Missouri Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Other or expanded principles
- Birth control should be freely accessible to all women regardless of where they work or live. By including comprehensive sex education in our schools and access to reproductive care and contraception in our healthcare system, we can dramatically reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and therefore prevent and reduce abortions. I trust women and respect the choice to seek safe and legal abortion. Equality must include equal access to contraception, equal access to reproductive healthcare, and equal choice over when, how, and if someone chooses to start a family.

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- I support reexamining our defense priorities and utilizing aggressive oversight for our defense contracts and expenditures to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately and not on wasteful projects that are not needed or not effective. We can balance the budget and more properly allocate our spending for urgent domestic needs, such as Medicare for All.

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- Money in politics is a huge problem, as politicians are more concerned with raising money than with listening to people at home. I support the Clean Missouri Initiative to increase integrity, transparency, and accountability in government; and is also committed to the reforms called for by Candidates with a Contract. We must end corruption, overturn Citizens United, and end partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression for our democracy to reach its highest ideals.

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- I would reframe the problem and say that the rate should be RAISED in order to promote economic growth. If corporate taxes were currently too high or proven to inhibit economic growth, we should consider a proposal to fine tune it...but it is painfully obvious to me and to many economists that our corporate rate is too low. In the wake of the partisan GOP tax plan passed in 2017, the corporate rate is now so low that the American people do not benefit at all--only massive corporations benefit. We need an economy that works for people, not just corporations.

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- I support federal education standards as a floor, but states should retain some flexibility to decide how to assess the success of educating in those states. Federal education standards would likely lead to punishment for states that do not meet standards set at a central level.

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- Climate change is real, and we are already feeling its deadly effects. We must work aggressively and decisively to confront corporate influence, pass strong, smart legislation, and create a sustainable society. Investing in renewable energy sources is a great strategy for progress. There is bipartisan support, the projects will create well-paying jobs, and adoption of renewables decreases demand for dirty fossil fuels. Solar and wind already produce electricity at similar costs to coal: the government could absolutely do more to accelerate the transition.

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- We must improve background checks and pass Red Flag legislation that would keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. We must also eliminate the boyfriend loophole, which allows individuals convicted of stalking or domestic abuse to legally obtain guns if they weren?t living with the person they abused.I fully support Moms Demand Action and their work to end gun violence. Dangerous automatic weapons have no place on our streets or in our schools. Congress must act to pass universal background checks, Red Flag legislation that disarms would-be killers, and a ban on military-style assault weapons.

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- It is unacceptable that 29 million Americans are living without health insurance. Medicare for All will lower premiums and expand coverage to every American, regardless of income or pre-existing conditions. With Medicare for All, families will never have to pay inflated premiums because of a pre-existing condition, or battle with their insurance company over huge, unexpected bills in the mail.I will fight for Medicare for All. It's the best way to improve coverage for those with insurance and expand coverage to the millions are currently uninsured.

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- Despite constant misinformation that immigrants are a drag on public resources, the fact is that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants, and immigrants are more likely to start businesses, and less likely to commit crimes, than their non-immigrant neighbors.The hatred and scapegoating must stop. I will stand up for people working to build a better life in the U.S. By working with both parties on a permanent fix for Dreamers, legislation that keeps families together, and comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.

Marijuana

1. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- It's time to federally decriminalize marijuana. States should be allowed to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol. The legalization of recreational marijuana could reduce harm to young people, create jobs, ensure economic security, and save money for law enforcement agencies.

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- I believe we need to wind down the endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It won't be easy, and it can be gradual, but it absolutely has to happen.

Administrative Priorities

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.
- Healthcare--I believe in universal healthcare, and that means Medicare for All. I support this unabashedly and am ready and willing to fight for this ideal in Congress. Economic inequality--I believe in strong unions, raising the minimum wage and adjusting for inflation, and strengthening access to the common good: transportation and childcare, but also healthcare and quality education. Gun violence prevention--our current representation lacks courage to tackle the issue of gun violence and mass shootings. We must protect our schools and communities and make sure gun ownership is responsible and safe, all of which is consistent with the 2nd Amendment.