Sean Pike's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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South Carolina State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test
| a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | |||
| b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | |||
| c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | |||
| d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | |||
| e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | |||
| f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | |||
| g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | |||
| h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | |||
| The question of abortion is a State issue--not federal--and, in general, should be left to the referendum process so the Citizens of South Carolina can decide the issue, not a simple majority of the General Assembly. The referendum process is a higher standard and therefore more reflective of what our Citizens wish to have occur. | |||
1) State SpendingIndicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State TaxesIndicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing South Carolina's budget.
| Maintain Status | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Environment | ||
| Slightly Decrease | d) Health care | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Law enforcement | ||
| Greatly Increase | f) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Welfare | ||
| a) Alcohol taxes | |||
| b) Cigarette taxes | |||
| Eliminate | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| d) Gasoline taxes | |||
| Eliminate | e) Property taxes | ||
| f) Sales taxes | |||
| Eliminate | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| No | a) Tapping into South Carolina's "rainy day" fund | ||
| Yes | b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | ||
| No | c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | ||
| No | d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | ||
| e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | |||
| Yes | f) Privatizing certain government services | ||
| The core functions of government--public safety (which includes trans, infrastructure, & public health in addition to law enforcement, fire, ems, emergency management) and the judicial system to uphold the State Constitution must be fully-funded first. After those programs are funded, and there is sufficient funding without issuing bonds, more debt or raising taxes, then we can look at other functions such as education next. I believe in prioritizing the budget. In the Air Force, we called it "rack and stack"--mission critical first, mission essential next, etc. | |||
| I support the FairTax concept. With the elimination of all income and corporate taxes--as well as property taxes--SC would become the destination of choice for companies and individuals to live and work. By going to the consumption-based FairTax, people are only taxed on what they consume; thereby limiting the power and growth of government. Under the current system, you will never own your home because the government charges you property tax; miss payment on that and the government will seize your house and auction it. | |||
| The problem with the above questions is that it is not that cut-and-dry. Government is too bloated and needs to be trimmed. I believe in a "zero-based" budgeting methodology that requires an agency or function to 1) show that it is a constitutionally mandated function, 2) each budget needs to be independent of prior budget requests; showing why the amount requested is needed, and 3) does it meet the population +/- inflation index. Otherwise, the program may be integrated into another agency/function, privatized, or eliminated. | |||
c) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?
| Yes | a) Do you support limits on the number of terms for South Carolina governors? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for South Carolina state legislators? | ||
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Party | ||
| d) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | |||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| In a perfect world, campaign processes should be based on who has the best message and not who has the most money to win. For now, contribution limits at least somewhat level-the-field; however, finance reform is an issue that needs to be debated and addressed. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? | |||
| d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | |||
| e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | |||
| Yes | f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| c, d, and e are not that cut-and-dry. They need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| No | b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| No | c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | |||
| Until the latest debacle regarding the former ESC is fleshed-out, I would not support expanding access to unemployment benefits or funding for job-training programs. We need to eliminate the abusers of the system and the processes that allowed them to obtain benefits first--then decide on the other issues. The question in f is too vague; case analysis would have to be done first to provide an appropriate response. | |||
| No | a) Do you support national education standards? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from South Carolina high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| With regards to question f, they should not be allowed to even enter into a government high school; thereby eliminating the question. | |||
| No | a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| No | c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for improvements to South Carolina's energy infrastructure? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | |||
| a, b, c are market-driven forces. In general, the State should not be involved in "who wins". I am in favor of all energy sources being utilized as long as they do not destroy our unique natural heritage. Question f is a leading question that assumes that "climate change" is primarily man-made or man-enabled. Responsible use of all of our resources is the only answer, i.e. strip-mining--no, minimal impact on the eco-system--yes. | |||
| a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | |||
| No | b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | ||
| Question a is too general. Any convicted felon is currently not allowed to purchase or possess a firearm. I support that restriction. Attaining the age of 18 to purchase a firearm is another restriction I support. question b can be debated, but on the surface I would support liberty versus government control. | |||
| No | a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | ||
| No | d) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in South Carolina? | |||
| g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | |||
| Question f is presented as black-and-white; it is not. I am a board-certified healthcare administrator and I can tell you that that question has been debated ad finitum for decades. Even with advanced-directives the issue is still legally unclear. Question g is also too vague. There would have be medical and ethical standards developed in conjunction with the state legislature to be able to address the issue one way or another. | |||
| a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | |||
| b) Should South Carolina allow same-sex couples to form civil unions? | |||
| c) Do you support the establishment of an official State Day of Prayer? | |||
| d) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | |||
| e) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | |||
| No | f) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action? | ||
| g) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in South Carolina's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| h) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in South Carolina's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| I am addressing this section as a candidate; personal preferences will not come into play in deciding these issues. Questions a, b, c, d, and e are best resolved by the referendum process which allows the citizens of the State to decide those issues. Questions f, g, and h all fall under my general principle of the individual is what matters, not groups. The best individual for the position based on merit should dictate who is selected. Only 1 "group" should get special hiring authority--disabled Veterans. | |||
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