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Kim Thatcher's 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.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Kim Thatcher 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.

Oregon 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?
b)Just because abortion should be legal in those relatively rare cases of rape or incest, it should only be last resort. The mental (as well as physical) well-being of the mother should take into consideration not only the trauma of rape or incest but also the additional mental trauma of killing an innocent child. Adoption should be given strong consideration c) Generally, elective, non-medically necessary surgeries should not be publicly funded.

1) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Oregon 's budget.

No a) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
Yes b) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
Yes c) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
No d) An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
a) Pensions should change to defined contribution plan and look at creating option for retirees to get more up front but less overall, and use savings to reduce PERS liability b) only if necessary c) Find other ways to help people with needed medical care d) A low, flat percentage tax would be better than what we have, but it would necessitate that people paying 0% now, would have to pay the flat tax which is an increase. However, reducing taxes, overall, tends to INCREASE REVENUE over time.
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?
a) I support it in theory, anyway. I don't see an equitable way of implementing it. If you limit from one group, it favors another group, etc. b) Maybe or maybe not, depending on whether it is easy to comply with and is fair and supports free speech. c) Definitely something different than what we do now. d) Oregon no longer has polls, but identification needs to be positively made when someone first registers to vote.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
b) Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
No c) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
I'm torn on the marijuana issue. Legalization in Oregon doesn't seem to have brought a cascade of harms I thought it would. Also, many use the "recreational" system to be able to purchase products they have found useful in preventing or helping with certain medical issues. What I think really needs to happen is that a legally recognized way to determine impairment from cannabis or any other substance, needs to be found. We have a system for determining impairment for alcohol, but not for other potentially impairing substances: legal or not.
No 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?
No d) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
Yes e) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
No f) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Oregon ?
No g) Should landlords be required to provide relocation assistance to tenants displaced by a terminated lease or rent increase?
d) I am not sure what it means by "expanding," but everyone should have access to what they paid into when they need it.
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Oregon ?
Yes b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
No c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Oregon high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
d) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
No b) Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
No d) Do you support implementing cap-and-trade policies in Oregon that require in-state businesses to pay a carbon emissions tax?
e) Other or expanded principles:
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?
Yes c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
No d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
e) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
No b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Oregon 's health care programs?
No 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?
b) The state can't do everything for everyone. The state can be a hand up, but state help needs to be geared toward eventual independence from state help wherever possible. Yes, there are people who need long term help who are unable to get it elsewhere and they should be helped. The traditional social supports of family, friends, churches, and charities, largely seem to be an unfortunate thing of the past.
Yes a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Oregon 's anti-discrimination laws?
No b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Oregon 's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Oregon state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
a) Nobody should be discriminated from getting a job, or housing, etc. based on one's sexual orientation. b) People with gender identity issues need compassion. Creating a blanket one size fits all policy, however, can create safety problems for others. There needs to be reasonable accommodation where possible
I'll continue to work on government transparency; I'll continue to fight for improved access to education choice and improving education outcomes; I'll continue to strive to reduce government constraints that get in the way of people being able to work, live, and support themselves and their families.

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