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Pam Byrnes' 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.

Pam Byrnes has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2014 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests.

What is the Political Courage Test?

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 2014.

  • "Endorsed by NOW/PAC"At the federal level, NOW/PAC relies on recommendations from state and local NOW chapters that are familiar with a candidate’s record and positions. All NOW PACs base their endorsements on a broad feminist agenda. No other PACs expect candidates to take such strong stands on such a wide range of issues. These issues include, but are not limited to:Reproductive rights and justiceEconomic justiceEnding violence against womenRacial justiceLBGT rights (including marriage equality)Constitutional EqualityAfter the elections, NOW activists work with the officials our PACs helped elect to assist and encourage them in meeting their commitment to be leaders in the fight for equality and justice for all women." (nowpac.org)
  • Pam Byrnes voted Yea (Amendment Vote) - - Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health Title: Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's HealthVote Smart's Synopsis:Vote to adopt an amendment that would allow late-term/partial-birth abortions to be performed if a physician determines the procedure is necessary to preserve the health or future fertility of a woman. (votesmart.org)
  • "Pam will also work towards a balanced budget that reflects our values, eliminates corporate tax loopholes, and eases the tax burden on middle class families." (votesmart.org)
  • "As a former Road Commissioner and Chair of the House Transportation Committee, Pam is well versed in the value and necessity of a strong transportation and infrastructure system to our economic recovery. Pam will work to get Michigan its fair share of federal transportation dollars, especially funding to address damaged roads and bridges. Pam will also build regional partnerships to better connect the communities in and around the 7th District through efficient roadways and rail to promote increased commerce." (votesmart.org)
  • "Government waste and excessive spending is hurting Michigan families. Pam will work to cut spending by eliminating the waste in government and ending Congressional perks, just like she did in the State Legislature. Pam will also work towards a balanced budget that reflects our values, eliminates corporate tax loopholes, and eases the tax burden on middle class families." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our young people are our future and the most important investment we can make. From start to finish, Pam believes it's our greatest responsibility to make sure our children are prepared for the good jobs of the future. Pam knows this can be achieved through:-Universal pre-K for every Michigander-Increasing K-12 standards and making sure our local schools have the resources they need to prepare our children for 21st century jobs -- particularly with math, science, and technical training-Partnering with Michigan businesses and community colleges to increase vocational training to help train our young people for the jobs of the new Michigan economy-Making a college education affordable for those who want one" (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "In the recent Michigan Farm Bureau newsletter, they were talking about the problem with migrant farm workers. The migrants are afraid to come up here because of the profiling that’s being done, so we have crops going to waste. Blueberries. Asparagus. Going to waste because they don’t have the workers to harvest them.[...]Well, the Michigan Farm Bureau is not happy with what the House Republicans are doing with regard to immigration reform as it pertains to migrant farm workers. The Senate bill isn’t perfect but the House is trying to piecemeal the migrant worker issue. So they sent a letter to House Republicans telling them that, if we don’t address this, we are going to be importing our food. They are sounding the alarm on this. You have got to have cooler heads prevail on this issue than we have in the Republican-led House right now." (www.eclectablog.com)
  • Endorsed by NOW/PAC"At the federal level, NOW/PAC relies on recommendations from state and local NOW chapters that are familiar with a candidate’s record and positions. All NOW PACs base their endorsements on a broad feminist agenda. No other PACs expect candidates to take such strong stands on such a wide range of issues. These issues include, but are not limited to:Reproductive rights and justiceEconomic justiceEnding violence against womenRacial justiceLBGT rights (including marriage equality)Constitutional EqualityAfter the elections, NOW activists work with the officials our PACs helped elect to assist and encourage them in meeting their commitment to be leaders in the fight for equality and justice for all women." (nowpac.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Our older generations spent their lives working under the promise of a safe, secure retirement and they deserve that. Pam believes Social Security and Medicare are our seniors' safety net. She will protect Social Security and stand up to any efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher system or end Medicare's guaranteed benefit for Michigan seniors." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our seniors have spent their lives working under the promise of a safe and secure retirement and they deserve their Social Security. And without Social Security, nearly half of women over 65 would be poor. But politicians like Congressman Walberg think Social Security is "worthless" and a "Ponzi scheme" and want to privatize the system, jeopardizing these critical benefits and gambling their benefits on Wall Street. I'll protect Social Security and stand up to efforts to privatize the system because we need to stop pulling the rug out from under hard-working Michigan families." (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) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legally available.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.

Slightly Increase Funding a) Education (Higher)
Maintain Funding Status b) Education (K-12)
Greatly Increase Funding c) Environment
Greatly Increase Funding d) Health care
Maintain Funding Status e) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase Funding f) Transportation and Highway infrastructure
Maintain Funding Status g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Slightly Increase e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status f) Income taxes
Maintain Status g) Inheritance taxes
Maintain Status h) Property taxes
Maintain Status i) Sales taxes
Slightly Increase j) Vehicle taxes
k) Other or expanded categories
Yes l) Should Internet sales be taxed?
m) Other or expanded principles

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

No a) Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Michigan governors?
No b) Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Michigan state senators?
No c) Do you support the current limit of three, two-year terms for Michigan state representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes f) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
Undecided g) Do you support voting on-line?
Yes h) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes i) Do you support straight-party voting?
Yes j) Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Michigan are closed?
Yes k) Do you support creating a new state agency to implement a statewide high speed Internet network?
Yes l) Should Michigan recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
No m) Should Michigan restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
c) Support the use of the death penalty in Michigan.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X g) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
h) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
i) Lower the .10 blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
X j) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X k) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
X l) Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
X m) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X n) Increase state funding for additional security of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.
o) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X c) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
d) Amend Proposal A to allow increases in local property taxes to meet possible school funding needs.
X e) Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
g) Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
h) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
i) Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
j) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X k) Increase state funding to expand Head Start programs.
X l) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
X m) Support age-appropriate sexual education programs that teach about abstinence, contraceptives and HIV/STD prevention methods.
n) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
o) Other or expanded principles

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
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 their employees.
X e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children of low-income working families.
X f) Include sexual orientation in Michigan's anti-discrimination laws.
g) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) College and university admissions
Yes b) Public employment
Yes c) State contracting
d) 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) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused or abandoned.
No c) Do you support slant drilling for fossil fuels under the Great Lakes?
Yes d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
Yes e) Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
f) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

X a) Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
X b) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X e) Support the concealed weapons policy in Michigan.
X f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
X b) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
X e) Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
f) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
g) Legalize physician-assisted suicide in Michigan.
X h) Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
X i) Increase the amount of money allocated to anti-smoking and health programs from Michigan's portion of the national tobacco settlement.
j) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support current time limits on welfare benefits.
X b) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
X d) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X e) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
f) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
g) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
X h) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
i) Other or expanded principles
In a total of seventy-five (75) words or less, please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.

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