Mel Kessler's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Mel Kessler has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2018 Political Courage Test.
West Virginia State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| I would like to keep abortions from being necessary. I would introduce a bill that would make the morning after pill easier to get and at all times of the day and night. The price too would come down if it had to be shared by the State. This actually would stop the pregnancy before any life started! | |||
1) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing West Virginia's budget.
| No | a) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions? | ||
| No | b) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees? | ||
| No | c) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients? | ||
| No | d) An income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| I would increase the severance tax on our natural resource extractions and increase the property tax on out-of- state barons. The natural gas severance needs to be increased to insure the stability of P.E.I.A. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support expanding existing medical marijuana laws to include edible and/or respiratory forms of marijuana? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes? | ||
| Yes | d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of West Virginia? | ||
| b.- I support lowering taxes for a few years then companies start paying their share. I also would require them sign a multi year agreement. e.- This sounds great but has been proven not to work. I agree to try it and to test the results! | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in West Virginia? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| No | c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from West Virginia high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget? | ||
| c.- I believe in following the law, unlawfully is the problem! | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| I want a clean environment for our children and grandchildren! | |||
| No | a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| No | c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom? | ||
| No | d) Should a license be required for gun ownership? | ||
| I am an avid hunter and am licensed to carry a fire arm. I support the 2nd amendment! | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through West Virginia's health care programs? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| No | a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in West Virginia's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in West Virginia's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support greater efforts by West Virginia state government in closing the pay gap between men and women? | ||
| While I was in the House in 2008 the Chairperson of Judiciary offered a bill that made it against the law to not rent to a gay person or hire them. I do not agree to any discrimination but this would have been reverse discrimination to heterosexuals. This too could result in lawsuits and micro managing companies. | |||
| 1.Correct the Opioid problem by finding out how and where they are coming from. Jobs will suffer as long as we have this problem. Funding for this could be obtained from all pharmacies that provide the source. 2. Sure up the P.E.I.A. and try to promote more jobs. Funding from our natural resources, especially natural gas, would pay for both. |
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