Virginia State Legislative Election 2017 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. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that abortion should be safe and legal, and that our focus should be on preventing unwanted pregnancies through education and access to birth control. I believe in providing the support needed to pregnant women so they never feel they have to get an abortion because of economic pressure.

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
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I am proud of Virginia's constitutional requirement to balance our state budget and have voted to make tough budget decisions. I strongly support putting money into Virginia's rainy day fund when the economy is doing well. This last year, the General Assembly made tough decisions to balance a significant budget short-fall. I voted for a bi-partisan budget that I felt was responsible, which included significant cuts, but also held the line on education and provided small raises for state employees.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

6. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- 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?
- No

1. Other or expanded principles
- I support a cap on all contributions. Non-partisan redistricting is extremely important. The current process results in non-competitive districts that contribute to polarization. Since Virginia has already passed a photo-ID requirement, my focus is now on ensuring that this is not expanded in a way that makes it more difficult to vote. For example, I voted against a proposal to require photo-ID for absentee voting since the election official wouldn't even be able to compare the picture to the person submitting the form. I also sponsored successful legislation to allow the use of private school photo IDs for voting.

Crime & Public Safety

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

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?
- No Answer

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

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

6. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- My views on capital punishment continue to evolve and are shifting toward removing that option. We must still, however, enforce existing law. Whether a minor should be prosecuted as an adult depends on the nature of the crime. I believe that state police can have a role cooperating with federal immigration authorities, especially where there is a criminal violation involved, but that enforcement of immigration laws should not be a state or local responsibility.

Economic

1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

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?
- No Answer

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

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?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- My support for any of these ways to promote economic growth depends on the specific proposal and a way to demonstrate that the measure is effective. Also, my support is limited to initiatives that help grow the economy, not unfairly create an unlevel playing field. I support reduced government regulation where it is outdated or where the costs outweigh the benefits. Unemployment benefits may be expanded under certain circumstances, but not necessarily universally. I prefer increasing the minimum wage at the federal level, but support a state increase in the absence of federal action.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support collaboration with other states, but not locking states into programs that don't maintain flexibility. Localities should be able to use their share of state funds for public charter schools -- but the approval process should be local. Private charter schools should not be eligible for public funding. I support Virginia's existing process to provide in-state tuition to eligible students.

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 funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

3. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- Virginia is one of the most vulnerable states with regard to sea level rise associated with climate change. Investing in clean energy not only will reduce carbon emissions but will result in new clean energy jobs for Virginians. I support workforce development efforts to ensure that areas of Virginia reliant on fossil fuel production can transition to this new economy.

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 citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- I would bring back the one hand-gun a month rule and would close the gun-show loophole for background checks. My focus is to prevent those who shouldn't have a gun (those with a history of mental illness and those with criminal records) from obtaining one. I oppose efforts to weaken Virginia's current concealed carry laws.

Health

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

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

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

4. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- I support accepting tax dollars already paid by Virginians to provide health care for up to 400,000 uninsured Virginians. I supported a very limited bill that allows a person to possess an oil made from marijuana that is shown to control epilepsy and other diseases. I believe there needs to be more public debate before considering the use of marijuana for broad medical purposes in Virginia.

Social

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

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

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- As a member of the General Laws Committee I have supported legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia's anti-discrimination laws and have voted against bathroom bills.

Legislative Priorities

1. 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.
- Investing in public education, building and diversifying our economy, and traffic congestion relief continue to be among my greatest priorities. As a member of the Education Innovation Subcommittee, I have been at the forefront of Standards of Learning testing reform and championing career and technical education. Finally, I will continue to champion initiatives on the environment, protecting people from identify theft, and non-partisan redistricting.

