Maryland 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 pro-choice. My opponent is not even though he has a 84% rating from NARAL on this issue.

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
- I would like to see Maryland pursue the following efforts:- invest in renewable energy programs- legalize the sale of Cannabis and use the funds to support education, health care and to support job growth and to shore up our budget- ensure lottery and gambling proceeds are used for education and healthcare

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
- I would like to see state-funded campaigns so campaigns are not won by those who have the most money but by those whose message best resonates with the voters. Candidates with large coffers do not produce good leaders.

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
- We should legalize marijuana and tax it for revenue. We have put too many people in jail for marijuana offenses. We should release these people which will help with prison overcrowding and prison costs. Let's put these people back to work. The marijuana laws have mainly affected people of color and so has discriminatory. Let's end this discrimination.

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?
- 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 Maryland?
- Yes

7. Do you support legalized state-sponsored sports betting in Maryland?
- Yes

8. Do you support increasing state regulatory oversight of ride-sharing drivers (e.g. Uber, Lyft)?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- I want Maryland to offer a competitive environment that is friendly to business but supports is workers.

Education

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Education shapes our students, citizens, and our communities. Let's make our Schools the best that they can be.

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
- I am pro-environment and will support green jobs such as wind and solar power. My opponent voted against the environment and this is the main reason I am running for office.

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 for the second amendment. Maryland already has stiff restrictions on automatic weapons. I would like to see this legislation enacted across the country.

Health

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

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Maryland'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
- Maryland should adopt the Iceland approach to opioids. Iceland expanded after-school programs and reduced drug use from 46 to 4%. Please see the article in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/01/teens-drugs-iceland/513668/. I will support a single-payer health system and believe health care is one of our most critical issues. We must support pre-existing conditions and ensure as many Marylanders as possible.Humans should have the same benefit as their pets and be able to die gracefully.

Social

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- Let's end all discrimination.

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.
- My three priorities are education, health care, and the environment.My initiatives would include:- legalizing marijuana for recreational use and using tax revenues from this to fund legislation for the above three priorities- increasing funding for Harford and Baltimore County schools using funds from Gambling (casinos and the lottery) and marijuana- moving Maryland to a single payer / Medicaid for all system which would actually reduce fees and pay for itself- increasing green energy jobs and opportunities by offering tax credits to homeowners and businesses that implement that technology.