Issue Position: Family & Social Values

Issue Position

o As a doctor, I deeply believe that life begins at conception and that we must protect the most vulnerable in our society;

o I fully support parental rights to consent to medical treatment for their children including mental health treatment, drug treatment, alcohol treatment, and treatment involving pregnancy, contraceptives and abortion;

o Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman, which should be revered and protected by our society;

o As a member of the Alabama Legislature, I have opposed any and all legislation that allows gambling and will continue doing so;

o I am personally opposed to gambling. Because of the legislature's failure to address the issue, the people of Alabama must decide at the ballot box on a YES or NO vote whether to allow gambling in any form;

o I also salute the efforts of foster and adoptive families and will work to ensure that funds are available as necessary to support them and their important role in our society.

Right to Life
Abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life. I will ensure that abortion in Alabama is limited only to cases in which the mother's life is in danger. I will oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion. As Governor, I will protect young girls from exploitation and statutory rape by requiring parental notification before a minor may obtain an abortion.

Our society has a moral obligation to assist women struggling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy, rather than penalize them. However abortion is not the solution. Instead, we should make every effort to enable and empower women considering abortion to choose life. This is why I will fund initiatives to educate women on ALL their options when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

Caring for the Most Vulnerable

Respect for life requires that we provide opportunities in education, employment, the justice system, and civic participation for persons with disabilities. As Governor, I will oppose the nonconsensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and infirmed. Because government should set a positive standard in hiring and contracting for the services of persons with disabilities, we need to update the statutory authority by which those productive members of our society can offer high quality services at the best possible value to the public. Respect for life not only includes the unborn and disabled, but also the sick, hungry, and needy. Through faith-based programs, we will ensure that each Alabamian is able to seek proper medical care and receive the basic necessities needed to sustain life.

Preserving Family Stability & Authority
Children are our state's most precious resource. This is why I support the courageous efforts of single-parent families to provide a stable home for their children. Because the family is our basic unit of society, I fully support parental rights to consent to any medical treatment for their children including mental health treatment, drug treatment, alcohol treatment, and treatment involving pregnancy, contraceptives, and abortion.

Gay Marriage

I will ensure that Alabama does not follow the trend of allowing gay marriages or civil unions, and I will protect our state's right to define marriage as between one man and one woman. I support the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states. Alabamians should work together to protect traditional marriage. The two-parent family provides the best environment of stability, discipline, responsibility, and character. Children in homes without fathers are more likely to commit a crime, drop out of school, become violent, become teen parents, use illegal drugs, become mired in poverty, or have emotional or behavioral problems.

Gambling & Gaming
I view gambling as a detriment to society, and believe the legislature has failed in its responsibilities to address this issue. Because of this failure, I believe the people of Alabama need to decide at the ballot box on a YES or NO vote whether to allow gambling or abolish all forms of gambling. This vote should only occur if the referendum establishes a Gaming Commission with strict regulatory authority and taxes gaming at a minimum of forty percent (40%) of profits. Banning all gambling provides the only option Alabama has to end Indian gambling in our state. If the people do reject gambling at the polls, we must not allow another vote on this issue by the Legislature or the people for at least ten years.

Let me reiterate that I am personally opposed to gambling in any form. Gambling establishments target the people who can least afford it: the poor and desperate. It is also an unreliable source to fund the operations of state government.

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