R. Roberts' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Oregon State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | ||
| No | b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| No | g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | ||
| As a practicing Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, I am required to obtain consent from a parent for even minor and basic Oral Surgery. As a parent of four children, I find it appalling that a physician would even consider something like performing an abortion on a minor child without the consent of a parent...even if that consent is not required. Minor Oral Surgery does not have the profound psychological effects later in life, as does taking the life of an unborn child. Does not make common sense as a practicing Oral Surgeon and as a parent of four children!! | |||
1) State SpendingIndicate 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.2) State TaxesIndicate 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.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Oregon's budget.
| Maintain Status | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Health care | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Law enforcement | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Welfare | ||
| Slightly Decrease | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | d) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Property taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| i) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Yes | a) Tapping into Oregon's "rainy day" fund | ||
| No | b) Redirecting excess income tax collections to a permanent "rainy day" fund | ||
| No | c) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | ||
| Yes | d) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | ||
| Yes | e) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | f) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | ||
| Yes | g) Privatizing certain government services | ||
| In the state of Oregon, serious decisions need to be made to address the unsustainable spending that occurs. Services that are provided need to be scaled back in times of recession, like we have had in the years 2008-current. We can't keep increasing the budget greater that 10 percent year after year without evaluating the current state of Oregon's economy. Our legislature needs to budget like normal households and taxpayers in the state. When income is decreased, spending needs to decrease accordingly. We also need to address public employee spending and benefits packages to be in line with private industry. | |||
| The above categories did not address three important categories that need addressing in our state. Public employee salary, benefits, and retirement funding. These are the eight hundred pound "gorillas" in Salem that our current legislators are "AFRAID" to tackle due to ties to Union money. What is interesting, now our Governor is beginnning to address these issues when he is leaving office. As a private citizen and not as the "candidate" it sure seems to me that he provided poor leadership the previous seven years in order to maintain his financial support from Unions, Labor, and other "special interests" | |||
d) 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 Oregon governors? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Oregon state legislators? | ||
| No | c) Should the Oregon state legislature be required to convene in annual sessions? | ||
| No | 1) Individual | ||
| No | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| No | 3) Corporate | ||
| No | 4) Political Party | ||
| No | e) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
| 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? | ||
| No | c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? | ||
| No | d) Should minors accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as adults? | ||
| Yes | e) Should minors who send 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? | ||
| While I believe we need to be vigilant and aggressive with punishement for crimes that may warrant capital punishment, I personally do not support murder as a form of punishment. As a legislator, who is required to follow our current laws, I would recommend enforcing the law and adhering to our National and State Constitution as written. I heartedly agree with enforcement of federal immigration laws. That would directly be beneficial to our state and National budget by not paying for illegal immigrants entitlement benefits that should be given to American citizens. I am for LEGAL immigration in the US. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| No | e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | ||
| I think in our current recession, SPENDING NEEDS TO BE SCALED BACK and incentives for businesses to locate here in Oregon need to be expanded. I believe that expanding unemployment benefits to "years" instead of "months" delays the efforts taken and needed to find employment. The financial incentive is decreased. Oregon legislators have created an environment here in Oregon where job growth is significantly decreased and businesses will not locate here and many are leaving our state for other states with a better business climate. If that is not changed, we will continue to suffer high unemployment here in Oregon. | |||
| No | a) Do you support national education standards? | ||
| No | 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 Oregon high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| I believe in supporting standards adopted locally - via local school districts. I feel testing is appropriate throughout high school, but don't feel it is necessary to administer a required exit exam the final year of high school. Students should not be advancing throughout high school if they have not met previous earlier testing standards. I feel it is important for parents to choose various methods of teaching their children, ie. public, private, charter, voucher systems, and homeschooling. Especially in the midst of a terrible economy, I do not feel taxpayers should pay for ILLEGAL students education. Not common sense!!!!!!!!! | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| Yes | 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 Oregon's energy infrastructure? | ||
| No | e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| I think some limited tax incentives could be utilized for alternative energy. I do not believe in subsidizing alternative energy. If it is a viable form of energy, there will be no need for subsidizing. We have a tremendous amount of coalbed methane here in Coos County that could be mined. I think we should look at the French model for the use of nuclear plants as a long term solution to electrical needs. I am absolutely against the use of agricultural FOOD stock for biofuel. Potentially, the use of forestry and biomass waste products could be utilized for biofuel. | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | ||
| I am a firm believer in our Constitutional right to bare arms and the 2nd Ammendment. The recent Supreme Court ruling in regards to the Chicago gun rights case, was an affirmation of the right to bare arms as a private citizen in the US. Every law abiding American can therefore protect themselves, their family, and property against law breaking citizens. I feel that a citizen that goes through the legal process of maintaining a concealed gun license should be able to travel anywhere in the United States to help facilitate that important right to protect oneself, family, and property. | |||
| 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? | ||
| No | f) Do you support continuing to allow physician-assisted suicide in Oregon? | ||
| No | g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | ||
| I think that a publically administered health insurance would limit ones access to physicans. Many physicians do not accept insurance administered by the state or National programs because of the low reimbusement. That would make access to care worse in Oregon. I think competition in the commercial health insurance industry and the ability to cross state lines would facilitate an environment that lowers premimiums because of the competition between companies for premium dollars. Physicians are called to HEAL, not murder patients. I am strongly opposed to physician-assisted suicide. Marijuana may have a role in pain patients - with limited access. | |||
| Yes | a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | ||
| No | b) Should Oregon allow same-sex couples to form domestic partnerships? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action? | ||
| No | f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Oregon's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Oregon's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| I think there is some potential for medical assistance with the use of stem cells. I disagree with the use of embryonic stem cells for medical purposes. OHSU is utilizing stem cells in vision research which is showing some promise. I disagree with affirmative action. In today's society, if one works hard via traditional education or vocational education, the student who has the best resume should be rewarded based on effort, merit, and knowledge...not the color of ones skin. As an example - I want a doctor to have succeded through a solid education - not some specific skin color!! | |||
| Our biggest priority is to control government spending, to control the rate of the Federal deficit,and to eliminate the debt. We can not keep increasing the State budget by double digits. It is not fiscally responsible for our leaders to continue to vote "yes" and to burden our children with their reckless spending. If control of government spending is not accomplished then protecting important services such as education and public safety will continue to be more difficult with each passing year. The state employee system of salary, benefits, and retirement funding (PERS)is seriously placing Oregon in a position of unsustainability. |
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