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Chris Benton

D
Quick Facts
Personal Details

Political Experience

  • Candidate, Georgia State House of Representatives, District 131, 2018, 2020
Policy Positions

Georgia 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
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Georgia's budget.

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
- I support responsible taxation that allows us to invest in education, infrastructure, and healthcare while properly allocating the burden for public costs based on ability to pay. This would warrant lower taxes for the poor, the middle class, and small businesses, and raising taxes for the very wealthy and large corporations.

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
- Getting big money out of politics is vital to preserving our democracy.

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
- Outside of the benefits of medical and social use, legalizing cannabis would be a boon for farmers in our state, provide additional tax revenue, and would play a role in criminal justice reform.

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 Georgia?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- GA needs to be a state that supports working families. Every worker in this state deserves to earn a living age.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- It's time that we revamp the Quality Basic Education funding formula, and then commit to fully funding our public schools year after year.

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
- It's is our charge to be good stewards of our planet. Moving GA to 100% renewable energy production is a step in that direction.

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
- I support common sense gun reform that honors the 2nd amendment while requiring more thorough background checks and mental health vetting.

Health

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

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

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Do you support increasing funding for state medical facilities and hospitals in rural areas?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Expanding Medicaid in our state is a must. As many as half a million Georgians will gain health insurance, we will bring an estimated 56k good paying jobs to the state, and it will help save rural hospitals. Although marked "No", in some instances of terminal illness there may be justification for policy that would allow euthanasia.

Social

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

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

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

4. Should faith-based organizations be permitted to deny services based on religious beliefs?
- Yes

5. Do you support the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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.
- Top three priorities is raising wages to make sure everyone earns a living wage, working to make sure every single Georgian has healthcare coverage, and investing in public education from "cradle to career." GA must adopt responsible taxation policy that allows us to meet our needs, and is based on ability to pay. This includes shifting more of the tax burden off the poor and middle class, and to the wealthy and large businesses.

Events

2020

Oct. 3
GA House District 131 Candidate Forum

Sat 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Jul. 25
Volunteer meeting

Sat 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT

The Pie Thomaston, GA

Jun. 20
Thomaston/Upson County Criminal Justice Reform March

Sat 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Upson County Courthouse Thomaston, GA