John Olszewski, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (MD) - 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.
John Olszewski, Jr. has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.
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.
- "With democracy under attack and extremists threatening to take away our basic rights, it's clear that the time is now for a new generation of leadership. As your representative, Johnny O will protect reproductive rights and abortion access, defend our democracy and our vote, and fight to restore transparency and accountability in our government." (gojohnnyo.com)
- "Important announcement in the wake of Supreme Courtsâ overturning of the protections afforded to women under Roe v. Wade." (twitter.com)
- "Reproductive rights are human rights and should be fully protected by the law. SCOTUSâ draft ruling endangers the health of women & undermines their right to make their own healthcare choices.Congress must act to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade." (twitter.com)
- "Reproductive rights are human rights. With this ruling, SCOTUS needlessly endangers the health of women and robs them of their right to make their own healthcare choices." (twitter.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "While my opponent voted to defund education and enabled insurance companies to raise costs on working families, I'm proud of my record of fighting for lower taxes and stronger schools." (twitter.com)
- "While my opponent voted to defund education and enabled insurance companies to raise costs on working families, I'm proud of my record of fighting for lower taxes and stronger schools." (twitter.com)
- "I have proposed campaign finance reform in #BaltoCo." (twitter.com)
- "My first legislative package as County Executive focused on ethics and campaign finance reform." (twitter.com)
- 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.
- "Every community deserves to have good jobs and economic growth. As executive, Iâll invest in small businesses, promote job training, and revitalize our main streets to grow our local economy." (twitter.com)
- "Give me a fraction of the billions that would be spent on a new bridge span to invest in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in #BaltimoreCounty and we can drive job growth at a rate exponentially greater than any bridge!" (twitter.com)
- "I am the only candidate running for Baltimore County Executive who supports ending housing discrimination." (twitter.com)
- "When I said we would go big on housing solutions, I meant it. Proud of our team and this innovative approach to tackling the housing need â and opportunity â across our communities." (twitter.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- ".@POTUSâ decision to provide student debt relief will ease the financial burden on countless working families across our country, improving the lives of millions of Americans." (twitter.com)
- "Over the past few days, an increasingly far-right SCOTUS has demonstrated a blatant disregard for our LGBTQ+ community, for students of all races and creeds, and for millions of Americans looking for relief from too often crippling student loan debt. We all deserve better." (twitter.com)
- "With democracy under attack and extremists threatening to take away our basic rights, it's clear that the time is now for a new generation of leadership. As your representative, Johnny O will protect reproductive rights and abortion access, defend our democracy and our vote, and fight to restore transparency and accountability in our government." (gojohnnyo.com)
- "Excited to be at Hereford Middle School for a candidate forum hosted by the Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council. Iâm thankful for the opportunity to talk about controlling overdevelopment, investing in green energy, celebrating our rural heritage, and protecting our envât." (twitter.com)
- "Happy ð week yâall. Thrilled to share our plans to make Baltimore County a statewide leader in renewable energy." (twitter.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "I am honored to receive the Gun Sense Candidate distinction by @MomsDemand" (twitter.com)
- "As County Executive, Johnny O has led bold and transformative change for creating a better and more progressive Baltimore County. In his first year, Johnny passed legislation that prevents guns from falling into the hands of dangerous criminals by setting security standards for gun retailers. He closed an $81 million budget deficit all the while raising teacher pay and strengthening the Countyâs historic commitment to school construction." (gojohnnyo.com)
- "More guns wonât make our classrooms safer. Nor will arming teachers. But adding more school counselors and social workers can help make our classrooms safer and help our students â and thatâs what Iâll do as County Executive. #BaltoCoPolitics" (twitter.com)
- "Whether tackling issues like gun safety and police reform, instilling principles of equity and accountability back into our government, or securing record funding for our public schools, Johnny O has shown in Baltimore County what we can do when we come together for the greater good." (gojohnnyo.com)
- "All of our unique communities have their own strengths and challenges. We must work together to ensure equitable investment in all our communities and ensure a strong quality of life and accessible healthcare for all Baltimore County residents." (twitter.com)
- "This year, 700,000 Marylanders who didn't have access to paid sick leave last Labor Day have it today. I'm so proud to have been the original lead sponsor of that bill, and thrilled that we can finally celebrate a hard fought victory on behalf of working Marylanders everywhere." (twitter.com)
- 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.
- 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.
| a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | |||
| Yes | b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| Yes | c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | ||
| No | h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | ||
| I believe that we must do all that we can to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Rather than focusing energies in an argument about "pro life/pro choice," we should focus instead on eliminating the need for that choice in the first place. | |||
1) State SpendingIndicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State TaxesIndicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Maryland's budget.
| Maintain Status | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Slightly Increase | c) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Health care | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Law enforcement | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Welfare | ||
| h) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Maintain Status | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | e) Property taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Sales taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| j) Other or expanded categories | |||
| No | a) Tapping into Maryland's "rainy day" fund | ||
| b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | |||
| No | c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | ||
| No | d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | ||
| No | f) Privatizing certain government services | ||
| I support gaming as an option to expand Maryland's revenue stream. I also support closing corporate loopholes and making necessary reductions to government services to balance the state budget. | |||
c) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?
| Yes | a) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Maryland governors? | ||
| No | b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Maryland state legislators? | ||
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Party | ||
| No | d) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles | |||
| a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | |||
| b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | |||
| c) Do you support requiring first-time DUI offenders to install ignition interlock devices? | |||
| d) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? | |||
| Yes | e) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| Yes | f) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| h) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| b) Do you support allowing wine to be shipped directly to Maryland residents? | |||
| Yes | c) Do you support the legalization of table games in Maryland? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| e) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | |||
| Yes | f) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support construction of the Purple Line light rail project? | ||
| i) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | |||
| j) Other or expanded principles | |||
| a) Do you support national education standards? | |||
| b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams? | |||
| No | c) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Maryland high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for improvements to Maryland's energy infrastructure? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | |||
| Yes | c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | ||
| d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | |||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
| a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | |||
| b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | |||
| c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | |||
| d) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance? | |||
| e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | |||
| f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Maryland? | |||
| g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | |||
| h) Other or expanded principles | |||
| a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | |||
| b) Should Maryland allow same-sex couples to form civil unions? | |||
| c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | |||
| d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | |||
| e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action? | |||
| f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Maryland's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Maryland's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| h) Other or expanded principles | |||
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