Written on August 25th, 2016
Section I: Basic Stances
Question #1:
No Tax Increase: I believe the
current tax burden on Americans is high. Therefore, I will vote against any
increase of the national income tax, and various "fees" on American citizens.
Answer #1:
Yes. I will vote against any
increase of the national personal income tax, unless the income tax were to be
properly authorized, and income taxation were to be reformed. I will vote to
significantly decrease spending, and if I support raising any new revenues,
they will not derive from increases in income taxation.
Question #2:
Spending Issues
Question #2A:
Spending Restraint: I will work and
vote for a freeze of total discretionary spending for the first two fiscal
years beginning after the 2016 general election. I will not vote for any
budgetary gimmicks (such as claiming non-emergency spending as emergency
spending) and will not vote to waive budgetary rules restraining taxes and
spending.
Answer #2A:
Yes. I will support these measures, advocate
curbing spending in fiscal-cliff as well
as ordinary scenarios, and work to move more programs and spending into the
discretionary and non-emergency categories.
Question #2B:
Spending Cuts: I agree that the
federal government should deal with budget shortfalls through spending cuts and
increased efficiency, rather than increasing taxes, bonds, or tariffs.
Answer #2B:
Yes. Waste, fraud, and abuse should
be eliminated; and so should redundancy, pork barrel spending, regional
subsidies, support for states, and unconstitutional federal programs and departments.
I will support increasing efficiency and eliminate bureaucracy in order to cut
taxes while initially eliminating as few services as necessary. I will support
requiring $7 of cuts for every new dollar of tax revenue raised. I will not
support increasing tariffs.
Question #3:
Pro-Growth Tax Relief: I will work
for these types of pro-growth tax relief:
- Complete elimination of the marriage tax penalty
- Further across-the-board reduction of income tax rates
- Further capital gains relief
- Repeal personal alternative minimum tax
- Repeal corporate alternative minimum tax
- Repeal of the death tax
Answer #3:
Yes to
all six. Additionally, I would vote to eliminate the capital gains tax.
Question #4:
Internet Taxation: I oppose Internet
taxation. I will work and vote for a permanent ban on all types of taxes
targeted to the Internet or Internet access.
Answer #4:
Yes. I oppose taxation of the
internet at the federal level, including the taxation of sales conducted over
the internet. I would urge states not to tax internet sales. I would not
interfere with internet providers charging websites to be accessed at faster
rates.
Question #5:
Education Funding: Some politicians
say they want to put education first no matter what. Others say they want to
keep their pledge to cut government spending no matter what. If a law stated
that all proceeds were guaranteed to be dedicated to education, I would support
a tax increase.
Answer #5:
No. I would not support increasing,
nor continuing, the funding of education at the federal level. I would vote to
abolish the Department of Education.
Question #6:
School Choice: I support school
choice for students, and will support and vote for legislation giving a student
in a failing school the ability to use taxpayer-supported vouchers to attend
private, parochial, or alternative public schools.
Answer #6:
Yes. I would not support federal
involvement in education, nor in any education programs; but I support school
choice for students, and would urge states to experiment with such voucher programs.
I would also urge states to make public school classroom attendance voluntary.
Question #7:
Private Property Rights: I
understand that the U. S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. City of New London
made clear that states have the right and ability to defend the private
property rights of their citizens by enacting laws that place restrictions on the
exercising of takings power. I will support and vote for legislation that
clearly enacts a policy imposing a more strict “public use” requirement than
that imposed under the holding in Kelo. I further agree that the
government’s interest in acquiring private property in order to make that
property available to another private entity is subservient to the property
rights held by the current properly owner.
Answer #7:
Yes. Fifth Amendment takings of
private property must strictly satisfy public use, compensate the owner fairly,
and occur upon consent of the owner.
Question
#8:
Tort Reform: I believe that
our society has deviated too far into abuse and fraud from the excesses of
allowing people to sue on demand for frivolous causes. I would support enacting
a national law for tort reform that stipulates that punitive damages can only
be awarded if compensatory damages are awarded (and if proven that there was
malicious intent to injure the claimant) and allow courts to restrict fees
prosecuting.
Answer #8:
No. I would not support a national law for
tort reform. I am concerned that tort reform could limit the rights of juries,
interfere with the right to sue, and discourage some non-frivolous lawsuits. However,
I would not interfere with states' rights to consider such legislation.
Question #9:
Right
to Bear Arms: I believe that the 2nd Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution applies to the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms. I will
oppose any effort to restrict law-abiding citizens from owning and using
firearms for personal use and self-defense.
Answer #9:
Yes. I believe the 2nd
Amendment exists to support the right to hunt, and also to defend oneself
against criminals, foreign invaders, and tyrannical government. I support
strengthening the 2nd Amendment to protect the right of conscientious
objection to military service. I will vote to oppose all federal gun control
legislation, and I support prohibiting states from interfering in the openness
of interstate trade and commerce in weapons. I will oppose any legislation that
limits the gun right, as well as the travel rights, of law-abiding citizens.
Question #10:
Rights of the Unborn: I believe that
every innocent human life is sacred, from the moment of conception to the time
of natural death.
Question #10A:
As such, I would support reasonable,
just laws on abortion like parental consent, waiting periods, and a ban on
partial birth abortion.
Answer #10A:
No. I would encourage states to
adopt legislation banning partial birth abortions, and I support getting the federal
government out of the issue of abortion. However, I do not support parental
consent requirements (because it interferes with doctor-patient
confidentiality), nor waiting periods (because they sometimes delay abortions
until past points of development delineated by states as cut-off points for
abortion).
