In 2004 The National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) asked candidates which items they would support if elected. Items included economic and policy issues, both domestic and foreign. Here are the highlights of John McCain's responses to the questions.
John McCain on Abortion
- Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape, when the life of the woman is endangered.
- The "partial-birth" abortion should not be permitted.
- Organizations that advocate or perform abortions should not be publicly funded.
John McCain on the Budget
- We should spend more money on: defense, education, homeland security, medical research, national parks
- We should spend less money on: arts, space exploration programs
- We are spending about the right amount on: environment, international aid, law enforcement, public health services, scientific research, transportation and highways, welfare
John McCain on Taxes
- The following should be taxed much less: Family income less than $150,000, capital gains, inheritance taxes.
- The following should be taxed somewhat less: corporate taxes, gasoline taxes
- The following tax deductions/credit should be increased: child tax credit, earned income tax credit, medical expense deduction
- A married couple filing jointly should pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately.
- Does not support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax, or eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors.
John McCain on Same Sex Marriages
- Same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions. Marriage should be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman.
John McCain on Crime
- Supports the death penalty for federal crimes.
- Supports "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
- Supports programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- Supports programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
- Supports additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
- Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
- Minors (except those that are very young) accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
John McCain on Drugs
- Supports mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
- Federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs should be expanded.
- Supports an increase in border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
John McCain on Education
- Supports national standards for and testing of public school students.
- Supports the use of vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send children to any public, private, or religious school.
- Supports funding to establish charter schools.
- Supports an increase in funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
- Supports teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
- Supports increases in funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
- Supports increased funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
- Supports federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
John McCain on Employment
- Supports increased funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers.
- Supports a reduction of government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- Supports tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
- Encourages employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
John McCain on Environment and Energy
- Believes that we should strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.
- States should compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
- Believes that we should strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Encourages further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
- Supports the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
- Supports the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
- Supports Healthy Forests legislation encouraging thinning in areas where communities exist near forests.
John McCain on Guns
- Believes we should maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- Supports the right of citizens to carry concealed guns.
- Supports the requirement that manufacturers provide child-safety locks on guns.
- Supports background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- Supports legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims.
Page 1: John McCain Biography
Page 2: Bits and Pieces About John McCain and Family
Page 3: How Senator John McCain Voted on Select Bills
Page 4: Where John McCain Stands on Issues
Page 5: More Issues, and More John McCain Resources
