Vermont State Legislative Election 2018 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. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that the unborn should be protected because they can?t protect themselves.

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 Answer

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- We can increase revenue by encouraging businesses to come to Vermont and by not over regulating businesses in this state. We need to lower the cost of the education while trying to figure out how to pay for it.

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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- These are topics that are hard to answer with a simple yes or no. There is much more to say and think about when trying to answer each one, but it would take a while to articulate a more detailed response.

Crime & Public Safety

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

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

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?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

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 Vermont?
- No

7. Should Vermont breweries be permitted to terminate distribution agreements with beverage distributors for no cause?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- We have discussed many of these topics in the Legislature in the past few years and debate them on the House Floor. My votes on some of these issues can be found on the legislative web-site.

Education

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

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Vermont high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

4. Other or expanded principles
- I am not sure of my answer for c. My answer is maybe. This is a complicated question and hard to answer with a yes or no answer.

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 government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- We have plenty of regulations in Vermont about green house gas emissions, and I think we have done damage to our state with wind towers on our ridge lines. We have given millions of dollars allocated for clean drinking water initiatives and I would like to see how those tax dollars are being spent.

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 teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Our gun laws in Vermont are adequate and work. We need to address the reasons for gun violence in our culture and work on the root problems.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- No

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Vermont's health care programs?
- No

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?
- No

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- We need to encourage increased access to treatment for opioid abuse through the private sector and religious organizations. They often have higher success rates than government run facilities and it would save tax dollars as well.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Vermont's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Vermont's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

3. Do you support greater efforts by Vermont state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No Answer

4. Other or expanded principles
- We have already passed anti-discrimination laws in Vermont for sexual orientation and Vermont has passed a law to help close the pay gap between men and women. I believe that nobody should be discriminated against in America.

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.
- I want to continue to work for more recognition for our Veterans to honor them, and to truly help them with their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. The suicide rate is too high among our Veterans who are struggling. We have programs working now in Vermont but we need to increase our outreach and be more vocal about offering help. I also am concerned about education in Vermont and want to see more school choice being offered to students across the state. We should allow students to have access to schools that are the best fit for their needs