Question #10B:
I would also work to recognize the
right to life by seeking to confirm pro-life judges who will not legislate from
the bench, and supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Answer #10B:
Yes.
I support overturning Roe v. Wade on
constitutional grounds, not moral grounds; but I will vote to stop funding
Planned Parenthood, and support judges who will leave abortion up to the
states, pending a constitutional amendment saying otherwise.
Question #11:
Marriage: I believe traditional
marriage consists of a time-honored tradition of a union between one man and
one woman. I support the Defense of Marriage Act, and oppose any federal laws
to change the traditional definition of marriage.
Answer #11:
No. I oppose the Defense of Marriage
Act, although I oppose federal laws changing the definition of marriage because
I believe the federal government should not be involved in marriage whatsoever.
I would urge the states to respect the rights of any adult partners to create a
private or interpersonal marriage contract, but I would not interfere with the
rights of states to govern marriage as they see fit.
Question #12:
Term Limits: I support reasonable
and just term limit laws for all major elected offices in the federal
government, including Congressmen and Senators, and would vote to enact such
limits.
Answer #12:
Yes. I would support limiting U.S.
Representatives to four consecutive terms, U.S. Senators to two consecutive
terms, and Supreme Court justices to twenty-year terms.
Section II: Essay Questions
Question #1:
Do you agree with the positions of
the I.C.R.C. as found on the Platform? If not, please provide specifics, and
affirmatively state where you disagree and why.
Answer #1:
I agree completely with the sections
"Pro-Freedom", "Pro-Constitution",
"Pro-Opportunity", "Pro- School Choice", "Pro-Taxpayer",
"Pro- Second Amendment", "Pro-Culture", and
"Pro-America".
On
the "Pro-Faith" section, I support a secular republic with freedom of
worship; so I believe religion has a proper role in the public square, but I
would oppose the federal government establishing religion. On the "Pro-Family"
section, I agree, and I hope that states respect same-sex couples' freedoms to
marry and adopt as well as heterosexuals. On the "Pro-Life" section,
I believe that life is sacred and that it begins at conception; however, I
believe that legal rights begin upon live birth.
On
the "Pro-Capitalism" section, I support free enterprise, private property,
and competition; however, I support the notion "cost the limit of
price" more than I support the profit motive.
On
the "Pro-Environment" section, I support the notion that the free
market is better than the government at taking care of the environment;
however, I would urge communities to set up local trusts for land and water, to
compete alongside free enterprise to provide better environmental solutions.
On
the "Pro-Citizenship" section, I agree, while noting that we should welcome
undocumented immigrants whom are non-violent, those who arrived without their
own knowledge or consent, and those who do not have contempt for American laws.
Question #2:
What kind of things would you like
to see the U.S. Congress enact? Please list your top three policy priorities
should you be elected, and why you wish to focus on them.
Answer #2:
I
would like to see Congress enact budget controls and term limits, and curtail
business privileges.
First, I would like to see Congress enact
more Cut, Cap, and Balance -type legislation, enact zero-based budgeting, and
pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. I would oppose Cut, Cap, and Balance -type
legislation if and when it does not go far enough in cuts. I would support
requiring at least $7 in spending cuts to each new dollar in revenues raised. I
hope to help reduce the federal budget to between 10% and 12.5% of the G.D.P.
as soon as possible.
Second, I would help pass a constitutional
amendment limiting U.S. Representatives to four consecutive terms, and limiting
U.S Senators to two consecutive terms
(each with no limitation on the total number of terms), as well as legislation
limiting Supreme Court justices to twenty year terms. Refraining from imposing
limitations on total numbers of terms will help prevent experienced legislators
from leaving office too often; and shortening terms will help reduce spending
on pay for legislators, and decrease the attention and time that elections take
up.
Third, I would help pass legislation to
curtail the artificial privileges of businesses. I would vote to support
abolishing the Departments of Commerce and Energy, thus diminishing the
lobbying power of the energy sector and big business. I would vote to limit
intellectual property protections and trade promotions. I would vote to repeal
subsidies, and oppose bailouts. I would urge states to abolish their Secretary
of States' offices in order to stop the chartering / creation of - and
extension of limited liability to - new corporations.
Question
#3:
What kind of issues would you like
to focus on in the House? If elected, what three legislative committees will
you ask to serve? Why?
Answer
#3:
I would serve on the Judiciary
Committee (due to my desires to return to obedience of the Constitution, and to
reform the justice system); the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
(due to my interest in reforming federal labor law); and either the House Ways
and Means Committee, or the Committee on Foreign Affairs (due to my desires to
reform taxation policy, and to help shape foreign policy).
Affidavit
I
understand that my answers to this survey will be published. My answers are a
firm and unconditional commitment to the people of Illinois, and to the people
of the United States.
Candidate
Name: Joseph William Kopsick
Candidate Signature: Joseph W. Kopsick
Address:
132 Welwyn St., Lake Bluff, IL 60044-1150
Phone: 608-417-9395 (personal cell phone)
Email: jwkopsick@gmail.com
Websites:
www.aquarianagrarian.blogspot.com (blog);
wix.com.dontvoteforjoe/2012 (2012 campaign
site)
Candidate
for U.S. Congress (U.S. House of Representatives)
Party: New Party / Absurdist Party
District: Illinois's 10th
U.S. congressional district
Date: Survey completed August 25th, 2016; election to be held
November 8th, 2016
