Texas Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

2. Other or expanded principles
- As a Roman Catholic, I am a strong supporter of the pro-life movement, as I'm convinced that life begins at conception.

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- Having spent my life defending my country both domestically and overseas, I have observed the functions of government closely. Taxes should not be raised on any taxpayer, regardless of income, when we continue to have so much waste in government. We need a civilian audit of the GSA, to include the military-industrial complex. Our servicemen must continue to have the best equipment, but Congress needs to be more accountable with regards to military contracts. Congress can balance the budget by having the courage to make difficult choices, including tackling endemic government waste, and truly addressing the issue of entitlements.

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- The 115th Congress had a 95% incumbency re-election rate. Incumbent career politicians take full advantage of access to lobbyists with foreign interests and other resources. Staff members whose only job is to fund-raise help build a re-election war chest in the millions. Any potential opposition back home has no real hope of competing. This obsession with fund-raising and re-election stymies any urge to act with conviction. Any effort to limit the amount of money in the political process is a positive move, and certainly union members should not have their dues used to support causes they personally oppose.

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- During my lifetime, the federal government has greatly increased its involvement in the Public School System. During that same time, standards have plummeted, violence is increasing, and parents no longer have faith that the system is providing an adequate education for their children. I believe the Founding Fathers intended for the individual states to have the authority to make decisive decisions regarding curriculum, testing/standards, and educator qualification.

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- Once renewable energy can be harnessed in a cost-effective manner, we will see an end to fossil-fuel use. Currently, it continues to be cheaper to utilize fossil fuels. I believe that technology will resolve this issue in my lifetime, as various examples of renewable energy are becoming more affordable.

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- I am strong supporter of enforcing the laws that are already on the books. I do not believe that increased gun-control legislation will have any impact on persons who are intent on violence. In fact, increased gun-control legislation will increase the size and impact of the Black Market.

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- Yes

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- United States citizenship should not be an option for any adult who broke the law and chose to enter this country illegally. The most appropriate answer to the issue of undocumented persons who have lived in the United States for ten years or more, is to provide the opportunity to adjust to Legal Permanent Residency. This will provide the individual with legal status, without also granting the right to vote. We must de-politicize this issue, and we must be careful not to reward persons for breaking our law, while others who followed the rules continue to wait their turn.

Marijuana

1. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- Research continues to indicate the existence of a link between marijuana use and psychosis, while most people who have had any exposure to regular marijuana use are already aware of its negative impact on ambition and education. Authorities should address all concerns, especially those issues raised by the medical community, before any additional steps are taken to legalize recreational-use marijuana.

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- Yes

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- If our national security is being threatened, I support whatever level of military intervention is necessary. The decision to send young men and women into combat, especially on foreign soil, must always be regarded as a last resort. The idea that we should unequivocally decide to never intervene militarily beyond the use of air support, in any theater, is not in our best interest. In addition, strategic considerations of this seriousness should never be disseminated publicly.

Administrative Priorities

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.
- The 115th Congress has a 95% incumbency re-election rate, and a less-than 20% approval rating. The people no longer have faith in the institution, and with good reason. We need to encourage participation in the political process by all Americans, and the time has come for a Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits. We need a Congress that forbids interaction between its members and foreign lobbyists, and has the courage to pass a balanced budget. The Republican majority Congress should retake control of the Bully-Pulpit, and provide the Border Patrol with the authority and tools to do its job.