2008 Response

2008 IDAHO STATE LEGISLATIVE POLITICAL COURAGE TEST

Abortion Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

___ a) Abortions should always be illegal.

___ b) Abortions should always be legal.

___ c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.

___ d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.

___ e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.

___ f) Abortions should be subject to a mandatory waiting period.

___ g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.

_X_ h) Other or expanded principles No matter my personal beliefs any abortion issue (pro or con) must be decided in a general election.

Budget and Tax Issues:

State Budget: Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.

KEY

1 = Greatly Increase

2 = Slightly Increase

3 = Maintain Status

4 = Slightly Decrease

5 = Greatly Decrease

6 = Eliminate

 _2_ a) Education (Higher)

_2_ b) Education (K-12)

_2_ c) Emergency preparedness

_2_ d) Environment

_2_ e) Health care

_2_ f) Law enforcement

_2_ g) Transportation and highway infrastructure

_3_ h) Welfare

_X_ i) Other or expanded categories Before we consider raising or lowering taxes we should seek a re-budgeting and/or restructuring that is efficient. Before raising or lowering taxes we need to look at where it may be being misused.

KEY

1 = Greatly Increase

2 = Slightly Increase

3 = Maintain Status

4 = Slightly Decrease

5 = Greatly Decrease

6 = Eliminate

State Taxes: Using the key above, indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.

_2_ a) Alcohol taxes

_2_ b) Cigarette taxes

_2_ c) Corporate taxes

_5_ d) Gasoline taxes

_6_ e) Grocery taxes

_4_ f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)

_3_ g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)

_4_ h) Sales taxes

_X_ i) Other or expanded categories Before we consider raising or lowering taxes we should seek a re-budgeting and/or restructuring that is efficient. Before raising or lowering taxes we need to look at where it may be being misused.

1) Do you support extending the grocery tax credit to low income Idahoans? _X_ Yes

2) Should state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales? _X_ Yes _X_ Undecided

3) Should accounts such as a “rainy day” fund be used to balance the state budget?

_X_ No _X_ Undecided

4) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget? _X_ Undecided

5) Should vehicle registration fees be increased to address the transportation department’s budget shortfall? _X_ Undecided

6) Other or expanded principles Before we consider raising or lowering taxes or fees  we should seek a re-budgeting and/or restructuring that is efficient. Before raising or lowering taxes we need to look at where it may be being misused.

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

a) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Idaho governors? _X_ Yes

b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Idaho state senators and representatives? _X_ Yes

c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

1) Individual _X_ Yes

2) PAC _X_ Yes

3) Corporate _X_ Yes

4) Political Parties _X_ Yes

d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? _X_ Yes

e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state-level political campaigns? _X_ Yes

f) Should Idaho participate in the federal REAL ID program? _X__ No

g) Other or expanded principles We need to take real steeps in preventing corruption in government. Yes-We need national security however we are loosing our individual rights and freedoms for a false sense of security.

Crime Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

___ a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.

_X_ b) Support the death penalty in Idaho.

_X_ c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.

_X_ d) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.

___ e) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

_X_ f) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.

_X_ g) Support state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws.

_X_ h) Support hate crime legislation.

_X_ i) Other or expanded principles Stronger enforcement, prosecution and penalties for all violent and sexual crimes as well as crimes committed against children & elderly. More rehabilitation opportunities for non-violent crimes. Death penalty is not a deterrent but sometimes is necessary for complete guaranteed public safety.

Education Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

_X_ a) Support state funding of universal pre-K programs.

_X_ b) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).

_X_ c) Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.

_X_ d) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.

_X_ e) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.

_X_ f) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.

_X_ g) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.

_X_ h) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.

___ i) Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of Idaho to pay in-state tuition at public universities.

_X_ j) Support the potential for merit pay only for teachers who accept short-term contracts.

_X_ k) Other or expanded principles The higher the educational level a child has the further they will go in life. We need to create education and/or training to create future self-reliance. The future of self-reliance and opportunity is in the present.

