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Mark McCracken's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
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Mark McCracken has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Pennsylvania State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Pro-life a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
Yes 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?
Yes g) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
No h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
I will use my experience as a father and consult my conscience to guide me in any LIFE decisions I will make as a state representative. I support the landmark 1989 Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act championed by Governor Robert P. Casey. I will support policies that will provide women with options to prevent unwanted pregnancies, programs to promote adoption and programs that will help the mother if she makes the decision to keep and raise her child. However, I respect that the law allows a woman to make the ultimate decision in private without interference by the state government.

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 Pennsylvania's budget.

Slightly Increase a) Education (higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Slightly Increase c) Environment
Maintain Status d) Health care
Maintain Status e) Law enforcement/corrections
Slightly Increase f) Transportation/infrastructure
Maintain Status g) Welfare
Slightly Increase h) Other or expanded categories:
Slightly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase b) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status c) Corporate taxes
Slightly Increase d) Gas/Oil taxes
Slightly Decrease e) Property taxes
Maintain Status f) Sales taxes
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (low-income families)
Maintain Status h) Income taxes (mid-income families)
Slightly Increase i) Income taxes (high-income families)
Slightly Increase j) Other or expanded categories:
Yes a) Tapping into Pennsylvania's "rainy day" fund
No b) Increasing tuition rates at public universities
No c) Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
No d) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
No e) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
No f) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
Yes g) Stricter enforcement of the "use tax"
I believe we will have some crucial decisions to make in the very near future that will require the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide some increased funding for our public schools, DEP and PennDOT. The current trend of stagnant or decreased funding is leading to increased local school real estate taxes. We need to make sure DEP is properly funded in light of the ongoing expansion of gas drilling so they can properly enforce existing regulations. We also need to address the issue of structurally deficient roads and bridges.
I believe the time has come for the PA Legislature to agree on a bi-partisan plan on comprehensive tax reform that will lessen the burden on residential real estate taxes. There is also the need to find a fair way to raise adequate funding for highway and bridge construction that will be consistent and keep up with growing costs. While I supported the recently enacted impact fee on Marcellus shale gas drilling, I also believe we must keep an open mind to find other ways to generate revenue from the drilling activity.
I support efforts to "right size" state government by closely reviewing spending and programs to find and eliminate waste where it exists. I am going to be a strong advocate for the PA Legislature to take the lead by decreasing waste and spending inside the PA Senate and House. We need to lead the way by doing more with less - eliminating automatic annual COLAs on members pay, doing away with perks of the office and having members of the legislature do more of their own leg work.

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?
On Voter ID - I believe there could be a reasonable compromise to the recently enacted Voter ID that would allow precinct level election boards, under the direction of the precinct Judge of Election, to request voter ID IF there is a concern by members of the election board about the validity of a particular voter. However, if a voter is someone who is recognized by all or most of the election board members, then they should be permitted to sign in and vote as has been the long standing practice in Pennsylvania.
Yes 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) Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
Yes d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes e) Should a minor who sends 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?
On prosecuting minors accused of violent crimes as an adult, while I support this, law enforcement must only utilize this in those rare situations where the crime warrants it. On criminal charges if a minor sends sexually explicit photos via cell phone or over the internet, I believe these actions must be discouraged and minors must understand the serious nature and danger they put themselves in by doing this type of activity.
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?
Yes 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?
g) Other or expanded principles:
a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
No 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?
Yes e) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
No g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Pennsylvania high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
I haven't studied the Common Core State Standards enough to offer an opinion at this time. On tenure, I believe the majority of teachers who have tenure are effective. On vouchers, with the fiscal crisis Pennsylvania is currently in, I don't believe we can invest the limited education funds we have on a voucher program. I believe we need to take a closer look at the impact that cyber schooling is having on students. I am concerned that cyber school is not offering enough structure to students enrolled in cyber school.
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)?
Yes c) Do you support increased regulations on hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" in the Marcellus Shale?
Yes d) Do you support a statewide impact fee on drillers at the local level?
Yes e) Do you support state funding for improvements to Pennsylvania's energy infrastructure?
Yes f) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
No g) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
I believe we need to continue to closely monitor the impacts of hydraulic fracturing AKA fracking, and be ready to impose additional regulations if there is compelling evidence of environmental damage from the fracking process. I believe environmental regulations pertaining to climate change are a federal / EPA issue and should be regulated at that level.
No a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
No b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No c) Should municipalities be able to enforce stricter gun laws than state law?
Yes d) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
No e) Should a license be required for gun possession?
I fully support the 2nd Amendment rights guaranteed to all law abiding citizens of the United States. The Founding Fathers intended for these rights to be absolute and no elected representative at any level of government should tamper with these rights. Secondary, but just as important as our individual rights, is the recognition that gun ownership is a key part of our culture and economy in the 74th district. The traditions of hunting and outdoor sports are passed down from generation to generation and have a strong positive impact on our local economy, local businesses and tourism.
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) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
No e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
Yes f) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
As county commissioner, I helped to form the Pennsylvania Counties Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative a program that allows member counties to self insure through a shared risk insurance pool. I would like to see the law changed to allow the formation of private industry pools that would allow small and large businesses to join together in risk sharing pools. The important component of this pool structure is that it allows for the refund of unused funds back to the pool members once all claims and administrative fees are settled for a calendar year.
a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Yes b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
e) Other or expanded principles:
If elected to the PA House, my legislative priority items are: 1. Reform of outdated property tax assessment laws 2. Solving the Public Pension Fund Crisis 3. Providing the proper level of state funding for School Districts, County Human Service Programs, Road / Bridge / Infrastructure Improvements 4. Restoring honesty and integrity to state government 5. Providing a high level of service to my constituents and working with both the public and private sector to bring economic and community development to Clearfield County.

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