Pennsylvania 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
- With health coverage for all, there should be fewer pregnancies resulting from "accidents" resulting from lack of coverage or education. People need to know that they have the right to make decisions affecting their bodies, their lives and their futures, along with their physicians recommendations. Abortion, if elected, should be safe and infrequent. Pregnancies should be healthy, supported and also safe.

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
- Individuals who benefit the most should contribute more to the state. Too many wealthy people do not worry about Medicaid benefits being cut, or many of the other social services that are being targeted because they do not need them or use them! Wealthy corporations should fund social services when more than 5% of their employee base make less than a livable wage, which is approximately $25,000, after taxes, in many areas of PA. This allows employees to be able to begin to move off of the social services, to increase their own feelings of worth, dignity and social standing.

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. Do you support allowing early voting in Pennsylvania?
- Yes

6. Do you support reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- The concern about reducing the size of the General Assembly is that of representation. This is part of the concern for gerrymandering!! Representation for all in a manner that is impartial, but allows for representation of the constituency, is part of our Constitution. Parts of PA are very rural, with very low population; there needs to be representation for those parts of our Commonwealth insured.

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. Should school safety meetings be made available to the public?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- As a former school board director, the "need to know" is that there is a plan, that it is being practiced, and that all precautions are being taken. The details of those meetings, the details of the plan need to be kept close to the vest to insure the safety of the students, faculty and staff. I want to know there is a plan, that safety is a priority, but not everyone needs to know the details. Local police, firefighters and other first responders need to be briefed in, but this is very sensitive information.

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?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Pennsylvania?
- Yes

7. Do you support increasing state funding for road repairs?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- Fuel taxes, which are supposed to be for bridge and road maintenance, are being used to supplement the state police as more small communities disband their own police forces due to the cost. There needs to be an understanding that those state services must be paid for by the community, rather than redirecting the fuel taxes. Shared services is a great concept, but the costs must also be shared, without negatively affecting other state funding sources.

Education

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

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

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

4. Do you support providing virtual charter school alternatives to all K-12 students?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Many school districts are providing virtual charter schools within their own districts. This maintains accountability of taxpayer dollars, ensures competency on the part of the student, and provides the flexibility be sought by parents. This is very different from the "for profit" virtual charter schools that are popping up, with little to no accountability, lower standards and serve to drain local financial resources.

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
- We must have clean water, air and lower the pollutants we are exposing our population to on a daily basis. Recently W.VA was told that coal deaths would increase with the roll back of regulations and it was not considered a big deal because "government should not be telling us what to do". This attitude infers that there are no "downstream" issues, which is incredibly shortsighted. As China's pollution drifts on the jet stream to affect our west coast, environment and energy proves to be an international issue, but controllable at state levels.

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 would also add, in addition to a license for gun ownership, insurance on the gun owner. We need to have a mechanism in place that will add another layer of responsibility to gun ownership.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Pennsylvania'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. Other or expanded principles
- Universal health care is absolutely needed. We have the wealthy who will never have to worry about access, and then there are the rest of the population who are one health issue away from losing everything. It is obscene that a country that is as wealthy and technologically advanced to have for profit medical services and pharmaceuticals that literally determine life or death! The explosion in the cost of prescriptions is ridiculous and the public cannot continue to bear this cost, particularly since much of the new pharmaceutical development is funded, originally, by taxpayers!

Social

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Gender inequality in pay is a life long impact! If a woman starts out underpaid as a result of gender, all pay increases and retirement are affected! More women live in poverty, and the chances of women living in poverty after retirement is about 50%! As a result of family responsibilities, childcare leave, elder care leave - all of which are typically uncompensated and fall to women to accomplish - there are fewer funds earned by women to contribute to the retirement. Gender pay gap must be addressed legislatively because business and industry have proved they won't.

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 key for both current and future success for Pennsylvania. Addressing the funding inequality for education affects our students access to information, healthy buildings, technology, and opportunities. We must insure that our students are educationally prepared for their next step after graduation, whether it is ongoing training, entering the military or workforce and higher education. The second priority will be partnerships between industry, unions and educators to begin to create a vibrant, up to date apprenticeship programs to rebuild and enhance the infrastructure of Pennsylvania. Education, training and jobs are my platform for PA success!