Tennessee State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

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?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- "B & C' do in fact tie together here, so the answer would be further in-depth than a simple yes or no. Does this also take into account life threatening health issues for either mother or child? Do not believe abortions and taxpayer funds should be utilized for poor choices in responsibilities and or accountability for actions.

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. Other or expanded principles
- Big on responsibility and accountability. Everything can be better streamlined to produce efficiency and effectiveness. Programs need to be better managed to find the losses, instead of band aid fixes and continually asking for more money from the taxpayers.

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
- Money corrupts simply stated. Redistricting should be conducted by an independent organization WITH NO POLITICAL TIES. State issued ID should be mandatory for Voting with no exceptions. Have to have to receive other state or federal benefits, so why not.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

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?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- The legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes still can't agree with at this time, tax revenue money is not everything in this matter. Have any studies been conducted within states that have legalized rec usage on vehicle crashes, deaths in car wrecks. Do we trust medical personal, airline pilots, ambulance driver, police, school bus driver etc... on this topic?

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

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?
- 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 Tennessee?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- With the positive must come negative, this is where we as a community and representatives must work together to resolve issues at hand. There is a balance in all that is done with government involvement with the private sector.

Education

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

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Tennessee high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Education must start at home. Parents must take an active role in their child's education and not expect the school system to educate every aspect of their lives. Education standards should set minimum course standards to pass across the board.

Environment & Energy

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

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Several of these initiatives should be commercially derived to promote industry growth.

Gun

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

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Gun rights are always very important and the sensible ownership as well. Personally have been taught through out life to respect guns as loaded at all times, no matter the situation. With this we have a society that for many have lost this respect and continue to disgrace the 2nd amendment right we currently have. Take the time to learn and teach this respect.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- No

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Tennessee's health care programs?
- No

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?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- Opioid abuse is a choice that an individual has made. Why should the taxpayer be put on the hook to pick up an expense? This goes for the Medicaid expansion and health insurance. We have lost respect for ourselves in regards to our health. Society has chosen to accept and pay for other's indiscretions with little to no problems.

Social

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

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

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

4. Should Tennessee permit localities to adopt "Sanctuary City" immigration policies?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Only because of federal laws mandating it. Immigration reform needs a bigger play to resolve. If the states can forego federal laws with drugs, then why not on immigration policies? Start with reasons for coming and start shutting those areas down. Enforce E-Verify programs, larger fines on organizations that hire illegally.

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) Work with our city, county, and state on the infrastructure issues (roads, sidewalks) currently at hand. Work with local community and companies throughout state on potential incentive programs to resolve funding concerns.2) Education as a whole. We are a strong community with wonderful people. With both city and rural we need to review past legislation that is deferred or dismissed on our broadband initiatives. We can work with our broadband companies through incentives to assist in spreading region wide.