- Share on WeChat
-
Former Chair, Institutions Committee, Vermont State Senate
Former Vice Chair, Transportation Committee, Vermont State Senate
— Father's Name:
Favorite Book:
Marley and Me, The Art of Racing in the Rain
Hobbies or Special Talents:
Stock Car Racing, Cycling, and Hiking
What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-choice
Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- Yes, but only by closing the gun show loophole
Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- Yes
Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- Yes
Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?
- Yes
Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes
Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- Yes, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production
Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- Yes
Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- No
Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?
- Yes, but only for deadly contagious diseases
Should marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?
- Yes, and consentual sex with a spouse under the age of 18 should be classified as statutory rape
Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- No, it is immoral to deny health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions
Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- Yes, but only for patrol officers in high crime areas
Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- No
Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- No
Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes, and the government should regulate the price of all prescription drugs
Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- No
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- No, this would increase the risk of accidental shootings
Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- No
Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- Lower the income tax rate and remove all existing tax loopholes for large corporations
Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes, but only increase funding for personalized care instead of subsidizing pharmaceutical companies
When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- May 1st
Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- No
Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No, but we should spend more to increase our border security
Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- No
Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- Yes, and adjust it every year according to inflation
Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?
- Yes
Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- No, but police should increase surveillance and patrol of all high crime neighborhoods
Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- No
Should the redrawing of Congressional districts be controlled by an independent, non-partisan commission?
- Yes, switch to a multi-member, proportionally selected redistricting system
Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes, as long as they can pass the same physical tests as men
Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes, but only for maternity leave
Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No, the U.S. should encourage Iran to disarm through diplomatic channels
Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- No
Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?
- Yes, if the government considers you too dangerous to board a plane you should not be able to buy a gun
Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- Yes, if they were born here
Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No, service should be a choice instead of an obligation
Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes
Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes
Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- Yes, for most but not all drugs
Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections?
- No
Should the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid)?
- Yes, but I prefer switching to a single payer healthcare system
Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- Yes, but a mandatory single payer system would be even better
Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes, term limits for the House but not the Senate
Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes
Should the electoral college be abolished?
- No
Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Lower
Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- Yes
Do you support the death penalty?
- Yes
1. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor?
- No
Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- Yes
Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- No, and we should not try to influence any other country’s elections or policy
Should the NSA (National Security Agency) be allowed to collect basic metadata of citizen’s phone calls such as numbers, timestamps, and call durations?
- No, and abolish the NSA
Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- Yes, but allow people to use private insurance
Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- Yes
Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- No, this is a violation of free speech
Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- No
Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- No
Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- No
1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- Yes, but NATO should focus more on counter-terrorism strategies
Should victims of gun violence be allowed to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers?
- No
Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- Yes, wind power is the best alternative to coal and natural gas
Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- No, Congress should approve all military conflicts
Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- Yes
Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote?
- No
Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- Yes
Should the military be allowed to use enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to gain information from suspected terrorists?
- Yes
Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- No
Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
- No
Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- Yes
Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- Yes, this will prevent voter fraud
Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No
Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- No, private prisons will sacrifice quality of care and rehabilitation services for profit
Should the government prevent "mega mergers" of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry?
- Yes, if the merged corporation would have more than 50% of the market share
Should internet service providers be allowed to speed up access to popular websites (that pay higher rates) at the expense of slowing down access to less popular websites (that pay lower rates)?
- No, this would allow them to remove competition, create artificial scarcity, and increase prices
Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- No
Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- Yes
Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- No
Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- Yes
Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?
- Yes
Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
- Yes, but only if there is no chance they will survive their illness
Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?
- No
Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- No
Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- Yes
1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- Yes
Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?
- Decrease
Do you support the Patriot Act?
- Yes
Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- Yes
Do you support a universal basic income program?
- No
Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes
Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- No
Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- Yes
Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
- Yes, and make it a lifetime ban
Should the U.S. conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?
- No, and I am not convinced that North Korea has or is capable of developing a long-range nuclear missile
Should the minimum voting age be lowered?
- No
Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- More
Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Hurt
Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes, but only if releasing the information does not threaten our national security
Should the U.S. provide military aid to Saudi Arabia during its conflict with Yemen?
- No, Saudi Arabia has more than enough money to fund their own wars
Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes, but their identity must be privately verified by a female staff member
Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Decrease
Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- No
Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- No
Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes
Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- Yes, we should accept 10,000 refugees
Do you support affirmative action programs?
- No
Do you support Common Core national standards?
- No
Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- Yes
Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments?
- No
Should the government increase the tax rate on profits earned from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate?
- No
Should researchers be allowed to use animals in testing the safety of drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and cosmetics?
- Yes
Should cities open drug "safe havens" where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
- No
Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- No
Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Decrease
Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No, conduct targeted airstrikes instead
Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?
- No
Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- No
Should the military fly drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?
- Yes
Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- No, they should be tried in military tribunals but not subject to torture
Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes, but in the form of tax breaks for all citizens
Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- More
Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security?
- No, eliminate the income cap on taxable earnings and stop spending current funds on other programs instead
Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- Yes, but I would prefer to ban GMOs
Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- Yes
Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation
Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- No
Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- Yes, but they should not be able to claim citizenship status of more than two nations
Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- No
Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes
Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- Yes
Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- Yes
Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- No, sentence them to life in prison without parole instead
Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes
Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- Yes
Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- Yes
Should the government add or increase tariffs on products imported into the country?
- Yes
Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- Yes
Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- Yes, the Russian invasion of the Ukraine threatens the balance of power in the region
Should the President offer tax breaks to individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S.?
- Yes
Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No
1. Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
- No
Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to
Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes
Should social media companies ban political advertising?
- No
Would you favor an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes?
- No, but decrease tax rates for senior citizens
Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- Yes
Should pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts?
- Yes
Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- Yes
Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- No
Do you support charter schools?
- Yes
Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- No
Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes, but place them under house arrest using an electronic bracelet
Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- No
Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- No
Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- Yes
Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- Yes
Should an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers?
- No
Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- No
Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No
Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?
- Yes
Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- No
Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No
Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No
Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- Yes
Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes
In January 2014, Scott expressed skepticism about Vermont’s single-payer healthcare law. The law, called Green Mountain Care, passed in 2011 and aimed to provide health insurance to the state’s 626,000 residents through a state-run system in order to reduce premiums and costs. Scott was concerned about whether the model would work. “I’m a skeptic when it comes to the single-payer model,” Scott said in an interview. “But at the same time I try to be objective because I’ve argued that I don’t have enough information to know whether it works here in Vermont. So it’s difficult for me to oppose something when I don’t know what it is,” he said.
