Karen Keiser
DTo be claimed
Co-Chair, Rules Committee, Washington State Senate, present
Former Ranking Minority Member, Commerce, Labor, and Sports Committee, Washington State Senate
Former Member, Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance Committee, Washington State Senate
Former Member, Health Care Committee, Washington State Senate
Former Member, Joint Committee on Aging and Disability, Washington State Senate
Vice Chair, Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Washington State Senate
Former Member, Legislative-Executive Workfirst Oversight Committee, Washington State Senate
Member, Health and Long Term Care Committee
Member, Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues
Member, Joint Select Committee on Health Care Oversight
Chair, Labor and Commerce Committee
Vice Chair, Rules Committee
Member, Ways and Means Committee
— Awards:
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
- No Answer
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
- Our state revenues are currently healthy and do not require any major reductions in funding for state employees or health care benefits of Medicaid recipients. We can balance out budget without large cuts.
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
- No Answer
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?
- No
4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No
5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
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 Washington?
- Yes
7. Other or expanded principles
- Spending on education and training is a good investment for future economic growth. Creating strong transportation and infrastructure is another good investment for economic growth.
1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Washington?
- No
2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No
3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Washington 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
- No Answer
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
- No Answer
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
- No Answer
1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes
2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Washington'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?
- No
6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Washington's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Washington's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
3. Do you support greater efforts by Washington state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
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.
- My focus in the legislature is to sponsor and support measures that will improve the economic security of working families. With wages stagnant, the increasing cost of health care, child care, retirement and transportation is creating economic and emotional stress on our hard-working families. Health care and education are key components of economic security, but fair wage and labor policies are needed too.
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
Type: bill Chamber: upper