The Essential Stein for Congress 2010-2012
Congress: 2010-2012
Frank Opts Out
"Representative Frank A. LoBiondo refused to tell citizens where he/she stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders."
"This candidate has demonstrated 0% courage during the test."
____________________________________________Gary Stein Project Vote Smart
"This candidate has demonstrated 100% courage during the test."
*Note: This percentage is calculated based on the number of issue areas addressed by the candidate on the Political Courage Test at the conclusion of the testing period. It does not indicate support or lack of support by Project Vote Smart.
Key:
= Official Position
Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.
= Inferred PositionCandidate
refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred
this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting
record, and evaluations from special interest groups.
= Unknown PositionCandidate refused to address this issue.
= Project Vote Smart's ResearchClick on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position._________________________
Abortion IssuesBudget, Spending, and Tax IssuesBusiness and Employment IssuesCampaign Finance and Government Reform IssuesCrime IssuesEducation IssuesEnvironment and Energy IssuesGun IssuesHealth IssuesImmigration IssuesInternational Policy IssuesSocial IssuesLegislative Priorities
Gary Stein- Country First;"District 2nd"
Abortion Issues
a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? Pro-choice
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) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures? No
f) Other or expanded principles
Said before, same questionnaire, different year, this is a special issue. I'm glad there are committed activists on both sides of the issue- leaving things- if I may be flip-as somewhat undecided. I'm pro-choice, and it's the law, but pro-life folks shouldn't feel like they've been unappreciated. Without their efforts balancing things out- G'd only knows then?
__________________________________________
1) Spending
Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.
a) Agriculture Greatly Decrease
b) Arts Maintain Status
c) Defense Greatly Decrease
1) Intelligence operations Greatly Decrease
2) Military hardware Greatly Decrease
3) National missile defense Maintain Status
4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel Maintain Status
5) Programs to improve troop retention rates Maintain Status
6) Research and development of new weapons Greatly Decrease
d) Education Greatly Decrease
e) Environment Maintain Status
f) Homeland security Greatly Decrease
g) International aid Greatly Decrease
h) Medical research Greatly Increase
i) Scientific research Slightly Increase
j) Space exploration Greatly Increase
k) United Nations Greatly Decrease
l) Welfare Slightly Decrease
m) Other or expanded categories
There's huge gaps between the choices you've given me to- "greatly decrease" and "slightly decrease" No ambiguity about my choice to greatly decrease "Homeland Security" however. Look no further than Donna Priests articles in the Washington Post- about wildly proliferating agencies since 9/11-not making us any safer. Anyone watching the way Washington works over the last few decades knew this intuitively. A few agencies- given lots of latitude- would make us a lot safer. Extrapolate that sentiment for those other agencies I chose to decrease.
__________________________
2) Taxes
Indicate 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.
a) Alcohol taxes Eliminate
b) Capital gains taxes Eliminate
c) Cigarette taxes Eliminate
d) Corporate taxes Eliminate
e) Gasoline taxes Eliminate
f) Income taxes (low-income families) Eliminate
g) Income taxes (middle-income families) Eliminate
h) Income taxes (high-income families) Slightly Decrease
i) Other or expanded categories
I've suggested eliminating current taxes- (except property taxes, continuing the income tax on the very wealthy)- replacing with a national sales tax- even though it's regressive. I didn't stop there. Do away with cash- kill the underground economy- issue a national debit card. Depending on sales tax per-centage, the treasury would be flush- the economy booming- because this fun-fantastic-fantasy..... idea, would be contingent on Gov't radically reducing its size- their penance for getting us in this financial nightmare in the first place. It's an idea at least, and campaigns are a chance to go on the record- thank-you very much.
