Pennsylvania 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?
- Yes

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- If you willingly engage in sexual activity, you know the risk involved. If you are not willing to accept the responsibility for the possible outcome, make a better choice. If participation is not willing, then you need to make the appropriate timely reports and seek prosecution. Cooperate with investigation and see process to completion. Now the time when we need to decide if we do what is easy, or what is right.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- Yes

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Start by eliminating taxpayer funded pension for State Level elected offices. Restructure many government "benefit" programs before reducing or eliminating them. Verify eligibilit, terminate abusers. Look at budget from a business point of view. Revenue static? spending must remain static as well. Cities and counties need to make the same examinations and then do what is necessary to live up to those obligations.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

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?
- No

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

5. Do you support allowing early voting in Pennsylvania?
- No

6. Do you support reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Full disclosure of any contributions made and received.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

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?
- Yes

5. Should school safety meetings be made available to the public?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- Marijuana should be treated under the same laws as tobacco and alcohol. Teachers and School staff should be allowed to carry firearms if they feel comfortable with them. I believe that current allowances for minors to be tried as adults are sufficient. I would rather see victim and accused treated with all due protections. False accusations need to be treated as crimes, just as criminals need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It should be easier to get justice than to get a settlement.

Economic

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

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 Pennsylvania?
- No

7. Do you support increasing state funding for road repairs?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- The State can not spend anything that it does not take from another area. The consumer has a better grasp of what they need and are willing to exchange goods and services for, than any government program will ever be able to anticipate or establish.

Education

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

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

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

4. Do you support providing virtual charter school alternatives to all K-12 students?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Control of education belongs at the local level. Funding avenues need to be refined and guarantee equal access to quality, pertinent education. Possibly a tax credit for school taxes paid for people who choose private education. Virtual Charter Schools are a viable option for some students. The issue I see is verifying that it is the student completing the classes and ensuring the quality of education that needs to be done as "hands on", such as lab sciences.

Environment & Energy

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

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Water is a necessity for life. The State does share in the responsibility for providing safe. Energy production is a business. No subsidies for solar, wind, nuclear, oil coal etc... Business involves investment and risk. If it is cost effective to switch to what are now "alternative" energies, the free market will welcome the change.

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?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Gun control is "the ability to quickly and accurately acquire an intended target; then hit it repeatedly." If you commit a crime using a firearm, your right to carry a weapon v=can be evaluated and possibly restricted. But an accusation is not sufficient cause for restrictions on Constitutional Rights.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Pennsylvania'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?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- A and B have been entered as opposites.; Not because I completely support or oppose either, but because these issues require more thought and explanation than can be addressed in a one line question and yes or no answer. Opioid addiction starts with a choice which turns into a major health issue.

Social

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

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

3. Do you support greater efforts by Pennsylvania state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Any legal resident should be protected from discrimination. I do not care about your skin color, national origin, religion or social status.

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.
- Economics - Make Pennsylvania a business friendly State. We have made some progress, but more needs to be done. Education - rework systems to control costs, provide appropriate education for current job market. Encourage career paths outside of college graduations. Many of the most successful people I know, do not have a college degree, or did not have a college degree when they made their mark in the economy.