New Mexico 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
- Reproductive health decisions should be made by women in the privacy of their personal consultation with their health care team and loved ones based on their personal beliefs, not by government legislation.

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
- We need to review the repeal of the 2013 corporate income tax cuts and raise the personal income tax rate for those making the highest salaries.

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?
- No Answer

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
- These issues need to be addressed in the upcoming legislative session.

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?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Some of these questions are far more complicated that a simple yes or no answer and I go on record that they are more nuanced that what is asked here. Research on these issues, their implementation in other states and the associated consequences, strengths and weaknesses, needs to be carried out.

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 Answer

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No Answer

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No Answer

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No Answer

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of New Mexico?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Economic issues require careful examination and legislation which transcends, in most cases, more complex answers than just yes or no.

Education

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

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

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- These issues are more complex and involve multiple variables. For example, the Common Core State Standards were developed and are owned privately. There needs to be a mechanism to revise them as needed (there is no protocol for that at the present time). State funding for charter schools can only be budgeted if the charter organization is non-profit. For profit charter organizations should not be permitted in NM.

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. Do you support the implementation of a nuclear waste storage facility in New Mexico?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Let's lead the nation in the development of renewable energy. With our abundance of wind, solar and geothermal power sources, we should be in the top five.

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
- A former student of mine commented that he has had to take driver's training, a road test, and a written test just to get a license to drive in addition to registering and getting a license for his vehicle. He felt that getting a gun license should also require some basic regulations. His insights are laudable.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through New Mexico'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 Answer

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

6. Other or expanded principles
- We need to work on and pass the Health Security Act and lead the nation in health care.

Social

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

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

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

4. Should New Mexico adopt "Sanctuary State" immigration policies?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No individual should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, gender identify, racial/ethnic or religious identify, age, or any other specific identifying factor. No NM local or state public safety department should be mandated to enforce immigration deportation.

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. Education: Adequate funding as stated in State Constitution including pre K to higher education2. Public safety: Hiring more police officers and assigning them to community policing beats with a long enough assignments to truly get to know the residents and business owners there; and, as requested by numerous officers I have talked to, an increase in training for addressing mental health, addiction issues and other public health concerns they encounter 3. Improve infrastructure, including roads and access to outdoor recreational facilities as well as Internet bandwidth3. Jobs: IT, film, renewable energy and promising new fields