New Hampshire 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 support the use of public funds by Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide basic women's health services, family planning services, etc., but oppose the use of public funds to pay for abortions. We've had a compromise on abortion since the 1960's in the form of the Hyde Amendment, supplemented by Roe v. Wade: There is a constitutional right to abortion at least through the first trimester, into the second, and beyond in cases of rape and incest, but out of respect for the convictions of pro-life voters, we do not use public funds to pay for abortions.

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. Other or expanded principles
- NH is among the wealthiest states in the US, but our property-based revenue system is archaic. Long-term, I think a graduated income tax is the fairest way to pay for many of the services we all want from state government, but no such bill will pass, and I won't vote for one, in this coming term, in light of recent popular votes against constitutional amendments allowing a graduated tax. I won't take the "pledge," but we need to have a full and fair discussion about how we expect to raise the funds necessary to provide basic services to NH citizens.

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. Do you support imposing penalties on state legislators who fail to attend legislative sessions?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- I would support a photo ID requirement if the state makes funds available to create such a photo ID (with appropriate documentary ID) at the polls. I.e., if someone has a rent receipt, utility bill or other documentary proof of residence but no photo ID, they should have the opportunity to be photographed at the polls, given a photo card, and allowed provisionally to vote. If the state won't make it easy and free for a voter without photo ID to get one at the polls, I'd oppose such a requirement.

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I've supported medical marijuana and decriminalization of possession of small amounts of pot, but want to review the report of the Commission on Legalization and Regulation of Marijuana before deciding how to vote on recreational pot. My concern is about young adults whose brains are still developing into their early 20's.Immigration enforcement is a federal function. I support the passing and enforcement of federal laws to deter, detect, and punish illegal immigration, but it's not a state or local responsibility and I think state and local police should focus on enforcing state and local laws.

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?
- 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 New Hampshire?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- New Hampshire has no minimum wage law of its own; we default to the Federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour--which is not a livable wage under any stretch of the imagination. I expect to sponsor a bill re-establishing a state minimum wage and increasing it in two annual steps to $12/hour (still not a livable wage, but at least headed in the right direction, and more likely to pass in NH, or more likely to have a gubernatorial veto overturned).

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- With respect to in-state tuition at public universities for the children of illegal immigrants, we should be enforcing our laws against illegal immigration but not taking it out on children brought here by their parents. If they can make a solid contribution to our economy, why shouldn't we educate them to do so at their maximum potential?

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
- No Answer

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 can't say "Yes" or "No" to "generally support gun-control legislation." It depends on the legislation. I'd vote to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons to civilians, but I certainly wouldn't vote to ban the sale of hunting rifles or pistols used for self-defense, nor would I support gun registration. I think we need some common-sense legislation to promote gun safety, but the Second Amendment right has generally not been abused in New Hampshire, and we need to recognize that the vast majority of gun owners are responsible and concerned about public safety.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through New Hampshire'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?
- Yes

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- Though I'm not now prepared to support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations, I am watching how the movement to allow parents to opt out of vaccinations for their children is affecting, e.g., the rise of measles in other states. If that starts to show up in NH, I would definitely vote to eliminate religious exemptions for vaccinations.

Social

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

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

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

4. 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.
- 1. Affordable health insurance coverage without exclusion for pre-existing conditions, paid for through the Affordable Care Act.2. More support for K-12 public education (including charter schools and targeted to poorer school districts), and for the state university system, paid for by restoring the business and other taxes cut by the O'Brien legislature in the 2011-2012 term.3. Support for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, paid for through NH's participation in RGGI and its Renewable Portfolio Standards law.