2016 Federal Candidate Survey
Each election year Citizens Count sends an issue survey to every candidate for state and federal office in New Hampshire. We make every attempt to contact candidates by snail-mail, email, and phone. Candidate survey responses are the primary source for issue positions shown on the Citizens Count website. If a candidate does not respond to the Citizens Count survey, staff will search for candidate issue positions published in newspapers, posted on Facebook, etc.
The issues included in the survey are selected based on input from our online community, consultation with partners, and a review of legislation and candidate platforms. The list below shows questions included on the 2016 survey sent to candidates for U.S. representative and U.S. senator.
Student loan payments by income
Should the federal government allow student loan payments to be reduced based on income?
Federal minimum wage increase
Should the federal government raise the minimum wage?
Federal climate change action
Should the government do more to combat climate change, for example by restricting emissions, taxing carbon, or providing incentives to develop clean energy?
Raise social security retirement age
Should the federal government reform Social Security by raising the retirement age from today's age of 67?
Privatize social security
Should the federal government privatize some or all of Social Security?
Means testing for social security
Should the federal government reform Social Security by requiring means testing?
Federal block grants for welfare
Generally speaking, should the federal government give states more control over welfare/entitlement spending through block grants?
Repeal Affordable Care Act/”Obamacare”
Should the federal government repeal the Affordable Care Act/”Obamacare” entirely and start again?
Nationalized health care
Should the federal government provide health care and/or insurance to every citizen?
Federal funding for Planned Parenthood
Should the federal government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
Citizenship for illegal/undocumented immigrants
Should there be a path to citizenship for some illegal/undocumented immigrants?
Federal marijuana enforcement
Should the government enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized marijuana?
Expand federal background checks
Should the federal government expand background checks for firearms sales?
Increase federal defense spending
Should the federal government increase spending on defense?
How to combat Islamic State
How should the U.S. combat the Islamic State?
Federal flat income tax
Should the federal government institute a flat income tax for all income brackets while eliminating many deductions?
Lower federal tax rate for corporations
Should the federal government lower the corporate tax rate?
Higher federal tax rate for higher income
Should higher income brackets pay more in federal taxes than they currently do?
Close federal corporate tax "loopholes"
Should the government compel corporations to pay more in federal taxes, for example by closing “loopholes?”
Increase federal R&D spending
Should the federal government increase support for scientific research and development?
Increase federal transportation infrastructure funding
Should the federal government increase funding for transportation infrastructure, such as road repair and highway expansion?
