New Jersey Gubernatorial Election 2017 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- No

4. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- In the case of a woman's life being endangered unless there is a reason the doctor cannot save both, I would suggest the family make the decision. These cases are extraordinarily rare and do not need the government being involved in the decision. Life should be protected and preserved at all costs.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No Answer

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No Answer

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- My personal goal would be to eliminate the State Income Tax entirely to help make NJ more affordable and competitive. When it comes to budget stabilization, I will support the great state employees and public servants, however, until I look at the budget and audit the executive office, I could not rule out reductions in pensions or salaries as well as layoffs. Some state positions are questionable and some NJ residents are currently able to double or triple dip on pensions. Most of those funds leave the state when these people retire, which is a huge loss for NJ.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Individual
- No

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

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

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

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

1. Other or expanded principles
- Individuals should be allowed to donate as much of their hard earned money as they see fit. If a billionaire wants to tie their name to enormous funds for a candidate, they should be allowed, and the people should be allowed to recognize who is financing the candidates campaign. Liberty and transparency is the best motto.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No Answer

6. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- I support the enforcement of Federal Immigration laws by state and local police if the Federal government asks our state to aid in the capture of criminal fugitives.

Economic

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

2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing 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?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- No Answer

7. Do you support legalized state-sponsored sports betting in New Jersey?
- Yes

8. Do you support a tax on short-term housing rentals in New Jersey?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- My plan for wages in NJ is to reverse the curse when it comes to our Business Climate. NJ is currently at the bottom. The people in greatest need of higher wages don't need a minimum wage increase, they need better opportunities with better wages and benefits. They need affordability. That will not occur until we fix the outrageous regulations on businesses. Thus, min wage increase, especially to $15/hr is not the best way to go. Instead we must work to create strong wage competition through the free market system.

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support the School Choice Initiative that would allow parents the right to choose where their tax dollars go when it comes to education. 100% of Government funds comes from tax payers.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No

3. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No Answer

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support the state research and development of technology for energy alternatives, but not as a monopoly. Government should ensure the pollution control is strict for public health purposes. However, that should not be expanded to infringe on the rights of individuals.

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?
- No

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Government has no Constitutional place in healthcare. The issue with Healthcare affordability is the regulations and government overreach. The more we can scale back those regulations the more affordable it will be for all. Affordability is the key to coverage!

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- No Answer

2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support the individuals rights to do as they please. I do not believe government should be involved in any of these issues including marriage.

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.
- The first priority is to restore accountability to government through an Independent Ethics Council that will promote transparency. In addition, to audit the Executive Branch and eliminate all waste, corruption and fraudulent spending, immediately shrinking our budget and cutting tax payer burden. Next I will look to make NJ more affordable by stimulating economic growth through elimination of specific taxes and fees. There is too much debt and not enough revenue. NJ cannot reverse the curse of our economic outlook without a solution. The solution must be eliminating taxes and enticing businesses to make their way back to NJ.