Employment Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.

_X_ a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.

_X_ b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.

_X_ c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.

_X_ d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.

_X_ e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.

_X_ f) Include sexual orientation in Idaho’s anti-discrimination laws.

_X_ g) Include gender identity in Idaho’s anti-discrimination laws.

_X_ h) Increase the state minimum wage.

_X_ i) Support laws that prevent employers from dismissing employees at will.

_X_ j) Support financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

_X_ k) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.

_X_ l) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.

_X_ m) Other or expanded principles Create additional Idaho tourism, self-employment, fresh investment, promote and export “Made In Idaho” products and services. As well as establish Idaho as a main processing center for recycled products/materials and renewable energy markets.

Environment and Energy Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

_X_a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.

___ b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc).

_X_ c) Support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops.

___ d) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.

_X_ e) Support funding for improvements to Idaho’s power generating and transmission facilities.

_X_ f) Support funding for open space preservation.

_X_ g) Limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

_X_ h) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.

_X_ i) Other or expanded principles Need and demand for energy & resources only increase with population growth. Our reliable resources are in question. The best way to protect the environment is pursue, invest & establish complete reliability on a wide variety of renewable and/or clean energy and products. I do not believe in subsidies or corporate welfare for energy resources but I do believe in investment, low interest loans and complete tax cuts/incentives for renewable and/or clean energy.

Gun Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

a) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? ___ Yes ___ No _X_ Undecided

b) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? ___ Yes _X_ No _X_ Undecided

c) Should a license be required for gun possession? ___ Yes _X_ No ___ Undecided

d) Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? ___ Yes ___ No _X_ Undecided

e) Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? ___ Yes ___ No _X_ Undecided

f) Other or expanded principles The right to bear arms is a guaranteed right as a citizen. I do not believe in government lists on private citizens. FREE INSTANT 24h - 7-day week phone in background check system (supported by proportional fee on gun sales) on all gun sales-so the sale can be made. Concealed permits for those not able to protect themselves. 

Health Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

_X_ a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.

_X_ b) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.

___ c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.

_X_ d) Allow patients to sue their HMOs.

___ e) Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.

___ f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Idaho.

_X_ g) Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.

_X_ h) Other or expanded principles We need to create affordable quality health care for all and a system that does not bankrupt the medical industry or state budget. Preventive health care is less expensive in the long run. I object to government deciding medical situations. Physician assisted suicide and prescribe marijuana need to be voted on in a general election. I do agree on releasing reports on infections that are a risk to public health however, this has been abused beyond public safety.

Social Issues: Indicate (ü) which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

a) Should Idaho recognize civil unions between same-sex couples? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

c) Should Idaho provide state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

d) Do you support a moment of silence in public schools? _X_ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

e) Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools? ___ Yes ___ No _X_ Undecided

f) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?

_X_ Yes ___ No _X_ Undecided

g) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? _X_ Yes ___ No _X_ Undecided

h) Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?

___ Yes _X_ No ___ Undecided

i) Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

j) Should Idaho continue affirmative action programs? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

k) Do you support state funding of stem cell research? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

l) Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided

m) Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it?

___ Yes _X_ No ___ Undecided

n) Other or expanded principles Same sex issues and stem cell issues need to be voted on in a general election. Race should not be an issue or deciding factor in any hiring or educational pursuit. Any sexual education must be voluntary by parental consent.

Legislative Priorities: On an attached page, disk, or via email, 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.

PUBLIC SAFETY - Stronger enforcement/prosecution for all sexual offenses, violent crimes and crimes committed against children/elderly. -(Eliminate all Statutes of Limitations on these crimes) More rehabilitation opportunities for non-violent offenders. 

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - Establishing Idaho (new industries) to be at the forefront of supplying and developing alternative/renewable resources. Establish alternative energy resources and industries for environmental and economic stability and security.

EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES - Create more education and/or training opportunities and partnerships with business for future self-reliance. Investment today = future competitiveness. Prevent cuts in state funding instead of placing the burden onto local property taxpayers.