Massachusetts 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
- Bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right, and that includes the right to choose when, how, and if a person chooses to have a child. I believe abortion should not only be legal, it should also be safe, accessible, and affordable.

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
- I believe there needs to be an income tax increase for the wealthy. We need progressive taxation in which we are not hurting the poor and middle class.

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 candidates to use their campaign funds for childcare?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- Publicly-financed elections are key to ensuring the voices of the voter are heard. Instituting a system like democracy vouchers, in which voters are provided with vouchers through state government that can be donated to the candidate of their choice, could help end the harmful policies put in place by Citizens United.

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. Other or expanded principles
- I support the Safe Communities Act in Massachusetts. The US Constitution explicitly protects the states from being coerced into using their resources for federal law enforcement, and I will resist any such cooperation.

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?
- 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 Massachusetts?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- I believe Medicare For All will greatly reduce economic disparity. Also known as a Single Payer healthcare system, Medicare for All would create significant savings for workers, businesses and the state. It would provide guaranteed healthcare coverage through a publicly funded, privately administered system, eliminating expensive premiums, bills for non-covered services, and co-pays. Individuals could then budget more effectively for food, childcare, housing, transportation, and other necessities. It would also encourage new business, as owners would no longer have to pay exorbitant costs to purchase their own health insurance on the private market.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Education is essential for a thriving democracy and is a prime contributor to better health, lower violence, and overall life satisfaction. We have excellent schools in the Commonwealth, but they need dedicated financial backing to survive. Adequate Education funding is a top priority, and I will reverse the trend of neglect by the State House. I want to revamp Chapter 70 to alleviate financial disparities between districts. Additionally, I only support adopting federal education standards in Massachusetts if said standards exceed current Massachusetts requirements in promoting creative, nuanced, and equitable approaches to education.

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
- I will push for properly sited solar and off-shore wind, lifting the net metering cap, and creating microgrids to increase the number of jobs in clean energy. I will also work to establish Green Banks that will finance projects that create jobs while protecting both our environment and our children.

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
- We have an epidemic of gun violence in the US. Recently, Massachusetts passed the Red Flag Law with the help of many young activists in the state. This law is an excellent start, and we can not stop there. We need to continue to explore ways in which we can prevent gun violence in the state of Massachusetts.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Massachusetts's health care programs?
- Yes

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?
- Yes

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- Too many people in the Commonwealth have been impacted by our overly complex and expensive healthcare system. I believe Massachusetts must institute Medicare For All to ensure that everyone can get and stay healthy. Through Medicare For All, individuals would not need to purchase their insurance as individuals, and therefore I answered no on question c. Additionally, on question E: Vaccinations is one of the key reasons for the eradication of many diseases, and while religious freedom is incredibly important, we must keep Massachusetts parents well informed on the public health risks of not vaccinating their children.

Social

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support a yes vote on upcoming ballot Question 3. Almost two-thirds of Massachusetts transgender people report experiencing discrimination in public spaces in the past year, and 17 percent of transgender people were living in poverty in 2015, compared to 11.5 percent of the general population. I will lend my support to protecting the Transgender Accommodations Law as the State Representative in the First Hampshire District.

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.
- Fighting for Medicare for All to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare is my top priority. Medicare For All in Massachusetts would be paid for through an employee and employer taxation, totaling a 10% tax. I firmly support building an East-West rail between Springfield and Boston and expanding the North-South rail lines to create a Hartford-Springfield-Boston corridor, which would be paid for by local, regional ballot initiatives. We must also revamp Chapter 70 in Massachusetts so school districts are funded equitably, not simply according to the wealth of their residents.