Minnesota 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
- 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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Our tax code needs to be adjusted in Minnesota to better reflect our values. The wealthiest Minnesotans who have recently been the beneficiaries of tax cuts need to pay their fair share. I support a fairer tax code that places less of a burden on working families and the poor.

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
- I do not support any measures that make it harder for voters to cast their ballots.

Crime & Public Safety

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
- State and local police don't want to be enforcing federal immigration laws. They want to have the opportunity to build deep and meaningful relationships with immigrant communities, and that's impossible if those communities are afraid of police. By not forcing local police to enforce draconian federal immigration laws that need to be updated by Congress, we give them more tools to build better community relations.

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 Minnesota?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- We all do better when we all do better. I support an economic systems that lifts everyone and penalizes no one. If someone works a full week's work they should get a full week's pay, and that means every employer who wants to hire someone needs to be able to pay them enough money to live in our community. No one who works full-time should be homeless, without access to medical care, or starving.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- If someone grew up in Minnesota, was educated in Minnesota public schools, and is a Minnesotan for all intents and purposes, we should not give up on that person. All Minnesotans deserve access to a higher education should they choose that path.

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
- No Answer

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
- No Answer

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Minnesota'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 Answer

6. Do you support requiring assisted-living facilities to be licensed by the state?
- Yes

7. Do you support a state tax on all prescription opioids?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

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

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

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

4. Do you support increasing penalties on protesters who obstruct traffic, freeways, or access to airports?
- 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.
- Healthcare reform, full funding public education, and promoting civil discourse in state governance. We pay too much for healthcare and our health outcomes are poor relative to what we spend. The healthcare system is in desperate need of reform. As a medical doctor in our community I see this every single day. I'm sick of seeing my patients suffer because they can't afford their medicines or access to healthcare. That's why I'm running for office.