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John Mills' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

John Mills did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

South Dakota State Legislative Election 2020 Political Courage Test

Pro-life a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
The question about supporting abortion from incest or rape is a difficult one. For, specific, narrowly defined and verifiable instances I believe it should be allowed.
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No b) In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Balancing a budget needs to be done based on aligning spending with resources. In other words, we should look to reduce government programs and practices as needed and not increase taxes.
No a) Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates?
b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
No e) Do you support automatic voter registration?
Voters need to be informed and committed in order for our Republic to function as intended.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No d) Do you support the use of private prisons in South Dakota?
e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
f) Should courts view failure to cooperate with law enforcement as an aggravating factor that may not allow presumptive probation?
The questions unanswered require more detail and clarity than a simple yes/no answer. I think my answer to those questions, as written, would be 'it depends'. The detail of the specific circumstances often determine what is right. Judges should have the discretion to decide in those kinds of cases.
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
b) Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
Yes d) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
No e) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of South Dakota?
No f) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
Yes g) Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
Regarding Covid-19 financial relief to businesses, I believe it should be based on verified harm directly linked to the pandemic or government regulation related to the pandemic. In other words it should be due to reasons out of the control of the business.
a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in South Dakota?
b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in South Dakota?
d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from South Dakota high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
e) Do you support prohibiting schools from using team names, mascots, or nicknames that are deemed to be racially derogatory or discriminatory?
I believe in the highest level of local control for education in all areas. Parents should have decision power about their children?s education. Studies show that students with engaged parents do best. Government involvement should be designed to encourage parents to connect with their children's education at every possible point. Local school boards and their constituents should decide salary and benefit issues that meet their goals and local conditions. Names and mascot issues should be decided locally. All of these things are best managed at the local level.
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
Yes d) Do you support restrictions on the purchase of South Dakota farmland by foreign entities?
B & C cannot be answered with a simple yes/no.
No a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom after passing gun safety training?
No d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
Teachers should be allowed to be armed after thorough gun safety training and if their local school board is aware and agrees. I would encourage school boards to develop policies to allow.
a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
No b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through South Dakota's health care programs?
c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
No d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
No e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
No f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
g) Do you support mandating that healthcare professionals recommend alternative pain treatment plans before prescribing opioids?
I believe in a balanced budget. Medicaid expansion only exacerbates national debt. Individual mandates should not be substituted for personal responsibility. Doctors and adult patients should be able to decide what?s best for their specific circumstances without government mandates.
a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
c) Do you support greater efforts by South Dakota state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
We don't need more laws for these items. Social pressure and economic realities will manage these items appropriately.
I consider every issue first on the basis of what would God want. If his word provides a clear answer, I know how to vote. I do that because we are 'one nation under God . . .' And only through that principle can we continue to be free. I look for ways to support and protect free enterprise, because it is the backbone of America's economic success. Only with freedom at home and in business can families thrive and our nation continue to serve the world.
I look to rid South Dakota of its reliance on video lottery gambling revenue. Video lottery is highly addictive and directly linked to increases in crime, suicide, spouse abuse, child neglect, drug abuse and a range of other destructive social costs that plague us. The state takes $ from gambling losses while families and communities feel the burden and deal with the costs. We cannot achieve our potential and thrive as a state as long as we encourage gambling addiction through video lottery.

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