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Brendan Boyle's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (PA) - District 2

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.

Brendan Boyle is currently being tested through the 2024 Political Courage Test.

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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 2024.

  • Voted against HR 26 "Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act". (None)
  • "Roe was not the start of abortions, it was the end of women dying from them. This decision will have dangerous consequences for patients across the nation. No matter where a person lives, what they look like, or what they do, everyone should have the freedom to decide what is best for themselves and their families, including when it comes to abortion care." (boyle.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8296 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2022" (None)
  • Rated 99% by Alliance for Retired Americans (None)
  • "I want to be able to look my daughter in the eye and tell her that Social Security will be there for the rest of her lifetime and beyond. We can do that by making the top 1% pay their fair share into Social Security" (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (None)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (None)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (None)
  • Rated 0% By FreedomWorks
  • Rated 3% by National Tax Limitation Committee (None)
  • Voted against HR 6760 "Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018" (None)
  • Rated 0% by FreedomWorks (None)
  • "House Republicans are pushing to cut Social Security benefits for over 250 million Americans. I've got a better idea — I just introduced a bill with @SenWhitehouse that will extend Social Security solvency for generations to come by making the ultra-rich pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • "I want to be able to look my daughter in the eye and tell her that Social Security will be there for the rest of her lifetime and beyond. We can do that by making the top 1% pay their fair share into Social Security" (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by The Club for Growth (None)
  • "8 years ago today, what has now become known as the #CitizensUnited decision became law of the land. A law that has taken the power of elections away from the people and put it into the hand of the wealthy few. It must be overturned." (x.com)
  • Rated 94% by Common Cause (None)
  • Rated 95% by End Citizens United (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021" (None)
  • "It’s been 5 weeks since House Democrats passed the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing Act. That’s 5 weeks that Senate Republicans have ignored this critical issue." (x.com)
  • Rated 20% by National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (None)
  • "Great news! My successful fight to even the bidding process for a military helicopter contract resulted in two local (NE Philly & Delco) aero manufacturers winning a $325 million bid. Even better—this means new jobs coming to Philly and surrounding burbs!" (x.com)
  • "We know that democracies around the world are facing challenges we haven’t seen for generations. I’m proud that this year’s defense bill includes investments in the alliances America needs right now" (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 2811 "Limit Save, Grow Act" (None)
  • "Americans deserve better than crumbling roads and toxic water pipes. That’s why as Vice Chair of @HouseBudgetDems, I’m happy to see that the FY22 #BidenBudget proposes historic investments that will revitalize our nation’s infrastructure and create good-paying jobs." (x.com)
  • "As @POTUS Biden likes to say, the middle class built America, and unions built the middle class. With this investment, we're going to create union jobs deploying clean hydrogen right here in Pennsylvania — growing our economy and growing the middle class." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7301 "Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020" (None)
  • "Glad that there are resources for local college students in need of a meal. But higher wages and more affordable tuition and housing would address this issue at the source. We must fight for solutions." (x.com)
  • "Philadelphia's seniors have spent their lives making our city run. They deserve a dignified retirement – and that includes stable, affordable housing." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (None)
  • Rated 7% by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7688 "Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act" (None)
  • "The word historic might be overused at times — but not about the #InflationReductionAct.I was proud to vote for this law one year ago and I'm even prouder today as we see the historic impacts of new clean energy jobs and lower health care costs across America." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act" (None)
  • "Too many #millennials are crushed by #StudentDebt, but all @realDonaldTrump has done is tried to kill the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program – a step in the entirely wrong direction." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (None)
  • "The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program helps dedicated public servants manage the burden of student debt & makes their careers possible" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to vote: John R. Lewis Act" (None)
  • "#HR4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, would restore key provisions of the #VotingRightsAct gutted by SCOTUS. Now more than ever, we must strengthen federal oversight and prevent states from restricting the right to vote. I will be voting YES to #RestoreTheVote!" (x.com)
  • Rated 94% by Common Cause (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4 "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (None)
  • Rated 94% by League of Conservative Voters (None)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (None)
  • Rated 94% by League of Conservative Voters (None)
  • "The GOP budget lays the groundwork to open the #ArcticRefuge up to oil drilling. We must defend this ecological treasure." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by American Energy Alliance (None)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1808 "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022" (None)
  • "I stand with @POTUS, It is time to finally bring common sense to our insane gun laws." (twitter.com)
  • "We have a gun violence epidemic in America that has gone on for far too long. It won’t end until our laws change On #NationalGunViolenceAwarenessDay -- I want you to know that I will not waiver in my efforts to pass common-sense legislation that will save lives and end this crisis" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7910 "Protecting Our Kids Act" (None)
  • "As I’ve said going way back to my very first campaign for office, healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. #MedicareForAll" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425: "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "I'm one of the House Democrats that’s been fighting to keep paid sick leave and paid family leave in the legislation. I'm hoping that we will ultimately prevail on that." (twitter.com)
  • "I’m proud to support the #FamilyAct, which creates a comprehensive and inclusive national paid family and medical leave program. Workers should not be forced to make the impossible choice between earning a paycheck and taking care of themselves or a family member. #FMLA28" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (None)
  • "Great news!! Last night we passed landmark legislation that will cap insulin costs for Pennsylvanians with diabetes at $35 per month. Too many Americans struggle to afford this drug and last night Congress said enough is enough." (x.com)
  • "Over the past fifteen years, the price of insulin has quadrupled. We must get prescription drug costs under control so Americans can access the medications they need. Proud to introduce and pass out of committee HR 2115." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2: "Secure the Border Act of 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) (None)
  • Rated 8% by NumbersUSA (None)
  • Voted against HR 5525: "Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act" (None)
  • Rated 0% by Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) (None)
  • Rated 8% by NumbersUSA (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6: "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968: "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 340: "Hamas International Financing Prevention Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6126: "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7108: "Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522: "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692: "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691: "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
b) Abortions should always be legal.
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.
X f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

