Michigan State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support a woman's choice to choose whether to have an abortion, however I am committed to reducing the amount of abortions that occur each year. I believe that we can do this through universal access to health care, maternity leave and sick leave for workers, affordable childcare, and a higher minimum wage. It is more feasible to carry a pregnancy to term if the mother is insured during pregnancy, and if the child will have access to health care after birth. I also believe that we can encourage better decision making by young adults through proper sexual education.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

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

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

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Per the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the top 1 % in average income receives a 499 times greater tax break than the bottom 20%. Our federal and state tax policies place the tax burden on working people, and give breaks left and right to the very rich and top corporations. The wealthy and corporations use our infrastructure just as much as anyone else, if not more. I believe that the top 1% and the very wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes and support a graduated income tax that reduces the burden placed on working people.

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Michigan's Campaign Finance laws, while generally simple, have set many arbitrary limits. While I support the intent of the laws, there are many loopholes for donors to get around, so that they may donate to their intended candidate. Removing limits will open transparency as to who is really donating money to candidates. We must make it as easy as possible for our citizens to vote. I support same day registration and measures such as expanded absentee voting and voting by mail.

Crime & Public Safety

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

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

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- State and local police are often tasked with enforcing local laws and placing the responsibility of enforcing federal laws on top of them will prevent them from focusing on more local issues. I believe that minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as an adult, but it will depend on what the definition of a violent crime is. I believe that our justice system should be reformed to place a focus on rehabilitating those convicted of a crime rather than focusing on detention. We need policies that will reduce the recidivism rate of those convicted, imprisoned, and released.

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?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

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

7. Do you support increasing state funding for improving Michigan's roads and bridges?
- Yes

8. Do you support eliminating Michigan's mandatory no-fault auto insurance?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- We all know we're paying too much for auto insurance in MI. But forcing victims of catastrophic accidents to sue those at fault to pay for the care they'll need is NOT the solution. I support the bipartisan plan to lower rates without cutting coverage: www.fairandaffordable.com

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Michigan?
- Yes

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Michigan high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- Many of my former teachers have told me stories of how they had to decline raises so they could use the money to supply classroom materials for their students. With a lack of support from our state, mounting student and continuing education debt, and low salaries, it's no wonder teachers are leaving the profession. Our public schools must be able to reduce the student to teacher ratio, provide classroom books and materials, and improve benefits offered to teachers. Teachers are overworked and underpaid. It's time that our state supports our teachers.

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 decommissioning the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, which carries oil from Canada to the U.S.?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- We all agree that we need to safeguard our precious and irreplaceable Great Lakes. We also need to be mindful of the jobs that would be lost by shutting down Line 5. We should be ensuring that the pipeline has the coating it needs to be safe and reliable. Any gaps in the coating should be fixed as soon as possible using skilled workers. We also need to continue monitoring the pipeline closely, which requires working people to be on the job to watch out and repair anything. We need strong safety, inspection, and reporting standards to prevent a spill.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

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

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
- Our Constitution keeps us both safe and free. I support responsible gun ownership, including background checks. We must end gun crime and keep our law enforcement officers safe. Guns should be kept out of the hands of dangerous people like domestic abusers and convicted criminals. Guns should not be in the classroom, as teachers have enough responsibility in teaching, and don't need the responsibility of being a security guard added to their plate. We have the freedom to own firearms, but also the freedom to be safe in our homes, schools, work, and churches. Ultimately, we need stronger gun laws.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Michigan's health care programs?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

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

6. Do you support using state funds to provide public health services to citizens exposed to lead contamination in the Flint Water Crisis?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Our current health system makes our citizens choose between paying high premiums for health insurance, or facing debt or bankruptcy if they remain uninsured. Citizens shouldn't have to go into financial ruin when having to get medical treatment. Every other civilized country in the world does not place the burden of health care costs on its citizens. I do not believe there should be a work requirement on Medicaid. I support expanding Medicaid access so that our citizens have access to health care. I believe that maternity care & coverage for pre-existing conditions is necessary.

Social

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

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

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

4. Should able-bodied "food stamps" (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Our state must do all that it can to prevent all forms of discrimination. Women, LGBT, and minorities face discrimination every day in public, the work place, and even by our government. Work requirements on "food stamps" is a form of discriminating against lower income people. Many who are eligible for SNAP avoid applying for it due to the social stigma that comes with it. Mandating a work requirement will reduce the amount of people who have access to SNAP and will disproportionately affect those who are not feasibly able to work.

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.
- I will fight to improve worker's rights by repealing the Right to Work law and reinstating Prevailing Wage. We must improve funding for our public education and ensure that our teachers have the support and materials they need to provide a successful education. It's imperative that our citizens have access to affordable healthcare, prescription medication, and a reliable retirement plan. Last budget, our state had an unexpected surplus that they initially couldn't decide what to with. The funds to make these improvements are there, but it's up to our state to make sure it gets invested in our citizens properly.