Mike Bost in 2000 National Political Awareness Test

On Abortion: Abortions should be illegal except for rape & incest

Bost indicates support of the following principles concerning abortion.
• Abortions should always be illegal.
• Abortions should be legal when pregnancy results from incest, rape or the life of the woman is endangered.
• Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and notification requirements as decided by each state government.
• Prohibit "partial-birth" abortion.
• Prohibit public funding for abortions and organizations that advocate or perform abortions.

On Civil Rights: Apply affirmative action to all state hiring & colleges

A: Yes.

Q: Public employment?

A: Yes.

Q: State contracting?

A: Yes.

On Crime: Supports death penalty & more prisons

Bost indicates support of the following principles to address crime.
• Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
• End parole for repeat violent offenders.
• Support the use of the death penalty in Illinois.
• Prosecute as adults, youths accused of a felony.
• Increase penalties for crimes committed on school grounds.
• Support job training for at-risk youth.
• Increase funding for DNA evidence testing.

On Drugs: Strengthen drug-related penalties, but consider alternatives

Bost indicates support of the following principles to address crime.
• Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
• Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
• Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
• Support .08 blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.

On Education: Supports charters, corporate investment, and merit pay

Bost indicates support of the following principles regarding education.
• Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
• Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
• Support charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools.
• Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
• Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
• Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
• Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
• Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.

On Energy & Oil: Develop and use of alternative fuels

Bost indicates support of the following principles regarding the environment and energy.
• Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
• Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
• Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.

On Environment: Supports recycling but also cost/benefit analysis

Bost indicates support of the following principles regarding the environment:
• Require states to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
• Support funding for recycling programs in Illinois.
• Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
• Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.

On Government Reform: No political contributions from the gambling industry

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support banning political contributions from the gambling industry?

A: Yes.

On Gun Control: More enforcement on laws on purchase and possession of guns

Bost indicates support of the following principles concerning gun issues.
• Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.

On Health Care: Guaranteed medical care is not a government responsibility

Bost indicates support of the following principles regarding health issues.
• Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
• Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
• Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
• Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
• Support a patient's right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
• Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
• Expand the state's Circuit Breaker program which provides prescription drug coverage to low-income seniors.

On Tax Reform: Flat tax structure for state income taxes

A: No.

Q: Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?

A: Yes.

Q: Would you support returning any operating surplus to Illinois taxpayers?

A: Yes.

Q: Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support removing the sales tax on motor fuels?

A: Yes.

On Welfare & Poverty: Welfare funding to faith-based & private organizations

Bost indicates support of the following principles regarding welfare.
• Maintain current time limits on welfare benefits.
• Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
• Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
• Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
• Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
• Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
• Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
• Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
• Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
• Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
• Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.