South Dakota State Legislative Election 1996 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

6. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- No Answer

7. Implement a judicial bypass provision to the parental notification law for minors.
- No Answer

8. Should South Dakota government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
- No

Affirmative Action

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action in South Dakota.

1. The South Dakota government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
- X

2. The South Dakota government should provide no affirmative action programs.
- X

3. Prohibit price discrimination based on gender.
- No Answer

4. Do you believe that the South Dakota government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No

5. Do you believe that sexual orientation should be added to South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

Children & Families

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding children & family issues in South Dakota.

1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- X

2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- No Answer

3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X

Crime

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in South Dakota.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X

2. Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
- X

3. Support "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences with no chance of parole.
- X

4. Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
- No Answer

5. Oppose the death penalty.
- X

6. Implement penalties other than incarceration (e.g. home detention) for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

7. Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
- No Answer

8. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X

9. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- No Answer

10. Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
- No Answer

11. Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
- X

12. Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
- X

13. Support laws requiring restitution to victims of violent crime at the personal expense of the criminal.
- X

14. Eliminate early release option for prison inmates who accumulate good time.
- X

Crime (Juvenile)

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in South Dakota.

1. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- X

2. Provide state funding for military-style "boot camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
- X

3. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

4. Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- No Answer

5. Make the availability of juvenile criminal records the same as those of adult offenders.
- X

Economic Development

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning South Dakota's economic development.

1. Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways, and airports.
- X

2. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
- X

3. Expand legalized gambling (e.g. casino gambling, slot machines, video gambling).
- No Answer

4. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
- X

5. Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.
- X

6. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer

7. Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
- X

8. Increase the minimum wage in South Dakota.
- No Answer

9. Target rural areas with low interest loans for start-up businesses.
- X

10. Support the development of large hog-confinement operations in South Dakota.
- No Answer

Education

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding South Dakota's education system.

1. Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
- No Answer

2. Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

3. Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
- X

4. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
- No Answer

5. Implement charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer

6. Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
- X

7. Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
- X

8. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X

9. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer

10. Increase state funding of vocational education.
- X

11. Require parents of students who are truant from school to perform community service or pay civil fines.
- X

12. Fund public school education in South Dakota by increases in state taxes rather than by using local property taxes.
- No Answer

Environment

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning South Dakota's environment and natural resources.

1. Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout South Dakota.
- No Answer

2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- X

3. Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- X

4. Require the state to reimburse citizens when state- sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
- No Answer

5. Provide funding for recycling programs in South Dakota.
- No Answer

6. Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer

7. Suspend South Dakota's participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer

8. Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
- No Answer

9. Support the creation of a Natural Resources Commission to regulate environmental laws.
- No Answer

10. Support stronger rules and laws regulating waste management at large hog-confinement operations in South Dakota.
- No Answer

Government Reform

Do you support the current laws which limit terms of the following South Dakota officials?

1. State Senators and Representatives (8 years)
- Yes

2. Governors (two 4-year terms)
- Yes

3. Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes

7. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

8. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No

9. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- No

10. Do you support the creation of a unicameral legislature in South Dakota?
- No

Gun

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer

2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer

3. Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
- No Answer

4. Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of firearms.
- X

5. Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
- X

6. Continue to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.
- X

Health Care

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning South Dakota's health care system.

1. Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
- X

2. Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
- X

3. Ensure that South Dakota citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
- No Answer

4. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- X

5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

6. Support legislation which allows citizens and small employers to pool their health insurance purchasing power.
- X

7. Support legislation which assures South Dakota workers will have portable health insurance if they lose their jobs.
- X

8. Provide state assistance to seniors and the disabled for home and community-based health care.
- No Answer

9. Create incentives that increase the supply and retention of health professionals in rural areas.
- X

State Budget

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one option only.

1. Abortion
- Eliminate

2. Affirmative Action
- Eliminate

3. Agriculture
- Maintain Status

4. AIDS Programs
- Maintain Status

5. Education
- Slightly Increase

6. Environment
- Maintain Status

7. Health care
- Maintain Status

8. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase

9. Welfare
- Greatly Decrease

State Taxes

Please indicate the changes you support (if any) concerning South Dakota's tax levels. Select one option only.

1. Alcohol Taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Business Taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Capital gains taxes
- Eliminate

4. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

6. State Fees
- Maintain Status

7. Do you support the institution of a state income tax in South Dakota?
- No

8. Do you support a flat tax structure for a state income tax, should one be enacted?
- Undecided

State-Tribal Relations

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding South Dakota's relations with Native American residents in the state.

1. Encourage legislation which would give the state of South Dakota more power in dealing with Native American tribal governments.
- X

2. Support the current sovereign status which tribal governments in South Dakota have over their members and their lands.
- No Answer

3. Do you support allowing Native American tribes in South Dakota to operate gambling facilities on their land?
- No

Welfare

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding South Dakota's welfare system.

1. Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
- X

2. Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
- X

3. Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
- X

4. Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
- X

5. Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
- X

6. Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
- No Answer

7. Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
- X

8. Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
- X

Legislative Priorities

Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the South Dakota State Legislature. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.
- I will continue to work on removing state laws that interfere with our ability to fight juvenile crime. I will propose ways to reduce welfare. Both of the will reduce taxes, not raise them, so revenue sources isn't an issue.