Greatly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Greatly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Slightly Increase c) Environment
Greatly Increase d) Health care
Slightly Increase e) Law enforcement
Maintain Status f) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Maintain 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
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Maintain Status h) Inheritance taxes
Greatly Decrease i) Property taxes
Maintain Status j) Sales taxes
Maintain Status k) Vehicle taxes
Greatly Decrease l) Other or expanded categories
No m) Should Internet sales be taxed?
Yes n) Do you support legalizing slot machines at racetracks?
No o) Do you support an increase in income taxes in order to lower property taxes and increase aid to education?
X p) Other or expanded principles
City Wage tax
The best way to lower property taxes is to use some of the revenue expected from the tax on slot machines at racetracks.

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

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of two four-year terms for Pennsylvania governors?
No b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Pennsylvania state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying, and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes g) Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Pennsylvania are closed?
h) Should Pennsylvania recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
i) Should Pennsylvania restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
Yes j) Do you support requiring telecommunications firms to offer broadband services to all of Pennsylvania by 2010?
Undecided k) Do you support reauthorizing Pennsylvania's current telecommunications regulations (Chapter 30)?
l) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
f) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
X g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
X h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
i) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X j) Increase funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent and to respond to terrorist attacks.
k) Allow the use of radar and LIDAR by local police departments.
l) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X e) Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
g) Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
h) Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
X i) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X j) Increase funding for Head Start programs.
X k) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
l) Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
m) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
X n) Other or expanded principles
Support enacting the HOPE Scholarship in Pennsylvania, which would make college tuition-free for middle class families.

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding 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 and teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order 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 children in low-income working families.
e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X f) Include sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws.
X g) Increase the state minimum wage.
h) Other or expanded principles
a) Public employment
b) State college and university admissions
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) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
X c) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
X d) Support funding for open space preservation.
X e) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
f) Support the $800 million Growing Greener bond.
X g) Support waiving sales taxes on the purchase of energy efficient appliances during twice-annual "tax holidays."
h) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
e) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
f) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
g) Require a license for gun possession.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of punitive 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.
f) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
g) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Pennsylvania.
h) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
X b) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
c) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
d) Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
e) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
f) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
g) Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
h) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
i) Other or expanded principles
As the first person in my family to attend college, I care deeply about helping middle-class families afford college. I will fight for the HOPE Scholarship, which allows all students to attend college tuition-free, provided they maintain a "B" average. I will also fight for enactment of the Prescription Plus Plan. This plan has already cut the cost of drugs by 60% in Maine. PA residents need help paying for the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs.

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