Georgia 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
- a) A child is a child, no matter if legal or not. For any person, man or woman, having to make the arduous decision to end a pregnancy is excruciating. Women who choose to have abortions instead of using birth control, I must assume the child is better off not developing in such a careless and heartless body. b) If a child begins because a crime, I'm not the mother and won't judge. c) I remember women dying because of dirty coat hangers. Medical care should not be based on proximity to services, age or money.

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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- a,b) If our politicians make promises, they need to keep them! That includes payments to workers. Any loss of income for employees should be quadrupled to those making the decisions. In other words, if Johnny B, clerk, loses $100, the congressional leaders should be denied $400 of their income.c) Instead of reducing benefits, look at the long term practices of medicaid and trim antiquated choices of practicing medicine. There are better and newer, and less expensive ways to practice medicine. There are alternatives.d) We are at war. Look at the past war time tax increases and act accordingly.

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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- c) Any independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting will have bias. With that understanding, this would be better than I've seen from our Georgia politicians.d) Photo identification is one way of preventing fraud in our elections. In Georgia, any person can freely get photo ID. The issue, as I see it, is being able to have documentation to get the ID. Having libraries where research and information can be secured with assistance and having transportation to the Department of Motor Vehicles are the remaining issues. Besides voter photo ID, our ballots need to protected, whether paper or computer generated.

Crime & Public Safety

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

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?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- a) Capital punishment must be reserved solely for cases where evidence is irrefutable. Evidence should not be destroyed until all appeals are thoroughly and rigorously adjudicated. Every possibility should be examined.b) Recreational use of marijuana has many pros and cons. Legalizing marijuana would increase state money from taxing it; law enforcement would change from arresting for illegal use to arresting users for reckless behaviors or murder. c) States have different definitions for 'minor'. According to Georgia laws as I've observed, barring mental issues, I would support this.d) When laws are wrong, change them; law enforcement must be upheld.

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?
- 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 Georgia?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- a) Georgia has always been involved in economic growth.b) Lowering taxes is questionable. If it could be done without harming other state's needs, I would consider it.c) Regulations are there for a reason; clean water, soil, air and safety are crucial to Georgia. I'd have to be very certain the regulations were frivolous to deregulate. e) Welfare recipients may need medications which could skew the results.f) In Georgia, wages should meet basic needs and $4.25, or even $8 an hour, won't! We haven't had wage adjustments since 2008! It's 2018, Georgia citizens need COLA adjustments.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- a) Federal education standards are needed.b) Charter schools serve a purpose, but they shouldn't be for profit, nor favored over public schools, as they are now. Funding per child should be equal and provided monthly to school(s) serving that child. In any school, accountability for student and teacher development needs to revisited. Schools must be recognized for all good work especially student test scores. Reinstate $100 million dollars taken from Georgia schools and then appropriated for other state "needs", like lowering taxes! All Georgia education systems need to apply school employee pay raises.c) Set guidelines for graduation.

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
- a) Development of renewable energy provides new jobs, and a cleaner future. There are many choices; Georgia just needs to embrace the future! b) Regulating our pollution (whether air, soil or water) must be maintained and made known. Global warming affects our quality of life and economy. Tourism, hunting, fishing, wildlife and farming will be impacted if we continue on this dreadful path. c) It amazes me that some people think they can profit from polluting our underground water, rivers and lakes. Don't they worry from where THEIR next drink of water is coming or their food supply being tainted?

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
- a) Gun control in Georgia is misinterpreted. I don't plan on taking guns from responsible gun owners. We regulate phones and cars. Counseling and a practice course would help prior to gun permits being earned.c) There would be unforeseen consequences if teachers had guns in their classrooms. Teachers are smarter than that. I've spoken to some teachers who should never carry one; others seem to think it would be safe. If students know teachers can't have guns, that's dangerous. This could be a case of over legislation. Let local administrators decide.d) Other weapons require licenses; guns should too.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Georgia'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. Do you support increasing funding for state medical facilities and hospitals in rural areas?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- c) Only people who don't cook, drive, swim, walk or talk should not be required to purchase health care insurance. d) There would need to be counseling, social worker input, etc., but I do support a person's right to die with dignity. e) Religious beliefs are just that and they should be honored. When religious beliefs interfere with the law or our court system, that's where I draw the line. If the health of a child were in danger, DFACS should be involved. f) Health care shouldn't be determined by the proximity to services or the cost of it.

Social

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

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

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

4. Should faith-based organizations be permitted to deny services based on religious beliefs?
- No

5. Do you support the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- a,b )Concerning bathroom issues, schools have specific bathrooms for guests; students with gender issues could use those lockable single-use facilities. I have chased men out of women's bathrooms who weren't in need of them. Maybe rebuilding (or new) schools would help.d) I'm amazed any faith-based group would ever deny services for any reason. Remove tax exemption if denying services!e) I am concerned that, if all Confederate monuments are removed, history will be misinterpreted. There are some markers glorifying the South and those should be torn down. General Lee said monuments to the South should not have been erected.

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.
- I've been in Georgia's schools for 41 years. Student achievement and recognition have been tremendous. Charter schools have been a lie to the public for the most part which needs to change! Public schools, teachers and students are being discriminated against and that needs to stop! Differentiation is important in public schools.Clean air, soil and water need to be in our future. Fracking in Georgia mustn't even be considered! We have water, air and solar power to provide jobs, tourism, and other economic opportunities. Water and lumber industries, agriculture, and wildlife are being negatively impacted! Look forward Georgia!