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
- To stop abortion, a more effective solution would be to provide free or low-cost birth control to all. I do not support funding of abortion per se, however, I do support public funding for an organization that also provides needed low-cost helathcare, such as mammograms, exams, etc.

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- The budget is much-improved and currently does not need further enhancement. We must manage and monitor expenses during the budgeting process.

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
- While I favor a photo i.d. for voting, that government photo i.d. should be provided at no charge by the government if a passport, driver's license or similar is not possessed by a voter.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

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

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?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

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
- No Answer

Education

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

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

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
- Education is the strongest asset of Kansas and we should invest in it consistently to assure it remains as the highest quality. Education attracts business as it creates and fosters a family-friendly lifestyle, as reflected in survey after survey about best places to live.

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
- Guns are serious parts of society and should be treated as such. The answer to gun violence is not more guns, it is training, education, licensing and background checks.

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?
- 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?
- Yes

6. Should able-bodied Medicaid recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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.
- Education is my number one focus, followed by investment in infrastructure, then local control. Additional funding for education is available through a balanced tax plan and can be achieved today without additional taxation. Spending must be justified and reasonable at all agencies. The days of building a budget based on the prior year's spending has to end. We must also find a more equitable way to fund highways and roads as electric cars pay no fuel tax, thus pretty much getting a free ride.