citizens are left "holding the bag" when the companies drilling nearby have an environmental disaster. | |||
| Yes | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | ||
| Yes | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Absolutely I support the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. The creation of green-energy jobs in America will have such a profound and positive impact on the economy that it is foolish that America has not been the World Leader is green energy. Our political leadership has failed America on this issue and continues to fail America solely so these leaders can continue to receive campaign contributions. | |||
| Yes | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| We can protect the 2nd Amendment right to own guns AND be safe from gun violence. I support strong enforcement of existing laws and background checks. I support reasonable legislation that protects Americans from crime. Whether through lack of training, lack of mental health care, lack of legislation which is causing the deaths and injury of thousands, lack of enforcement, or plain ignorance, firearms deaths and injury are a serious issue that should be addressed by strong leadership. No one on the "Terrorist Watch List" should be able to buy a firearm. | |||
| No | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| The dysfunctional system that existed before the ACA should not return. I support fixing the ACA, not eliminating it. People deserve affordable healthcare. There are numerous areas where the ACA can be fixed to protect Americans from the loopholes that have allowed prescription drug costs, healthcare costs and insurance costs to increase despite the ACA. Detractors of the ACA claim they will fix the system but have offered no solutions. Many in Congress have voted over 50x to repeal the ACA but not one has put any effort into making healthcare affordable for all. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| Mass deportation is an unrealistic expectation for resolving Immigration issues. Sending ALL immigrants back is not going to happen now, did not happen when Reagan and Clinton tried to reform immigration, and will not happen in the future no matter how much a politician promises. Undocumented immigration does not happen in a vacuum. It occurs because companies are permitted to hire undocumented workers without real punishment and because it is a great divisive tool for certain politicians. Rather than focusing on those who support the American Dream, we should focus on those who pose as immigrants but are actually terrorists. | |||
| Yes | Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| I support marriage, support families of every kind, and supports every person's right to live, love and being treated equally. I do not support continued efforts to divide Americans over this issue. The continued irrational political fight from one-side of the aisle over this issue has not fixed any of the problems that face Americans on a daily basis. | |||
| No | Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support? | ||
| Yes | Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon? | ||
| I do not support increasing American troop presence in Iraq/Syria. We have been at war for over 15 years in that region. While our Congress votes to reduce military and veterans benefits, many who have not served in the military continue to wrap themselves in the flag and demand we use American troops to solve those problems; this is foolishness. If, after every single amount of diplomacy, black-ops, sanctions, and geopolitical pressure has been exerted, it is appropriate to use U.S. military force to keep our Nation safe from the spread of nuclear weapons. | |||
| No | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? | ||
| Privatizing Social Security is a fool's gambit. It is unsound, fiscally irresponsible, and will do nothing to protect our citizens who need true financial assistance after dedicating their lives to America and providing these funds through taxes for their lifetimes. | |||
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.
| Slightly Increase | a) Agriculture | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Arts | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Defense | ||
| Greatly Increase | d) Education | ||
| Greatly Increase | e) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Homeland Security | ||
| Slightly Decrease | 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 | |||
| Slightly Increase | a) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Slightly Increase | b) Corporate taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | c) Small business taxes | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Excise taxes (alcohol) | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Excise taxes (cigarettes) | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | j) Inheritance taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | k) Payroll taxes | ||
| l) Other or expanded categories | |||
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