Phil Webster, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Phil Webster, Jr. has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.
Indiana State Legislative Election 2016 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| No | b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| Yes | c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| No | g) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures? | ||
| No | h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| I see abortion as a private medical procedure between a patient and her doctor/midwife. I believe a woman has a Constitutional right to maintain control over her own healthcare decisions as laid out in Roe v. Wade. Lawmakers should not insert government into this process until an infant can survive outside the womb without assistance. In instances where the procedure is performed on a minor, I would generally favor parental notification, with exceptions for exigent circumstances. | |||
1) State Spending:Indicate 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 Taxes:Indicate 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.
| Slightly Increase | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Greatly Increase | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Greatly Increase | c) Environment | ||
| Greatly Increase | d) Health care | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Law enforcement/corrections | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Transportation/infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Increase | g) Welfare | ||
| Slightly Increase | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Greatly Increase | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | d) Small business taxes | ||
| Greatly Increase | e) Gas/Oil taxes | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Property taxes | ||
| Slightly Increase | g) Sales taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | i) Income taxes (mid-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | j) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Yes | k) Do you support applying sales taxes to all online purchases? | ||
| We often take for granted the many things government does more efficiently than the private sector. Finding programs that are effective and properly funding them are essential to the betterment of our society. Conversely, if we are honest about the programs that are not cost effective we can decrease spending in those areas so that we give ourselves the best chance to balance the budget without raising taxes. | |||
| If we want things like better schools, safer roads, cleaner parks, we're going to have to make some tough choices when it comes to funding. We have to remain flexible and open about finding new sources of revenue that spread the tax burden equally, so that one segment of our society is not unfairly burdened. | |||
a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Party | ||
| b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | |||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| We cannot allow our Democracy to be sold to the highest bidder. Our elections must be about engaging with people on a person-to-person basis, not who can afford to pester the electorate with the most TV ads. I support a system in which elections are publicly financed, so that elections can be decided based on who has the better ideas, and not who has raised the most money. I also strongly favor passing laws that make voting more accessible, such as automatically registering people to vote when they obtain or renew their driver's licenses. | |||
| No | 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? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana? | ||
| No | d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction? | ||
| I fully support legalizing the use of medical marijuana. I would need to see more market research on the effects that result from the outright legalization of marijuana before making a final decision. However, I do not believe the state government should continue to waste taxpayer's money on incarcerating marijuana offenders. Similarly, Federal Immigration laws should be enforced by the Federal Government. They have the resources to do this while state law enforcement should focus their budgets on the things they are best equipped to accomplish. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | |||
| Yes | d) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | ||
| Yes | i) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage? | ||
| No | j) Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them? | ||
| I believe that we should promote economic growth based on the a company's commitment to the community in which it operates. We need claw-back clauses with teeth that set benchmarks for getting the most from tax incentives. We can no longer trust corporations to practice good corporate citizenship. Many companies who relocate to Indiana keep their promises about wages, employment levels, adhering to environmental law, etc... But we must create a real deterrent for the few who choose greed over making good on their promises. I am opposed to regulations on businesses that serve no purpose. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative? | ||
| No | b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| Yes | c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers? | ||
| No | d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school? | ||
| No | e) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| Yes | g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Indiana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| Overall, education is best implemented by local communities thru their elected school boards. Ensuring each child has an opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to be successful is in the public interest. If elected school boards decide to create their own charter schools through their own taxable income base that is fine. Parents who are dissatisfied with their community schools should work to improve them for the good of everyone. If a parent decides they want a different type of education for their children, they must be willing to pay for it as they would any other good or service. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support state funding for improvements to Indiana's energy infrastructure? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? | ||
| I believe in an all-of-the-above energy policy. Wind and solar energy ventures have the potential to create high-paying jobs that can become an economic driver of our community for generations. We must accept the science behind climate change, and work with industry leaders to minimize any short-term economic damage. We must also work together to make quick and meaningful progress in reducing emissions while taking into account how increased energy costs make it harder for the average family to make ends meet. Make no mistake, the longer we avoid making tough decisions, the more painful it will be. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? | ||
| Yes | d) Should a license be required for gun possession? | ||
| I am a supporter of 2nd Amendment because it is a vital part of our Constitution. We must remain vigilant in protecting our rights. Nevertheless, Constitutional rights--including the right to bear arms--have always been subject to common sense regulations. We must find common ground on what limitations should be assessed to gun ownership and what types of guns can be bought and sold in the United States. We need to stop being so partisan and apply practical solutions so that all Americans feel safe. | |||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| No | f) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | ||
| I believe we should work toward the goal of universal healthcare. This is available in all of the industrial nations of the world. In the long term, a government run healthcare model will make it easier for American companies to compete in a global economy. Like education, safety, and security, a strong national healthcare system is in our collective public interest. For example, the single biggest threat to most Americans is cancer. Let's put our federal resources to work defeating the number one enemy of the American people. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Indiana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Indiana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | d) Based on the religious beliefs of the owners, should businesses be allowed to refuse services to their employees and/or customers? | ||
| Whatever your religious beliefs are, they can be practiced in your places of worship, family, or parochial schools. But, I do not believe the 1st Amendment gives people the right to discriminate against others. Government should never take sides when it comes to favoring one religion over another. The legislature should not waste tax money on considering laws that are blatantly unconstitutional and will be struck down in the courts. | |||
| ==Quality of Life Keeping and attracting quality jobs to central Indiana Protecting the right of working class people to collectively bargain for wages and working conditions Bringing vocational training back to the local schools Improving our roads and bridges ==Education Curb reliance on high-stakes testing-- let teachers teach! Taking federal funding for early childhood education Listen to the Superintendent of Schools ==Fairness Support Campaign Finance Efforts End all Statewide Bans on What Local Ordinances can institute Decriminalize the Use of Medical Marijuana |
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