Kansas 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
- I would support adding a fourth top income tax bracket. I also support exploring Internet sales taxation, taxation of sports gambling, and legalization and taxation of marijuana. I support reduction of the sales tax on food by using these sources and/or taxation of some services.

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 think Kansas campaign laws are currently satisfactory except regarding "dark money" expenditures.

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
- Although I answered "no" to question c), I think that there may be very limited circumstances where adult prosecution would be appropriate for older minors with a history of violent acts.

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?
- 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 Kansas?
- Yes

7. Do you support setting a maximum interest rate lenders are permitted to charge on payday loans?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- State regulation is necessary in a free market system to ensure a fair playing field for the good guys as opposed to the people who would otherwise pollute the environment, mistreat workers, or damagee the public interest. I think regulations should all be designed to the least restrictive possible to achieve the public good, and should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are necessary and not unreasonably burdensome.

Education

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

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Kansas 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

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
- With regard to "state funding" for the development of renewable energy, i interpret that to mean tax incentives for installing renewable energy capacity.

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
- I support the Second Amendment as interpreted by the US Supreme Court, not as interpreted by the NRA. I think that a number of common-sense measures could be taken to limit gun violence without violating anybody's Second Amendment rights.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Kansas's health care programs?
- Yes

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?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Should able-bodied Medicaid recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- It is my understanding that use of meth is still a much bigger public health issue than opioid abuse. I support a single-payer health system, but in the absence if that I do support the ACA, including the requirement to purchase insurance. Most people in Kansas who qualify for Medicaid are already working and it is my understanding that the great majority of those who aren't are suffering with health issues that would make employment difficult or impossible.

Social

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

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

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

4. 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.
- My top three priorities in the legislature next year are adequate funding for public schools, Medicaid expansion, and making our tax system more fair. I would raise any additional revenue by adding a fourth top income tax bracket and/or taxing Internet sales and sports gambling.