South Dakota 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
- I do not support the prohibition of funds going to organizations such as planned parenthood, however I do not support such funds being used for the purpose of receiving an abortion.

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
- I do not support the the tobacco tax increase for the purpose of technical education funding because it is not a steady source of income. IM 25 is not written in way that guarantees the funds will be used for technical education. We owe it to technical institutions to find a consistent funding mechanism that is guaranteed and consistent.

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 South Dakota transitioning to an open primary election system?
- Yes

6. Do you support prohibiting out-of-state contributions to state ballot initiative committees?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that corporations and unions should have the right to donate to campaigns, but regulations should be in place (as they are) for how much they can give. I do not support prohibiting out-of-state money through IM 24. I believe that IM 24 it is unconstitutional and may cause a costly court challenge for the state.

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
- Although I do not support the legalization of marijuana at this time, I believe that the state should look into the positive and negative affects of legalization. If there are more positives than negatives I would consider a vote for full legalization. I believe that marijuana should, at a minimum, be decriminalized. Our jails are full of people who have issues with addiction and would be better served in a treatment facility.

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 South Dakota?
- Yes

7. Do you support legalized state-sponsored sports betting in South Dakota?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- I believe in a $15/hr. minimum wage. I would introduce a piece of legislation calling for a $15/hr. minimum wage by 2025 that also indexed annually by the CPI as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in South Dakota?
- Yes

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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

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?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through South Dakota'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
- No Answer

Social

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Women make $0.78 on $1.00 compared to their male counterparts. One of my campaign issues is closing the pay gap for women.

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.
- Some of my top priorities include closing the pay gap for women. I suggest that the legislature conduct a study as to why women get payed just 78 cents on the dollar to their male counterparts. I believe that the minimum wage should be increased to $15/hr. by 2025, because people who work a full time job should be allowed to survive off their own wage. People want a leg up not a hand out! I will fight for working people and families and keep them in high regard when making decisions in the legislature.