_____________________________
taxes con't
3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax? Yes
4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year? Yes
5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy? No
6) Other or expanded principles
Bush's TARP was crucial, Obama's stimulus I and II, not. My Republican opponent was too confused, or too clever by half, to "see" the distinction. He giddily mocks Wall Street now; in 2008 he felt the need to appease irate callers to his offices. That triumphed over any imperative to save credit markets on the verge of collapse in 2008, i.e., TARP. Just what was needed in a national emergency- a demagogue, masquerading as-" the every-man's Congressman" voting no on Bush's TARP!
"Yes" on 3, assumes my plan to eliminate all traditional taxes and institute a National Sales Tax-see above.
__________________________________
Business and Employment Issues
a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security? No
b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? Yes
No
c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize? Yes
e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
I'd have supported privatizing Social Security a few years ago. I got fooled like everyone else- believing a minimum of integrity existed on Wall Street- and the stock market run up to 14000 had some relationship to a sound economics. My Congressman voted to repeal Glass-Steagall in 1999- leading to the phony 14000, so it's understandable if it sticks in my craw when I hear him ridicule Wall Street speculators. The audacity is stunning. If upside down homeowners in my district only knew about his shameless hypocrisy, I could give this term limit promising stooge a run for his money.
_________________________________________
Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues
a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns? Yes
b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes
c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns? No
d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? No
e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations? Yes
f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
g) Other or expanded principles
If one benefactor contributed two million dollars to my campaign- offsetting Frank's 16 years nurturing his donor list of fat-cats and lobbyists- that would be a good thing for democracy. BTW, millions is what's needed to match what our entrenched Congressman accumulates every cycle. He gives away large chunks of it to the Republican National Committee. Keeps him in good standing, because he sometimes votes with Democrats. Unfortunately the timing of his flip flops has been an issue with me.
"e" line item veto. Make it law. Then elect as President, an Independent next election - N.Y.'s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
________________________________________
Crime Issues
a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? Yes
b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released? Yes
c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
Yes
d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders? Yes
e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs? Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
I'd change "b" to read funding programs for most "non-violent" inmates. I'd take a harder line with violent inmates and wouldn't worry about vocational training. The real power to make a difference is the Senate. They confirm Presidential appointments.
"e" Wouldn't support mandatory sentences for selling soft drugs like marijuana. However, a substantial amount of pot comes from Mexico. I have real issues the way that country is run- making me no softy on marijuana use. It's a major factor in the ongoing disaster south of the border. We could do something about that drug paradigm; more to say soon.
_________________________________________
Education Issues
a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students? Yes
b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs? Yes
Yes
c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers? Yes
e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
Federal standards are good, but I'd support doing away with the DOE anyway. Don't need- wasn't there when I went to school. Maybe the First Lady (Husband) could step in and be the education advocate all by themselves?
The First Spousal thing, is silly, and candidates who support doing away with the Dept of Education- Sharon Angle (vs. Harry Reid)- for one- are roundly criticized as being hayseeds. I can play into character too- suggesting the spouses involvement as a one person Department of Education. People miss our point.
_______________________________________
Environment and Energy Issues
a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? Yes
b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? Yes
c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system? No
d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles? Yes
e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas? Yes
f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy? Yes
g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors? Yes
h) Other or expanded principles
I strongly- categorically- support nuclear energy. I apologize to the liberal wing of my party- I'm a package deal. My Republican opponent supported Cap and Trade- then apologized to the conservative wing of his party.......and then flipped-flopped his position. I can be open minded as well- but only when it concerns the well being of the country- and not just the state of my re-election. My opponent usually wins with a healthy 65% of the vote- yet he won't take any tough stands and stick to them. Thanks to the "Tea Party," he was "smoked" out on Cap and Trade.
_______________________________________
Gun Issues
a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? Yes
b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns? Yes
c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? Yes
d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles? Yes
e) Other or expanded principles
My opponent has been a consistent and reliable water carrier for the NRA. Of all the myriad issues and troubling problems facing America, here's one issue Frank LoBiondo hasn't wavered on- guns!
