David McReynolds in 2000 National Political Awareness Test

On Crime: Eliminate the death penalty

McReynolds would eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Education: More funding for public schools

Support national standards and testing of public school students.
Increase funding for block grants to states to help them hire additional teachers.
Increase funding to reduce class sizes.
Increase funding for computers and computer training in public schools.
Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Education: More tax incentives & more affirmative action for college

Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Education: No religious groups on public school property

McReynolds agrees that student religious groups should not be allowed to meet on public school property. McReynolds does not believe there has been a decline in moral and ethical standards in America over the last four decades. Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Families & Children: No moral and ethical decline since 1960s

McReynolds does not believe there has been a decline in moral and ethical standards in America over the last four decades. Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Foreign Policy: Eliminate most foreign aid; it’s only for disasters

Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
Would Eliminate Funding for Colombia; Egypt; Israel; Kosovo province; Mexico; North Korea; Russia; Turkey.
Greatly increase funding for UN Crisis and Humanitarian Aid and UN Peace Keeping Missions

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Free Trade: Opposes NAFTA, GATT, WTO, Fast Track

DOES support normal trade relation (most favored nation) status with Vietnam
Does NOT support granting the President “fast-track” authority in trade negotiations
Does NOT support the trade embargo against Cuba
DOES support strengthening the American anti-dumping laws to fight imports priced below the manufacturing cost
UNDECIDED on supporting an open trade policy for the United States

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Free Trade: No China in WTO; but don’t link human rights to trade

Does NOT support China becoming a member of the World Trade Organization

Does NOT support imposing tariffs on products imported from nations that maintain restrictive trade barriers on American products

Does NOT believe that a nation’s human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) trading status with the United States

Does NOT support the trade embargo against Cuba

DOES support normal trade relation (most favored nation) status with Vietnam Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Immigration: More federal & state aid to immigrants

Increase the eligibility of legal immigrants for certain social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
Provide extra federal aid to states with higher numbers of immigrants for necessary medical and social services.
Prohibit states from passing laws that deny human services (medical care, education) to illegal immigrants or their children.
Reimburse states for providing services to illegal aliens.

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Social Security: Supports raising payroll tax; plus Lockbox

Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
Support a lock box measure, limiting Congress’s ability to spend Social Security and Medicare surpluses on any other federal programs except Social Security and Medicare, until each program’s long-term solvency is guaranteed.

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Tax Reform: Keep progressive income tax; drop marriage penalty

Does NOT support replacing the income tax structure with a flat income tax
Does NOT support a national sales tax
DOES support that a married couple filing jointly should pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately
Does NOT support requiring a super-majority vote in Congress to raise taxes
Does NOT support cutting taxes and using Social Security surpluses to supplement the difference.

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Technology: Supports Internet deregulation and privacy

Allow voter registration on-line.
Support strong Internet privacy laws.
Regulation of the Internet should not in any way controlled by the federal government.

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

On Welfare & Poverty: Housing, food, & health benefits for welfare recipients

Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
Provide homeless families with apartment vouchers they can use to supplement the cost of an apartment.
Restore food stamp programs to legal immigrants.
Provide continued Medicaid benefits for those welfare recipients who have moved from welfare to work.

Source: 2000 National Political Awareness Test May 2, 2000

The above quotations are from Election 2000 National Political Awareness Test, by Project Vote Smart. Click here for other excerpts from Election 2000 National Political Awareness Test, by Project Vote Smart. Click here for other excerpts by David McReynolds. Click here for a profile of David McReynolds.
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Page last updated: Nov 29, 2018