Virginia State Legislative Election 2019 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 that abortion should be safe and legal, and that our focus should be on preventing unwanted pregnancies through education and access to birth control. I believe in providing the support needed to pregnant women so they never feel they have to get an abortion because of economic pressure.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

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

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

3. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- I am proud of Virginia's constitutional requirement to balance our state budget and have voted to make tough budget decisions. I strongly support putting money into Virginia's rainy day fund when the economy is doing well in order to avoid drastic cuts in tough budget times. While we should avoid making piecemeal changes to our tax structure, I support ensuring that our overall income tax structure is updated and modernized. For example, I supported increasing the standard deduction this past year, which hadn't been touched since 2005.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support a limit 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. Do you support automatic voter registration?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- I support a cap on all contributions. Redistricting is extremely important and I support the proposed constitutional amendment to create a Virginia Redistricting Commission. Since Virginia has already passed a photo-ID requirement, my focus is on ensuring that this is not expanded in a way that makes it more difficult to vote. My concern about automatic voter registration is that it requires the government to make a presumption about a citizen's intent or qualifications to vote. I support making it easier to register, but still requiring an individual to affirmatively opt in.

Crime & Public Safety

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

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

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

4. Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
- No

5. Do you support banning the use of cell phones and other handheld communication devices while driving?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- My views on capital punishment continue to evolve and are shifting toward removing that option. We must still, however, enforce existing law. Whether a minor should be prosecuted as an adult depends on the nature of the crime. It is not the role of state/local police to enforce federal laws, but that does not mean state/local law enforcement shouldn't cooperate when a public safety issue is at hand, such as in cases of violent crime. I support making possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil penalty rather than a criminal offense. I strongly support hands-free for cell phones.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No Answer

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

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 Virginia?
- Yes

7. Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- My support for any of these ways to promote economic growth depends on the specific proposal and a way to demonstrate that the measure is effective. Also, my support is limited to initiatives that help grow the economy, not unfairly create an unlevel playing field. I support reduced government regulation where it is outdated or where the costs outweigh the benefits. It is important to structure paid family leave in a manner that spreads the costs and risks among businesses so that small businesses are protected.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support collaboration with other states, but not locking states into programs that don't maintain flexibility. Localities should be able to use their share of state funds for public charter schools -- but the approval process should be local. Private charter schools should not be eligible for public funding. I support Virginia's existing process to provide in-state tuition to eligible students.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support 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
- Virginia is one of the most vulnerable states with regard to sea level rise associated with climate change. Investing in clean energy not only will reduce carbon emissions but will result in new clean energy jobs for Virginians. I support workforce development efforts to ensure that areas of Virginia reliant on fossil fuel production can transition to this new economy.

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 Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- I support legislation designed to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them and to remove guns from volatile or dangerous situations. My priorities include: universal background checks; extreme risk protective orders ('red flag' laws) provided that there are strong due-process protections; reinstating Virginia's one-handgun-a-month law; and, child access prevention measures. We must also remember that gun violence plagues many of our communities on a daily basis. It is our moral responsibility to ensure that all people can live free of fear from violence.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Virginia'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 Answer

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- I voted with the majority of the General Assembly to accept federal tax dollars to expand Medicaid in Virginia. I have mixed feelings with regard to death with dignity proposals, but am doing my best to listen to the concerns and arguments on both sides before making a decision.

Social

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- As a member of the General Laws Committee I have supported legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia's anti-discrimination laws.

Legislative Priorities

1. In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, any additional priorities of your campaign that have not been covered in these questions.
- No Answer

2. In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top legislative priority and how you plan to fund it.
- Investing in public education, diversifying our economy, making health care more affordable, and traffic congestion relief continue to be among my greatest priorities. Regarding education, I support continued reform of our Standards of Learning to ensure that students are assessed on their ability to critically apply knowledge rather than to simply memorize facts and figures. Regarding transportation, I was proud to support the 2013 bipartisan funding package that is now pumping billions into regional priorities. Finally, I support adoption of a reinsurance program to stabilize ACA marketplaces. This approach has been successful in several other states.