New Jersey State Legislative Election 2015 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

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 Answer

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- Yes

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding (g) & (f), I generally support notification and consent of parent, but I am also cognizant of situations where it may be unwise to notify parents and therefore not do so.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Tapping into New Jersey's "rainy day" fund
- No Answer

2. Decreasing funding for public universities
- No

3. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- Yes

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

5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding (a)- New Jersey does not have a rainy day fund. Regarding (e)- This question is extremely broad. There may be room for some targeted medicaid cuts.

1. Education (higher)
- Maintain Status

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Decrease

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Slightly Decrease

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Slightly Decrease

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Maintain Status

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. Small business taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

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

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

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

11. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding (b), I am open to a potentially slight increase in the Cigarette Tax as long as it were used for a very specific purpose to benefit the public. Regarding (e), as per a very specific Transportation Trust Fund plan I may be open to considering an increase in Gas/Oil taxes.

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?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

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

2. Do you support an expansion of substance abuse treatment programs in New Jersey?
- Yes

3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

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

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding (a), only in extremely rare circumstances of heinous crimes and absolute DNA verification do I support the death penalty. Regarding (d), only under certain circumstances should a juvenile be charged as an adult and never subject to life sentences.

Economic

1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No Answer

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

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

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

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

6. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- No Answer

7. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No Answer

8. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- No

9. Should the state of New Jersey provide additional support for Atlantic City?
- No Answer

10. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding (a), overall minimization of government spending and taxing is the best way to foster economic growth. Regarding (e), in extenuating circumstances of long term elevated unemployment rates, I would support extending benefits. Regarding (f), I support overall minimization of tax rates to promote growth. In regards to (h), not above New Jersey's current minimum wage structure. In regards to (i), not within New Jersey's current tax structure.

Education

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

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- Yes

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- Yes

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- Yes

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

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

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from New Jersey high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- In regards to (a), I support the Governor's current effort to revise the Common Core Standards.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No Answer

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No

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

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

5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No Answer

6. Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- In regards to (a) If someone can tell me a proven technology that both increases energy efficiency and creates jobs, I would be open to the State providing seed money.

Gun

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

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

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- No Answer

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- I support sound and reasonable gun laws. As it stands now, New Jersey has a series of complicated rules, restrictions, and requirements. We need an overall review of our gun laws, we need to keep those that make sense and eliminate or modify those that do not.

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No Answer

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

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

8. Other or expanded principles
- In regards to (a), there are potentially many versions of a universal system. I would need to see specifics before adopting a position.

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- In regards to (c), I completely respect an individual's gender identity, however, as per motor vehicle identification I also respect the need for National and State security.

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.
- My priorities are to bring long term stability and balance to the State budget, creating jobs, promoting growth, and stabilizing and ultimately reducing property tax.