Michigan State Legislative Election 2014 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?
- 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?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

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?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- MY VIEW. I'm not a firm believer that life begins AT conception. I believe at the first second of conception, cells are dividing, forming, redividing, reforming etc. I'm not a medical expert and there are too many of those on both sides. I DO believe after a certain point, probably in the first trimester, that a human is formed and from that point on, it's a human life and should be protected. I would need expert, unbiased evidence of when it's a human life vs. cells forming. FUNDING: Hospitals perform abortions - doesn't mean they should lose ALL funding.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

State Spending:

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Greatly Increase

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Greatly Decrease

8. Other or expanded categories
- Most govt programs lose 25% of funding due to fraud/waste/abuse/favors and to special interest groups/organizations or simply just 'disappears' This has to STOP and be returned to the programs our tax dollars were meant for. THIS will pay for a larger increase in funding for education, infrastructure and some environmental issues. Welfare needs to be decreased by better oversight. The "professional poor" are siphoning a large portion of the welfare budget that could be used for those who truly need and have earned Michigan's support. Law enforcement cuts are a way of penalizing the public for not supporting budget increases.

State Taxes:

Using the key, indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Decrease

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Slightly Decrease

5. Property taxes
- Greatly Decrease

6. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

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

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

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

10. Other or expanded principles
- 2014 we had a $1 billion dollar surplus. Michigan residents were OVERTAXED by $1 billion dollars. Taxes aren't the issue; spending, graft, fraud, abuse and special interest groups and organizations are. (25% of funding is lost or disappears) Businesses need to pay fair and practical taxes, but they aren't banks for the State. The Middle Class is being nickelled and dimed with taxes; making daily life in Michigan a struggle. Gas taxes are expected to RISE this coming year to pay for roads and repairs. The need for tax increases doesn't exist. The need for true oversight does.

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Michigan's budget.

1. Tapping into Michigan's "rainy day" fund
- Yes

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

3. Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
- Yes

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
- Stop punishing the workers! They fulfilled their work commitments, they should expect to have the State or their PENSION HOLDERS fulfill their parts. Stop the fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer money. HONOR the commitments made to those who honored THEIR commitments. Why punish our students for OUR fiscal mistakes? These fiscal problems were caused by special organizations and our government representatives. THEY should be held responsible to fulfill the commitments made and be the FIRST to make sacrifices. NO individual or organization is to large to fail. Clean up the medicaid rolls / fraud.

8. Do you support providing financial assistance to Detroit's city pension system from the State of Michigan's "rainy day" fund?
- No

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

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

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Other or expanded principles
- PHOTO ID: Required for everything else of less importance. Political contributions have become an industry onto itself; looking for the greatest return on their investment. Usually that investment is for the donor's best interest and NOT Michigan's residents. If you limit special interest, groups, parties, lobbyists and political action groups, they'll just donate under "individual" with hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's why I agree to individual caps. IF legislation were to be passed prohibiting those who received "group" donations from voting on legislation concerning that group's special interest/project, the political donations purchasing our representatives would greatly decrease.

Crime & Public Safety

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

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 legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

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?
- Yes

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

7. Other or expanded principles
- PRISONS are overcrowded. An alternative, but effective punishment can be found. MARIJUANA: Misdemeanor with fine. MINOR/ADULT CRIME: Depends on age and maturity of the minor and crime committed. MINOR/PHOTO: Depends on material sent. Self images? Possibly. Lesser charge. Images sent to minor and then forwarded? Depends on material. Lesser charges. Community Service? Porn site images? Minor charges. Also depends on who the recipient is AND male and female violators receive EQUAL charges/punishments. If a person is in Michigan/U.S. illegally, they have broken the immigration laws and the laws should be enforced even if the Federal government won't or refuses to.

Economic

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

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?
- Yes

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

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

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

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

8. Other or expanded principles
- Government regulations for the private sector are required, however; they can be trimmed back. Funding/incentives for job creation/training will stimulate the economy. It should be done so that the revenue generated from new workers provides MORE revenue than State assistance. Unemployment benefits should decrease as the job market increases and vice versa. Foreclosure support should be based on past history of the homeowner. Someone with a very poor history of making payments should require extra evaluation. Minimum wage is NOT a living wage. It's meant as a starter wage until you gain more skills/experience and better employment opportunities.

Education

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

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

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

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?
- No

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

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

8. Other or expanded principles
- Common Core is depriving our children of quality education and will negatively effect them throughout their lives. With the institutionalization of Common Core, I am more STRONGLY supportive of vouchers for private/charter schools. Parents want the best possible education for their children and it isn't Common Core. Charter schools are private schools and should not receive State funding. Financial aid: Grants or very low interest loans. Illegal immigrants should NOT be attending Michigan schools. Michigan public schools are funded by Michigan tax payers and legal residents and for their use. In-state tuition is for LEGAL Michigan residents and their children.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- No

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 government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- Alternate energy sources can/will be developed by a competitive free market. Until a viable, effective, affordable, energy source is developed, we must continue utilizing the energy sources we have available. Michigan's energy infrastructure is mostly privately own and for profit. Funding should be limited to low interest loans. Consumers have paid decades for repair/maintenance. Who pocketed that money? Open space/natural environment areas are necessary. Carbon emissions are less than 10 percent of greenhouse gases. If you can curb the WORLD's output of water vapor (trees) and Sulfur Dioxide crystals (volcanoes), *top 2 causes* I would like to see that implemented.

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
- GUN CONTROL: Unfortunately, criminals don't abide by gun control regulations but they DO support stronger restrictions. I support some restrictions on gun purchases and possession. Some people just shouldn't have legal access to weapons of any sort, which is why I do support legally armed citizens and CCW's. Background checks on sales at gun shows: If it can be done by State-trained and authorized individuals AND protect the privacy of the citizens AND done quickly, I would strongly support it. Licenses should be held by the gun owners proving legal ownership/authorization, but with respect to the privacy/rights of the owner.

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?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act?
- No

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

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
- HEALTHCARE: I think everyone in the U.S. should have access to health care services - which they already do. Every American should have some kind of health insurance to buffer costs. NON U.S. residents should have private insurance OR the U.S. should be reimbursed by their home country. Health insurance is designed to provide the least amount of care for the most amount of money. THAT needs to be changed. Some free-market, out-of-state competition may help drive these costs down. Individuals shouldn't be forced to buy ANYTHING in this country, but should be held responsible for their choices. NO OBAMACARE!

Social

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

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Simple stated - Discrimination is discrimination, no matter what it is based upon. The only group that is legally allowed to discriminate for any reason is the govt and those entities it authorizes. Gay marriage/Civil Unions should be treated legally equal, the only difference is MARRIAGE is between a man and a woman. Two sides of the same coin. Same benefits, same detractors. Same rights. It's the difference between a High School Diploma and a G.E.D. The 'fight' is about subverting 1 word and not the actual issue. IDENTITY: Unlike Australia, we don't have "Male"/"Female" and "Other" classification for individuals.

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.
- ECONOMY: Increase job growth, decrease fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer's money, reduce the welfare state; ensuring those who have a valid need receive the funds they require. Decrease the number of "professional poor".TAXES: Reduce individual taxes for the working class. Trim unnecessary business taxes. Replace lost funds by reducing fraud, waste, abuse and "special projects/incentives" for special interest groups. Return this money back to the working class tax payers. Prison time for those abusing the public trust and funds.CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Attempt to limit/remove the financial hold special interest groups/lobbyist/organizations and others have on YOUR representatives and government.