_______________________________
Health Issues
a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option? Yes
b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? Yes
c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
Yes
d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? Yes
e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs? Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
I'm for Gov't Single Payer take over of health care. I propose in exchange for massive new government intrusions, we restore accountability first, and reinvent the civil service code. And, if we eliminated significant numbers of government entities, people might then warm up to Single Payer. Given a choice between the Dept of Education or dozens of redundant agencies protecting us to the point of being- unsafe- I'd choose the "free" health care. To anyone ridiculing this, I say- cut, cut, cut- entire departments- plus- close a lot of overseas military bases as down payment, and give me Single Payer!
.
Abortion Issues
a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? Pro-choice
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) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures? No
f) Other or expanded principles
Said before, same questionnaire, different year, this is a special issue. I'm glad there are committed activists on both sides of the issue- leaving things- if I may be flip-as somewhat undecided. I'm pro-choice, and it's the law, but pro-life folks shouldn't feel like they've been unappreciated. Without their efforts balancing things out- G'd only knows then?
__________________________________________
1) Spending
Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.
a) Agriculture Greatly Decrease
b) Arts Maintain Status
c) Defense Greatly Decrease
1) Intelligence operations Greatly Decrease
2) Military hardware Greatly Decrease
3) National missile defense Maintain Status
4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel Maintain Status
5) Programs to improve troop retention rates Maintain Status
6) Research and development of new weapons Greatly Decrease
d) Education Greatly Decrease
e) Environment Maintain Status
f) Homeland security Greatly Decrease
g) International aid Greatly Decrease
h) Medical research Greatly Increase
i) Scientific research Slightly Increase
j) Space exploration Greatly Increase
k) United Nations Greatly Decrease
l) Welfare Slightly Decrease
m) Other or expanded categories
There's huge gaps between the choices you've given me to- "greatly decrease" and "slightly decrease" No ambiguity about my choice to greatly decrease "Homeland Security" however. Look no further than Donna Priests articles in the Washington Post- about wildly proliferating agencies since 9/11-not making us any safer. Anyone watching the way Washington works over the last few decades knew this intuitively. A few agencies- given lots of latitude- would make us a lot safer. Extrapolate that sentiment for those other agencies I chose to decrease.
__________________________
2) Taxes
Indicate 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.
a) Alcohol taxes Eliminate
b) Capital gains taxes Eliminate
c) Cigarette taxes Eliminate
d) Corporate taxes Eliminate
e) Gasoline taxes Eliminate
f) Income taxes (low-income families) Eliminate
g) Income taxes (middle-income families) Eliminate
h) Income taxes (high-income families) Slightly Decrease
i) Other or expanded categories
I've suggested eliminating current taxes- (except property taxes, continuing the income tax on the very wealthy)- replacing with a national sales tax- even though it's regressive. I didn't stop there. Do away with cash- kill the underground economy- issue a national debit card. Depending on sales tax per-centage, the treasury would be flush- the economy booming- because this fun-fantastic-fantasy..... idea, would be contingent on Gov't radically reducing its size- their penance for getting us in this financial nightmare in the first place. It's an idea at least, and campaigns are a chance to go on the record- thank-you very much.
_____________________________
taxes con't
3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax? Yes
4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year? Yes
5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy? No
6) Other or expanded principles
Bush's TARP was crucial, Obama's stimulus I and II, not. My Republican opponent was too confused, or too clever by half, to "see" the distinction. He giddily mocks Wall Street now; in 2008 he felt the need to appease irate callers to his offices. That triumphed over any imperative to save credit markets on the verge of collapse in 2008, i.e., TARP. Just what was needed in a national emergency- a demagogue, masquerading as-" the every-man's Congressman" voting no on Bush's TARP!
"Yes" on 3, assumes my plan to eliminate all traditional taxes and institute a National Sales Tax-see above.
