Michigan State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- Yes

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No Answer

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

9. Do you support increased licensing restrictions for abortion providers?
- No

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Maintain Status

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Maintain Status

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Maintain Status

10. Do you support requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature in order to approve all future tax increases?
- No

11. Other or expanded categories
- I believe we need to engage in a comprehensive review of Michigan's overall tax structure. That will dictate what needs to go up and down. Until then, I would maintain status. We need a comprehensive review of the tax system and the services provided to match the needed revenues with the desired services.

1. Tapping into Michigan's "rainy day" fund
- No

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

3. Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
- No

4. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No

5. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No

6. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- Why are the only options to go after public employees or students? These are the people that have been targeted for the last 10 years. I would support taking from the Rainy Day Fund, but there isn't enough money. We need a comprehensive review of the tax system and the services provided to match the needed revenues with the desired services.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

9. Do you support Michigan's emergency manager law?
- No

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- No Answer

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- Capital punishment would be more costly than keeping people in prison. It doesn't make sense to make this even more costly. Mandatory alternative incarceration needs to appropriately punish the person, but prison may not be needed (and is costly). I would only support local enforcement of federal immigration if the locals are appropriately trained (which could be costly).

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- No Answer

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No Answer

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- Yes

7. Do you support a constitutional amendment affirming a right to collective bargaining in Michigan?
- Yes

8. Do you support construction of a new bridge across the Detroit River to Canada?
- Yes

9. Should Michigan allow more casinos?
- Yes

10. Other or expanded principles
- I don't know that government regulations on the private sector need to be reduced in Michigan. I look forward to the discussion. I support ensuring unemployment benefits protect children and those out of work while they look for a job. I don't know if expansion is needed or not.

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No Answer

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No Answer

4. Do you support replacing pension plans for new teachers with 401(k)-style retirement plans?
- No

5. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

6. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

7. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

8. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Michigan high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- - I am not familiar with the national Common Core State Standards initiative. - Merit pay could lead to teaching to the test instead of creative teaching. While it may boost grades, it won't empower our teachers to educate our children to the best of their ability. - Tenure was just changed, and I have not yet seen evidence of the results. - Pensions and 401(k)'s should be collectively bargained.- In-state versus out-of-state tuition is determined by Universities, which are independent entities according to the Michigan Constitution. It is their decision.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- Yes

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to Michigan's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

5. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- While I support many of these issues, Michigan's budget realities aren't likely to allow for spending in many of these areas. We need to revitalize Michigan's economy, and while investment in some of these areas can certainly play a role in that revitalization, there just aren't enough state dollars to fund all of these programs right now.

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Background checks are required for guns sold at a store; we need to do the same at gun shows. Background checks should always be done before a person can purchase a gun. We don't want people with violent histories or mental disorders buying weapons and causing tragedies. I am a gun owner and support citizens possessing guns, but believe that certain regulations are important to ensuring public safety.

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- No Answer

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- No Answer

4. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

5. Do you support establishing a state-run health insurance exchange?
- Yes

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No Answer

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- I am not sure what commercial health insurance reform measures will expand health care access and would need more information. I am also not familiar with interstate health insurance compacts. The question on the health insurance purchase option is vague. I support the Affordable Care Act, with the appropriate subsidizing and opt-outs if the insurance is too expensive. I might support monetary limits on damages in malpractice lawsuits if there was an appropriate standard for malpractice and if the limits were not too low for the patients.

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- No

2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Michigan's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Michigan's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- We must invest in K-12 schools. Schools need funding for students and operation needs. School Aid funding must be equalized to prevent some schools from receiving thousands more per-pupil than others. Higher education will ensure our workforce has the necessary skills and talents. We must also retain the students who come here for a high-quality education by creating vibrant communities with fun, entertainment, and culture that are attractive to recent grads. Finally, we must invest in infrastructure, ensure residents have access to resources like clean water and transportation, and protect vital services such as police and fire.