Alabama 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
- I am for the law. Roe v. Wade allows for a woman to choose what occurs with their bodies. Historically a person who did not want to carry a pregnancy would find a way to not carry it. No one likes abortions, but if we think logically, learn from history, and have any moral fiber for ourselves and others, we must accept a woman's right to choose and allow for safe procedures. Funding to organizations that do many helpful things should not be punished for also providing these safe and legal procedures.

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
- My plans to stabilize the state's budget begins with Tax Reform. While I am willing to increase the income tax, I would only do so if no other alternative worked. My Tax Plan includes: removal of the grocery tax, reducing the state's sales tax on regular goods while maintaining or increasing sales tax from online purchases (this would incentivize brick and mortar shopping), while reasonably increasing the state's property tax (which hasn't been done in decades, and has been called for since the 1930's). This will provide a more modern and adaptive revenue stream while helping those struggling the most.

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
- We need to reform campaign finance to bring the power back to the voters. While no donation is in fact buying favor from candidates, candidates are most advantaged from giving more time and energy to those who possess the most funds to ease campaign stress. This must change. The everyday working person must have an equal influence so that candidates must come and listen to them, not just take them for granted and say whatever they can to get a vote. Voting is a citizen's right and obligation. Voting should be easy and without any undue hardship to voters.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

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
- These are broad questions that I would like to explain. I will favor medicinal marijuana as it does provide an alternative to opioids, however I need more information regarding recreational use (I'm undecided). For immigration, I think the current state law needs reform, a person must be convicted of a crime or law violation for their legal status to be questioned unless they avoid those proceedings. The pathway should be easier but we must enforce the laws on the books at the time of the occurrence. I will support reform to make citizenship easier and keep families together.

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?
- Yes

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 Alabama?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Promoting economic growth takes time and there are no quick fixes. We must promote attractive opportunities for in-state business development and startup, and for out of state business to relocate. However, not at the expense of our citizens or labor-force. I will increase the minimum wage to the living wage of 15 dollars/hour, or rather 31,200 dollars/year before taxes. This is not much higher than the poverty wage of a family. An exception must be created for legitimate hardships on small businesses, but business can't have low starting-wages and low wage increases. An better paid labor force promotes economic growth.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Alabama?
- Yes

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

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

4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- First we must make our state budgets more efficient with tax reform and reforming the earmarking system of our state which earmarks 93% of our available funds. My district county schools are doing a phenomenal job while being two of the four lowest funded counties in the state. We must allow for a fairer Per Pupil Expenditures. We must increase teacher pay and benefits to keep the best and brightest here to teach the best and brightest of tomorrow. We have overburdened our teachers for little reward. I would also support state funded and state wide Pre-K.

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
- Although I am not well versed on environmental issues, we must allow a more transparent process through our regulating agencies and rebuild our trust to the public. The recent concerns across the state and nation indicate we have a ways to go to rebuilding a renewable infrastructure and confidence in our drinking water. I will support endeavors to bring Alabama within EPA guidelines on water, and explore ways Alabama can lead the nation in renewable energy solutions.

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 am a supporter of the Second Amendment. I will support gun owners, however, a well-regulated militia means to me that there is and must be a continual process over the public availability of weapons. My concerns over guns are availability of easily modifiable (practical modifications) weapons with possible high capacity and high rates of fire. Public safety necessitates we as lawmakers limit what is available for public consumption. We can not allow guns in schools, teachers are there to teach. We must reinvest in our police departments and sensible security construction of our schools, without effecting the learning environment.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Alabama's health care programs?
- Yes

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?
- Yes

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- I balk at the mandate of health insurance because I think a person has a right to run that risk, however, I believe everyone has the right to affordable health care. Therefore, I favor Medicaid expansion and a public sector marketplace to compete for the best options for the public. The religious exemption question is difficult because I believe it should depend on the vaccination. If public safety is at stake I believe the case should be made that the exemption should apply, but I would need to see more data and even then it depends on the situation.

Social

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

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

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- I am for the law. All people must be treated equally under the law for the justice system to have any legitimacy. Alabama does not have a nondiscrimination law yet, I would change that. Monuments is tricky, open minded and open hearted conversations must occur with these issues. My undergraduate degree is in History with a minor in Political Science. I understand the desire to preserve history. However, if these monuments were not made before or during their historical relevancy, we must ask ourselves if this is a historical marker explaining history or a monument which might express something else.

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.
- Alabama ranks the among the lowest in almost everything, we have a Super Majority that allows corruption and does not work in the interests of the citizens. I will work with anyone interested in bettering Alabama and her citizens. First I will argue for my tax plan and increase the minimum wage. Above all I want to be the transparent voice of my district and all the people of our state. I want to help rebuild the mutually beneficial relationship between employer and employee. Please reach out to me with any questions or issues that effect you and yours.