Michigan 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
- As a strong libertarian I believe women own their bodies and must have full autonomy. I recognize that some limits may be appropriate, particularly late in pregnancy. As a practical matter abortion is impossible to eradicate, particularly in this age of the abortion pill, the internet and Fed Ex.

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
- Taxes are due for heavy reform. I support a carbon tax to support climate adaptation and would like to give local governments the option to shift to Land Value Taxation instead of traditional property tax. I am open to other tax reforms.

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
- Voting rights must be well protected. Those lacking traditional documents can be proactively identified by the government rather than scrubbed from voter roles. Active use of provisional ballots would help restore needed confidence in the system.Limits on campaign contributions should be generous. All groups participating in elections should have to disclose donors.

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
- Immigration enforcement by local police reduces their effectiveness when prosecuting more serious crimes against the broader immigrant community. Police would be placed in greater danger as well.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

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 Michigan?
- Yes

7. Do you support increasing state funding for improving Michigan's roads and bridges?
- Yes

8. Do you support eliminating Michigan's mandatory no-fault auto insurance?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- Most of these issues are begging for an "it depends" option. There is a lot of reform worth considering on all of these. We have a great need for infrastructure rebuilt for the climate changed world of today.

Education

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

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Schools have been tweaking the current common core into shape for nearly a decade now. Lansing needs to get the funding up and stop the endless meddling with the schools. Charters as public schools should be more transparent, take the same assessment tests etc. While it would be ideal if the Feds could pass immigration reform, time marches on. Encouraging immigrant education will at worst send a trained professional overseas with ties to one of our universities.

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. Do you support decommissioning the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, which carries oil from Canada to the U.S.?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Climate change is an emergency and a moral issue. We are running late for addressing it and there a good solutions at hand to make the needed changes in energy, agriculture and infrastructure. The state can mandate much faster conversions to green energy by of our major utilities, let the market help with the specifics. Drinking water plants need major upgrades to address PFOS and other contaminants.

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?
- No

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- I support universal background checks and Red Flag laws allowing a court to temporarily impound guns. I am a gun owner and hunter and would take the delicate process of making gun laws very seriously. Having armed teachers is generally unpopular with other teachers and adds another potential shooter for law enforcement to sort out in a school shooting situation.

Health

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

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

6. Do you support using state funds to provide public health services to citizens exposed to lead contamination in the Flint Water Crisis?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- I support medicaid for all beginning with a state level program if necessary. Answer C = lets buy it together with taxes. Vaccines need a PR boost and some modest legal pressure to get usage up.

Social

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

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

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

4. Should able-bodied "food stamps" (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- a and b are human rights issues. c would do a ton of good for society. d let folks look for good job while eating enough to be ready to take it

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.
- Adapt to climate change with a massive infrastructure rebuild and green energy - Carbon taxImplement universal single payer health care starting with Michigan if necessary - tax booze, weed, cigarettes, sugary foods, hourly wages etc. etc. open to so many ideas here. Open up government by making the legislature and governor subject to the Freedom of Information act. Require full disclosure of campaign donations including to PACs. Require reporting of all meals, trips and gifts. Costs very little but pays so well!