Ohio 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
- No Answer

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
- No Answer

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. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding Question C, the answer could be either yes or no, depending upon the age and the nature of the crime and the circumstances around it. Question D: The federal government needs to reform our immigration system in a compassionate way that keeps families together and provides a path to citizenship, which will strengthen our economy. Any immigration laws need to be applied to all immigrants from all countries and all backgrounds, without discrimination or favor. Of course local agencies should enforce laws on books, but those laws need to value families, target criminals, and improve border security.

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?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

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 Ohio?
- Yes

7. Do you support matching the cost-of-living allowances to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS)?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- Question B: Responsible tax reductions targeted at the middle class and lower-income individuals are options I would favor. Question C: While many government regulations are important for promoting health and safety, some are cumbersome and negatively impact business growth while not achieving the goals set forth. I would advocate an objective look at regulations and after an analysis is performed by appropriate organizations, would favor responsible and reasonable reductions, so long as health and safety remain the top priority.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- A: Federal standards are ok, but states and local districts should be empowered to implement them in ways that work best for them. B: State funding for charter schools as currently established in Ohio is to the detriment of public schools. There is limited-to-no transparency for said state funding, and low academic standards for charters, and many charters are for-profit. I could support potential state funding models that do not impact public education. C: With appropriate limits and requirements, I could support. It's about education and not immigration. Again, the broken immigration system needs addressed.

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- A: As a gun owner and supporter of the 2nd Amendment, we should have common sense measures of control. Universal background checks, closing gun show loophole, and Red Flag laws can help keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn't have them. D: Training is important for responsible gun ownership, and would help prevent accidents. Requiring training could be seen as limiting Second Amendment freedoms and should be weighed carefully.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Ohio'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?
- No

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

6. Should able-bodied citizens Medicaid recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
- No

7. Do you support repealing the state mandated Medicaid expansion?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- C: I struggle with the notion of a requirement, as it's inherently a limit on individual liberty. But there's evidence that when more healthy people are insured, the costs are 'controlled' more effectively than when sicker people enroll later. I could support a mandate as it could help stabilize the marketplace and slow the growth of health care costs for employers (which continue to increase every year). Perhaps a more palatable mandate would not be penalty-driven, but incentive-driven. F: A majority already work; others are in school, are caretakers, or have other limitations. Cost to manage this could outweigh savings.

Social

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

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

3. Do you support greater efforts by Ohio 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.
- I want to fix the public school funding system and decrease the over reliance on property taxes. It should be fair and equitable for homeowners AND school districts. We also need to hold charter school operators accountable for the use of our tax dollars. I'll work to help foster a good business environment by investing in infrastructure, clean energy, public transit, schools, and apprenticeship programs. I'll work to improve safety in schools, support common sense safety measures to prevent gun violence, secure mental health and addiction resources, and bring our local tax dollars back home to maintain vital local services.