Kentucky State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- As to item (b), I believe it must be on a case by case basis with the involvement of pastoral care, medical staff and family input. I am against abortion and thankfully have never had to make the difficult choice referenced. I believe life begins at conception, but I also believe in an individual's right to their religious beliefs and their privilege to discuss their medical health in confidence with a physician. In short, it is not as easy as a yes/no answer.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- Yes

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- We have to pay for the benefits received. We need to take care of our state employees and those on Medicaid/medicare. The solution would be a combination of cuts and additional revenue. Expansion of jobs to create a larger work force will drive additional taxes for the state. There is not a singular solution to this problem,

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- No

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Those who desire to run for office should not be prohibited from doing so based on an inability to get financing for a campaign. Elections need to be fair and not bought.

Crime & Public Safety

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

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes?
- Yes

3. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

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

7. Other or expanded principles
- I believe we need to reform our justice system. Capital punishment is not done fairly. That is there are biases based on race, gender, etc. Law should be fairly applied. Furthermore, we need to continuously evaluate the tier between misdeamenors and felonies. In some respect a felony is a life sentence and impeded a persons ability to earn money, pay taxes and provide for family.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

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

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Kentucky?
- Yes

7. Do you support the legalization of casino gambling in order to fund Kentucky's pension system?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- Gaming is not the singular answer to Kentucky's pension woes. We need to look for alternative sources of revenue and we need to commit to tax reform.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Kentucky?
- No

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Kentucky high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Immigration is difficult. Children do not necessarily choose to be immigrants. I believe that immigrants should come to the United States legally. If they are illegal I do believe they should have a route to become legal before being instantaneously deported. I am empathetic to all of mankind but we should enforce laws if we are gong to have them.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Do you support decreasing compensation for citizens who generate excess energy from personal solar panels ("net-metering")?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Citizens should not be penalized for taking advantage of current regulations and guidelines.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I am pro gun and I believe in the second amendment. I do not think gun control will change anything at this juncture as there are so many firearms on the market. Those who will break the law and commit crimes of violence will pay no attention to licensing procedures or gun control regulations. Citizens must be able to protect and defend themselves. I do support firearm education.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Kentucky's health care programs?
- No

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

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

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

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

3. Do you support greater efforts by Kentucky state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I do not believe any human being should be discriminated against. On the other hand I do not believe in preferential treatment either.

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, 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.
- EDUCATION: Education is key to preservation of democracy and economic development. We need to assure that our students are college, career and life ready. People should be willing to invest in the education of their children, but all children are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. COURT SYSTEM: We need to reform the Court system to minimize incarceration and to rehabilitate those charged with violations or minor crimes. We also have to pay our judges, prosecutors and public defenders to make the system work properly. VETERANS: I believe we need to honor those who have preserved our freedoms.