Pennsylvania 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
- Nobody wants abortions but they will continue whether or not they are legal and safe. Our goal as a community should be to do what we can to prevent unwanted pregnancies, including adequate funding for organizations with family planning goals and tools.

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
- Unlike many other states, Pennsylvania has a flat tax. I would advocate changing to a graduated income tax.

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 allowing early voting in Pennsylvania?
- Yes

6. Do you support reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Pennsylvania has the largest full-time legislature of all 50 states. Nobody would argue that we are better governed because of it (except the legislators themselves). I would support either the reduction of the size of the state's House and Senate or making it a part-time position.

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. Should school safety meetings be made available to the public?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- I am not ready to support the legalization of marijuana. I believe we must first observe the impact that legalization has in those states that have made it available for recreational use. I do, however, believe that the criminal justice system needs to release those incarcerated for possession and that it needs to be considered a misdemeanor.

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?
- 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 Pennsylvania?
- Yes

7. Do you support increasing state funding for road repairs?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding questions a)-d), it is hard to answer without further specifics. For example, are there some government regulations that could be relaxed on the private sector? Certainly there are some but as a general rule, those regulations are justifiable and a laisse faire approach or industry self-regulation will not work.

Education

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

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

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

4. Do you support providing virtual charter school alternatives to all K-12 students?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- In general, I do not support charter schools because they negatively impact funding of our public schools. Are there certain criteria that could be developed for funding charter schools in areas with very low performing public schools? Perhaps. I would be open to considering it.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No Answer

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No Answer

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- No Answer

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No Answer

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No Answer

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No Answer

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

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

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

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

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
- No Answer

Social

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

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

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

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.
- No Answer