Penny Bernard Schaber's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Penny Bernard Schaber has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2014 Political Courage Test.
Wisconsin State Legislative Election 2014 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy? | |||
| c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | |||
| d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | |||
| e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | |||
| f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | |||
| g) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures? | |||
| h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | |||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes or no fashion. I study each issue or concern carefully, listen to my constituents and make a decision based on specific legislative language. Our focus should be on preventing unwanted pregnancies and allowing a woman to have the freedom to determine her own health care decisions without government dictating her decisions. | |||
1) State Spending:Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State Taxes:Using the key, indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Wisconsin's budget.
| Slightly Increase | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Greatly Increase | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Slightly Increase | c) Environment | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Health care | ||
| Slightly Decrease | e) Law enforcement/corrections | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Transportation/infrastructure | ||
| Maintain Status | g) Welfare | ||
| a) Alcohol taxes | |||
| b) Cigarette taxes | |||
| c) Corporate taxes | |||
| d) Gas/Oil taxes | |||
| e) Property taxes | |||
| f) Sales taxes | |||
| g) Income taxes (low-income families) | |||
| h) Income taxes (mid-income families) | |||
| i) Income taxes (high-income families) | |||
| a) Tapping into Wisconsin's "rainy day" fund | |||
| b) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | |||
| c) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions | |||
| d) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees | |||
| e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | |||
| Spending decisions should be made that reflect community priorities and which lead us to improve the opportunities for all to be self-sufficient. Corrections spending should be decreased as savings are redirected to education. Law enforcement spending should be maintained with a focus on community policing and prevention of crime. We should continue to protect our air, water and land resources as this is what keeps us all healthy and can support a strong tourism community. | |||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issue carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. Establishing the proper level of taxation is difficult and can not be done in a vacuum. As members of a community we all benefit from a healthy and well maintained community with good roads, strong public schools, parks, green spaces and public transportation. It is important that all of us pay a fair share of what it takes for us to live in a thriving and sustainable community. | |||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issues carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. We should accept the funds that would have allowed for BadgerCare Expansion in Wisconsin, this would have allowed families to be in the same system together, making access to health care easier. We should look carefully at the recommendations put forward by the Transportation Finance and Policy commission to improve the status of our Transportation fund. | |||
a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Party | ||
| Yes | b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issues carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. I am continually told by constituents that they are tired of the money that is poorly spent in political campaigns. All contributors should be accounted for and disclosed. I prefer not to have outside interest groups able to influence political campaigns and elections. Nonpartisan redistricting is key to solving the problems related to hyper partisanship we currently see in legislative bodies | |||
| a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | |||
| b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | |||
| c) Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana? | |||
| d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | |||
| e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | |||
| f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | |||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issue carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. I will work closely with local and state law enforcement and the health care community on these complex issues. | |||
| a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | |||
| b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | |||
| c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | |||
| d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | |||
| e) Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | |||
| f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | |||
| g) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage? | |||
| These questions are complex and can not be answered with a simple yes or no. Any program used to support private or public job creation and worker training needs to be accountable and transparent with measurable outcomes. Regulations for private and public sector jobs have a very important role for safety of the workplace and environment, the regulations should not be burdensome, or increase bureaucracy without accountable, measurable and sustainable results. Unemployment benefits should be tailored to the conditions of the time such as overall job availability, training needed and appropriate family supporting wages. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers? | |||
| No | d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school? | ||
| No | e) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Wisconsin high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | |||
| These are also complex questions with many ways to address the issues they relate to. It is important to have educational standards that indicate the level of learning that is expected at each grade level. I am not sure of the details of a merit pay system, but as in other professional sectors job performance requires measurable outcomes. There are some tenure systems that are effective and others that are not, more details are required. Charter school as a private schools that does not meet state accountability standards should not receive taxpayer funds. Need more information for G. | |||
| a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | |||
| b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | |||
| c) Do you support state funding for improvements to Wisconsin's energy infrastructure? | |||
| d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | |||
| e) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | |||
| State funding of alternative and traditional energy sources goes together as utilities are required to maintain enough capacity to meet energy needs. Building designs should include energy efficiencies including heating and cooling and lighting. We need focus on smarter grid, with real time adjustment for multiple sources of energy. We should develop systems allowing for distributed energy production included in energy buying and selling. These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issue carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. | |||
| a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | |||
| b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | |||
| c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? | |||
| d) Should a license be required for gun possession? | |||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issue carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. I will work with local and state law enforcement officers and my constituents as these issues come to the state legislature. | |||
| a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | |||
| b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | |||
| c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | |||
| Yes | d) Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act? | ||
| e) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | |||
| f) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | |||
| g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | |||
| These are complex questions that are not able to be answered in a simple yes/no fashion. I study each issue carefully, listen to constituents and make decisions based on specific legislative language. I support the system that Wisconsin uses with the Patient Compensation Fund as it is set up. Federal regulations that limit the ability to study and validate the medicinal effects of marijuana need to be lifted so research can be done to understand these medicinal effects. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Yes | b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Wisconsin's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Wisconsin's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Wisconsin can have stronger economic policies that keep jobs in Wisconsin by supporting and growing our small local businesses right where they are located. A strong public education system is needed to make sure we have strong communities with the workers and leaders for tomorrow. The local, Fox Valley Regional Transit Authority enabling legislation is a legislative priority for me. |
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