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Wendy Reed'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.

Wendy Reed has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2018 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

California Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Making abortion illegal does not end or reduce abortion. The only thing that reduces abortion is sex education and access to birth control. Making abortion illegal simply criminalizes abortion, subjecting families to criminal investigation in their most private times such as miscarriages, and also risking the health and the lives of women who seek abortions from providers despite the legal ban.
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Progressive taxation supports upward mobility for working families and the security of retirees. For several decades America has pursued a path of regressive taxation that takes from working families, including the poor, and gives to corporations and the super rich. This is not sustainable and must end. As to defense spending, we spend more per capita on our defense budget than any other nation, and still can't adequately support our veterans. Yes, we can reduce our defense spending, increase support for military families and veterans, and focus on defense, not offense.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Citizens United must be reversed or superseded. Corporations are neither persons nor unions of persons, and should not have the inordinate say in our election process that they currently have by, in essence, purchasing our representatives. In fact, union contributions are voluntary contributions from members for the purpose of political action, and are limited as are any other personal contributions. This is very different from corporate PACs which allow unlimited personal contributions.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
While I support incentives and subsidies in principle, for several decades our nation's corporate tax rates have been drastically reduced, despite historical profitability of those corporations, leaving the burden of paying taxes on working families and small businesses. This is not sustainable, and it is not healthy for workers, wages, small businesses, or overall economic sustainability. I do believe that the US must invest in deferred maintenance, infrastructure, and conversion of outdated industries to sustainable practices, and that by facing our climate challenges we will develop new technologies and burgeoning entrepreneurial opportunities.
Yes Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
The primary role of the federal government in public education is to promote equality and track outcomes. Establishing national standards is a means to promote equal educational opportunity for children, regardless of the state or zip code in which they live.
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Until we have made a dent in the accumulation of greenhouse gases, we must continue to incentivize new renewable energy, energy efficiency conversions, and entrepreneurial opportunities to absorb CO2 and reverse ocean temperature increase.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
The majority of Americans agree that reasonable background checks and protection of people from military-grade weaponry in the wrong hands is sensible and an appropriate role of government.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
I support healthcare for all, by eliminating insurance company middle-men and providing national healthcare, from birth to death. While the ACA has reduced the number of uninsured Americans, reducing the burden on healthcare industry and insurance policy payers to pay for treatment to uninsured Americans, we still have almost a million people a year going bankrupt from medical bills, we are still paying more per capita than any other developed nation, and getting less healthcare for our money. Plus, our pharmaceutical costs are ridiculous. We have insurance, not healthcare, and I believe that healthcare is a human right.
Unknown Position Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
Unknown Position Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
We already have a wall along the Mexican border, so the questions should be whether I support massive additional construction, which I do not. Secondarily, your second question does not distinguish between people seeking asylum, people who come as migrant workers, or people who are brought as children.
Yes Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
Unknown Position Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
Your question offers a simplistic approach to a complicated questions. The United States participates in many treaties, alliances, and allegiances, which influence our commitment to be involved in foreign affairs. Your question also frames these actions as "national security" issues, when in fact they are often imperialistic support to corporate efforts to take resources from indigenous people.
(1) Reverse big money politics and restore representational self-government. (2) Bring resources to our district: Fund infrastructure for water, transportation, public safety, and updating energy and agriculture for sustainability. Prioritize our national budget for communities, job growth, and people's futures, not corporate subsidies and tax breaks. Create new jobs and opportunities by focusing on climate challenges. (3) Protect our liberties and provide justice for all. We must continue to protect and care for workers, consumers, veterans, our young and elderly, all genders, all ethnicities, and our immigrants. We must protect our air, water, food supplies, and public education.

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