Maryland 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
- No Answer

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
- No Answer

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
- 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?
- 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 Maryland?
- Yes

7. Do you support legalized state-sponsored sports betting in Maryland?
- No Answer

8. Do you support increasing state regulatory oversight of ride-sharing drivers (e.g. Uber, Lyft)?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Re: Federal Education Standards, there are far too many standardized tests, and as long as the Federal Government requires those tests we should consider passing on their money and allowing Maryland teachers to teach to the students, not to the tests. I have never met a teacher that thinks it's a good idea to have these tests. We should move to a portfolio system for evaluation of students, and bring more active trade workers into schools to help prepare those students who will not be going to college for a fulfilling career.

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?
- No Answer

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 don't support any regulation "generally". We need more education around gun ownership, especially with those that have children in their homes. Far too many guns are able to get into the hands of children and these are a very preventable tragedy. And if we want to do something about gun violence we need to have better mental health care and initiatives and legalize cannabis, as most of the gun violence is suicide and violence around drug dealer territories (similar to the mob violence around prohibition).

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Maryland'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. Other or expanded principles
- Requiring individuals to purchase health insurance from private companies is wrong. There should be a public option. Ideally we go to some kind of Medicare for All plan which would save us all money. As for euthanasia, I have been watching my father die for three years since his massive hemorrhagic stroke. In his more lucid moments he has asked me to kill him. It is heartbreaking that we are torturing him by keeping him alive, while his quality of life is nil. It's not an easy decision, but we treat animals better than humans with end of life care.

Social

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

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

3. Do you support greater efforts by Maryland 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.
- 1) Increased mental and behavioral healthcare (and maintaining parity). Treating addiction as a disease and not as a criminal justice issue. Increased access to health professionals on the Eastern Shore. It is far cheaper to preventatively treat behavioral health issues than to jail or hospitalize individuals after a crisis. Environmental protections to preserve the Eastern Shore. We have more to protect here then we have resources for Maryland needs to step up to protect the Eastern Shore. Universal Service of Broadband. This can be done with a public/private partnership with a provider getting a long term franchise.