New York 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
- No Answer

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 for a complete audit of state operations and our budget to identify cost savings in all departments and agencies. Identify fraud and abuse in any program to recover additional revenue. I am also for property tax reform, making property tax cap permanent for state and local governments at 2%, making unfunded mandates illegal, utilizing gambling and lottery money strictly for education.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- No

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

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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

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

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?
- Yes

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

5. Do you support replacing the cash bail system with a supervised release system for misdemeanor charges?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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?
- 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 New York ?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- Because taxes in NY are some of the highest in the nation, we currently need incentives to locate new business to NY and increase economic development activity and job growth. However, our number ONE goal should be to reduce taxes and the cost of living for all New Yorkers. This will greatly enhance economic vitality and activity in this state.

Education

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

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

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

4. Should students' standardized test scores be used to evaluate teacher performance?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Against Common Core curriculum. While we should have minimum standards on the federal level, standards and programs should be left to the local school districts, teachers, and parents, which would help thrive our school programs in these individual districts. Teachers should be given the ability to teach what they believe is an effective manner to help our students reach their greatest potential.

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?
- No

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- New York State should use a hybrid approach utilizing all forms of energy creation.

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?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I am an opponent of the SAFE Act in NYS and am a co-sponsor of multiple bills to repeal it. I am a strong supporter of second amendment rights to all law-abiding citizens. Gun safety and education programs should be expanded state-wide. Reciprocation laws need to be enacted on the state level to recognize licenses from other states.

Health

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

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

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- We need to reduce the over 60 regulations on the health care industry in NY which is driving up premiums and making health insurance costly. This will also increase competition in the market which will help to drive down costs on the consumer and create more options for them as well.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New York 's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

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

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

4. Should New York permit localities to adopt "Sanctuary City" immigration policies?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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.
- 1. Passage of the Public Officers Accountability Act (Ethics Reform Package)2. Comprehensive Property Tax Reform focusing on the way we fund our local school districts3. Increased Infrastructure funding to repair roadways and upgrade water and sewer systems