Texas 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 believe in education and birth control options. Texas should not be funding clinics which do not follow federal guidelines.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Do you support the creation of a state income tax in Texas?
- No

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. Other or expanded principles
- Texas should take the Medicaid expansion. We can close loopholes which allow corporations to avoid paying their share of taxes and shift the tax burden onto individuals.We should encourage the growth of unions which protect workers rights.

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?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- We need to do everything possible to make voting easier.

Crime & Public Safety

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

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

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- I would support the complete overhaul of our criminal justice system, including the closing of private prisons. We need to change the way we deal with non-violent offenders, and small amounts of marijuana for personal use should not be cause for arrest or prosecution. The wholesale incarceration of immigrants indefinitely is not acceptable. I believe medical marijuana should be legalized.

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 Texas?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- The state should be investing in promoting the growth of small businesses which support local communities and don't ship jobs overseas.They should also be investing in future sources of water for our growing populaion.

Education

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

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

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

4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- One of our biggest problems in Texas is that the current administration has been stripping funding for public education out of the state budget and mandating that local tax districts make up the shortage. This increases local property taxes. Taking money for vouchers for private schools is cutting into the funding for public education. Public schools are important. If you lose your school, you community dies. They are not honoring our obligation to fully fund teacher retirement and healthcare. Teachers deserve better treatment.

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. Other or expanded principles
- We should be investing in acquiring new technological research in our universities and colleges such as medical stem cell and robotics research, converting to green energy in our towns an cities,and finding ways to help house our homeless and provide better medical care to our citizens.

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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Mass shootings are a real problem. Bump stocks and assault style weapons and ammunition should be banned.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Texas'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?
- No

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

6. Do you support increasing funding for state medical facilities and hospitals in rural areas?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Too many people in Texas are dying because they are not able to access adequate healthcare or pay for medications. I support Medicare for all. Healthcare is a human right.

Social

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

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

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

4. Should individuals be required to use a bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate?
- No

5. Do you support the removal of Confederate statues from public spaces?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- We have to respect other people.

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.
- The State of Texas needs to accept the Medicaid expansion. It is our own money which the federal government is willing to return to us. It would insure another 1.1 million Texans. Not taking it is costing us 100 billion dollars over 10 years. Medicaid recipients are not lazy drug addicts, 70% are patients in nursing homes, and 50% are babies. Medicaid also provides funds for therapists and school nurses for children with disabilities. We are paying when they show up in emergency rooms anyway but the outcome is not as good as prventive care.