Kerry Bentivolio
Republican | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kerry Bentivolio
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 11
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Oakland Community College, Farmington Hills, AA, 89
St. Mary's College, etc., Orchard Lake, BA
Marygrove College, Detroit, MA, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
US Army, SFC, 1968-2010
MI Army National Guard, SFC, 68-2010
AFFILIATIONS
VFW, Life Member, American Legion
Member, AMVETS, Member
NRA, Life Member, Right to Life Lifespan
Member, Bell Creek Community Church, Contributor
North Oakland County Republicans, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
US House, 2013-15
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Combat Veterans For Congress
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Combat Veterans for Congress
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)
House Conservatives Fund (2014)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2014)
Martin Howrylak (2014)
Michigan Conservative Coalition (2018)
National Republican Congressional Committee (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (82)
Acton PAC (2013)
Allen West Guardian Fund (2013)
American Conservative Union (2013)
Andrew Harris (2013)
Ann Wagner (2013)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe life begins at conception and abortion shall not be allowed except in the rare circumstances of preserving life of the mother. However, I do believe that it can't stop there--there must be support, adoption option awareness, and privately-run programs to support the mother for making the right decision to carry the pregnancy through, regardless of the circumstances.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is not a restriction of religion but a restriction of establishing a state sponsored/supported religion.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
1. Not allow immigrants without a complete background check.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Allow health insurance to cross state lines. Promote competition among health insurance companies. Promote online medical advice services, direct primary care, and purchase of basic emergency catastrophic insurance.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Restrict social security benefits to those who paid into it. Ensure Social Security funds are placed in a separate fund and removed from the general fund.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
All federal spending should be reduced 2% - 3% per year. I will continue to work to maintain a 100% rating for cutting government waste. I will continue to vote "No" for debt increases unless we obtain a cut in spending. We can not continue to spend, spend, spend without cutting back.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
None. Taxpayers should not subsidize wrong or imperfect decisions for degrees sought or for over-paying for a college degree.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The laws already on the books should be followed.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Background checks to prevent violent felons and persons with a history of violent mental illness from firearm ownership. I am a proponent of firearm safety classes at middle school age level.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
1. "Read the Bills Act" as I previously sponsored in the 113th Congress. 2. "Single Issue Bills Act" as was sponsored in the 112th and 114th Congress (by others) 3. Passage of similar bill "Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act" as I sponsored in the 113th Congress protecting the rights of citizen's personal financial and health information from bad actors. 4. Legislation that promotes healthcare freedom. 5. Promote and sponsor legislation that brings manufacturing back to the USA. 6. Promote and sponsor legislation that protects our borders. 7. Promote and sponsor a bill that would give Congress authorization to enforce "Contempt of Congress" charges. 8. Promote and sponsor legislation that prevents fraud from "foreign and domestic bad actors" that steal money from our citizens using the phone or internet. 9. Legislation to protect privacy concerning obtaining internet data for individual profiling and the limiting of free speech.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Promoting division, claiming one ethnic background or religion is superior to another is wrong and promotes violence. It is un-American and does threaten our domestic peace. My grandfather came here from Italy and fought in WW1. My father and uncles fought in WW2 and that era. I am 100% American. My heritage is Italian/English/Irish. As a soldier, I learned at age 18, once you put on that uniform you represented "all of America". As a front line soldier I depended on the soldier next to me. It did not matter from where he hailed, his religion, cultural heritage, color of his skin, or political affiliation and my enemy did not care either! We all had a name tag above our pocket that read "U.S. Army" (U. S. Marine)etc. I did not understand nor appreciate the discrimination or racism often found in rear areas on the battlefield or here at home. We are ALL Americans. That is how I will continue to view individuals--as individual Americans.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Average Conservative voting record is 93% while serving in the 113th Congress. 100% Score for cutting government waste, Rated 2nd Most Transparent member of the 113th Congress passing 3 pieces of legislation with a 100% Bi-partisan support that protect rights, not take them away. Gave 6 speeches on the floor of Congress describing the threats against Christians. Named Guardian of Small Business from the NFIB, named "Taxpayer's Friend from the NTU, named "Hero of Main Street" by the NRF, received "True Blue Award" from FRC Action in recognition of 100% voting record in Defense of Faith, Family and Freedom. Received "Thomas Jefferson Award" from the International Food Service Distributors Association. Served in the US Army and only member of Congress who served in both Vietnam and Iraq. Married 43 years.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am a life-long resident of Oakland County, MI. My record in the 113th Congress, military & personal life shows the underlying theme of self-less service. I am the only candidate qualified to win back this seat & hit the ground running to defeat the progressive agenda. Each bill we sponsored came from suggestions from constituents, not DC lobbyists. Our team won two Constituent Awards for serving the 11th District residents in matters of the IRS, Military, VA, Social Security, Medicare, etc. We received more than 40,000 communications from constituents each year & responded to each in less than 2 wks. No individual was refused a meeting and we offered a "walk with the Congressman" program that allowed constituents to spend the day w/the congressman at meetings, etc. We set the example of what it means to be an excellent representative. We will in a big or small way create a ripple that inspires action, to serve and fight for freedoms.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Christian--Bible based.
