Texas Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Other or expanded principles
- I support the idea of reducing abortion rates through: improved family planning services, better access to birth control, and properly educating our children. ("Abstinence Only" isn't an acceptable approach if you really want to decrease the number of abortions!)

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- My campaign is grassroots funded. I do not and will not ever accept funds or services from Corporate Funded PAC's, labor unions, or other special interests (like the NRA). I also support an end to Citizens United. This type of indirect political funding is destroying our country, and corrupting our representation.

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that as a nation we need a modular common-core curriculum, that accommodates ALL students. (And no I don't support vouchers.)

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- As well as: Immediately addressing the lack of available FEMA funding and disaster relief for areas in District 10 impacted by the recent climate disasters. Working to ensure federal resources are available for our future disasters (we haven't seen the end of it here in Texas). Lobbying our Senators to ratify the Paris Climate Accord. (They CAN be motivated!) Sponsoring or authoring legislation in support of: -Clean energy sources -Reduced carbon emissions -Energy efficient manufacturing standards (and enforcing those we already have) -Federal codes for energy efficiency -Improved agriculture standards

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- We need to require background checks for ALL firearms purchases, and close the gun show loophole. We also need a universal background check which includes: military crime data, domestic offenders, terrorist watch lists, and people with a history of violent mental illness. Limiting the availability of assault weapons isn't a bad idea, but we also have to improve the security around our schools in order to better protect our children.

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- We need to modify the ACA, and move towards a "Single-Payer" or "Medicare for All" System.

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- I do not support the deportation of illegal immigrants if they are currently productive members of our society and economy. I believe we need an achievable and realistic pathway to citizenship for most.

Marijuana

1. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- I fully support the legalization of medicinal marijuana, and also the tax revenues that would be gained from the regulation/legalization of recreational marijuana.

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Administrative Priorities

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. Immigration - We need a clean Dream Act, and to demand permanent protections for our dreamers. All of our immigrants need a realistic pathway to citizenship, and I will fight to make sure they have one. 2. Equality - Gender, racial, and marriage equality are paramount. Our fundamental rights to equality need to be secured under federal law. I will work to enact actual change in our government, so those rights will be properly protected. 3. Healthcare - We need to move quickly toward a ?Single Payer? or "Medicare for All" solution. Healthcare is a fundamental right!