__________________________________
Business and Employment Issues
a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security? No
b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? Yes
No
c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize? Yes
e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
I'd have supported privatizing Social Security a few years ago. I got fooled like everyone else- believing a minimum of integrity existed on Wall Street- and the stock market run up to 14000 had some relationship to a sound economics. My Congressman voted to repeal Glass-Steagall in 1999- leading to the phony 14000, so it's understandable if it sticks in my craw when I hear him ridicule Wall Street speculators. The audacity is stunning. If upside down homeowners in my district only knew about his shameless hypocrisy, I could give this term limit promising stooge a run for his money.
_________________________________________
Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues
a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns? Yes
b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes
c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns? No
d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? No
e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations? Yes
f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
g) Other or expanded principles
If one benefactor contributed two million dollars to my campaign- offsetting Frank's 16 years nurturing his donor list of fat-cats and lobbyists- that would be a good thing for democracy. BTW, millions is what's needed to match what our entrenched Congressman accumulates every cycle. He gives away large chunks of it to the Republican National Committee. Keeps him in good standing, because he sometimes votes with Democrats. Unfortunately the timing of his flip flops has been an issue with me.
"e" line item veto. Make it law. Then elect as President, an Independent next election - N.Y.'s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
________________________________________
Crime Issues
a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? Yes
b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released? Yes
c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
Yes
d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders? Yes
e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs? Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
I'd change "b" to read funding programs for most "non-violent" inmates. I'd take a harder line with violent inmates and wouldn't worry about vocational training. The real power to make a difference is the Senate. They confirm Presidential appointments.
"e" Wouldn't support mandatory sentences for selling soft drugs like marijuana. However, a substantial amount of pot comes from Mexico. I have real issues the way that country is run- making me no softy on marijuana use. It's a major factor in the ongoing disaster south of the border. We could do something about that drug paradigm; more to say soon.
_________________________________________
Education Issues
a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students? Yes
b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs? Yes
Yes
c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers? Yes
e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
Federal standards are good, but I'd support doing away with the DOE anyway. Don't need- wasn't there when I went to school. Maybe the First Lady (Husband) could step in and be the education advocate all by themselves?
The First Spousal thing, is silly, and candidates who support doing away with the Dept of Education- Sharon Angle (vs. Harry Reid)- for one- are roundly criticized as being hayseeds. I can play into character too- suggesting the spouses involvement as a one person Department of Education. People miss our point.
_______________________________________
Environment and Energy Issues
a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? Yes
b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? Yes
c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system? No
d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles? Yes
e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas? Yes
f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy? Yes
g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors? Yes
h) Other or expanded principles
I strongly- categorically- support nuclear energy. I apologize to the liberal wing of my party- I'm a package deal. My Republican opponent supported Cap and Trade- then apologized to the conservative wing of his party.......and then flipped-flopped his position. I can be open minded as well- but only when it concerns the well being of the country- and not just the state of my re-election. My opponent usually wins with a healthy 65% of the vote- yet he won't take any tough stands and stick to them. Thanks to the "Tea Party," he was "smoked" out on Cap and Trade.
_______________________________________
Gun Issues
a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? Yes
b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns? Yes
c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? Yes
d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles? Yes
e) Other or expanded principles
My opponent has been a consistent and reliable water carrier for the NRA. Of all the myriad issues and troubling problems facing America, here's one issue Frank LoBiondo hasn't wavered on- guns!
_______________________________
Health Issues
a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option? Yes
b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? Yes
c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
Yes
d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? Yes
e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs? Yes
f) Other or expanded principles
I'm for Gov't Single Payer take over of health care. I propose in exchange for massive new government intrusions, we restore accountability first, and reinvent the civil service code. And, if we eliminated significant numbers of government entities, people might then warm up to Single Payer. Given a choice between the Dept of Education or dozens of redundant agencies protecting us to the point of being- unsafe- I'd choose the "free" health care. To anyone ridiculing this, I say- cut, cut, cut- entire departments- plus- close a lot of overseas military bases as down payment, and give me Single Payer!
.
