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Billy Toien's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Alaska Gubernatorial Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice 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 Pledge To Remove Government Force, And Threats Of Force From The Matter Of Abortion: Although I don't advocate government force in this matter any more than I do (which is not at all) in the failed drug war; there are those whom as a matter of conscience can't support or condone abortion. I believe that their conscientious-objection also needs to be respected; and they shouldn't be forced in any way to be a participant by way of the use of government funds that have been extracted from them either directly, or indirectly. Freedom & Respect; it goes both ways.

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

No a) Do you support the creation of a state income tax in Alaska?
No b) Do you support using money from the "Permanent Fund" to pay for state programs and services?
Yes c) Do you support state government funding to provide a teachers pension fund?
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?
There is no deficit, "Unassigned $4,834,679,000 $0 $0 $0 -$10,266,329,000 $9,172,073,000 $3,740,423,000. This ($10,381,246,000) should be a zero. This is a bookkeeping error. The (10,266,329,000) in Unassigned Fund Balances should not be there as it should be either positive or a zero. This is a bookkeeping error;" not to mention that 70% of the States assets & revenues historically destined for the so called "budget" have been diverted into OFF BUDGET cash pools, and must be redirected back to the General Fund. The State's finances must be put in order before the above can be addressed.
No a) Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
No 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?
e) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes 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?
No d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
a) I don't trust those in positions of power with other peoples lives. Often, with too much power in the hands of those in authority; the crime transfers to those that judge others. c) If a "minor" doesn't have the rights & privileges of an adult, they shouldn't be punished as such. d) There are good people that are an asset to this country that are forced to leave, or stopped from coming in, because of the silliest of technicalities, while some of the worst are allowed to stay & reek havoc. We need to clean the system first.
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?
No 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 Alaska?
d) "Expanding" is to broad to make a determination. I am only saying no, until I get specifics on what kind of "expansion." e) I might support such, if the politicians proposing it were also required to pee in a bottle. f) One can learn a trade, get his foot into the door & get income, by working for less than minimum wage. Often minimum wage cuts off the bottom rung of the ladder, they can't get on, and continue to live in the dirt. Also, it destroys the incentive to have unions that can bargain for better pay.
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Alaska?
Yes b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
No c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Alaska high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
b) As a Libertarian, I want government out of the education business, and that includes funding (with strings attached) to private schools. But as a transition to total privatization I said yes. c) Again, as a Libertarian, I believe that all educational institutions need to be private, therefore question c) is not something that would even be an issue if the universities were in the private sector and could make their own decisions. But I had to fill the box with something.
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?
No c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
a) I support the development of alternate energies. However this needs to be done in the private sector, as opposed to turning to government (with their associated strings attached) on everything. b) No, because one volcano can pour out more greenhouse gas emissions (a natural part of the ecosystem) than all the factories of the last 100 years. And such regulatory power can be a coercive tool of special interests. c) No, until I see the initiatives. But in the meantime, Alaska Clean Water Fund, assets $293,974,000, & Alaska Drinking Water Fund, assets $207,591,000, & their revenues coming in.
No a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
No 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?
I support an UN-infringed right of self defense It's criminal to disallow anyone the most effective means of self defense. It is no one's duty to be a victim. The 2nd Amendment does not read, "The right to keep & bear sporting goods shall not be infringed." It's the right of the people to keep & bear ARMS, as a check & balance against an armed government. Giving government control over the guns of the people is like hiring the wolf to safeguard the hen-house. I don't trust the motives of any government that fears the guns of it's people.
No a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
No b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Alaska'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?
No f) Should able-bodied Medicaid recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
a) No, because too many people can be railroaded into involuntary & sometimes toxic "treatment," & stamped with a record that can strip them of their rights & opportunities. But for those that want help, I would seek voluntary alternatives that are affordable, safe, & effective. Then, charities could make such possible. b) That would depend on what is in the expansion. d) That which is yours should not require legislative permission from government. e) No one should have to justify saying no. f) No; until I see what the "work requirement" actually is; I will have to say no.
No a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Alaska's anti-discrimination laws?
No b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Alaska's anti-discrimination laws?
No c) Do you support greater efforts by Alaska state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
a) As a Libertarian I do not believe in using the initiation of force (be it by government or anything else) to achieve social goals. b) Same as (a c ) Also, same as (a
a) The repeal & rejection of all unconstitutional violations of our 2nd Amendment at all levels. There will be no additional funding needed for this; just a commitment to our Founding Fathers to obey our Constitution. b) A forensic audit of the 100+ �assets� & incomes historically destined for the State Budget that have been diverted into �Off Budget� cash pools. As Governor I would have the discretionary funds to do this. c) End the Drug War. Prohibition 2 has failed. There will be no more funding required to do this than there was to repeal Prohibition 1 in 1933.

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