Michelle Jones' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
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.
Michelle Jones has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.
Georgia State Legislative Election 2016 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| As a proud mother of three children, and a one-time single mother, I hold pro-life principles, and support communities, and the government doing everything they can to promote and support mothers, families, and healthy babies. We can work together to come up with solutions to reduce abortions. With that said, women deserve reproductive choice to determine their own futures, and the issue of abortion is between a woman, her doctor, and her faith, without the government needing to intervene except to ensure safety for women, and reduce illegal, unsafe abortions. | |||
1) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Georgia's budget.2) State Spending: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.3) State Taxes: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.
| No | a) Tapping into Georgia's "rainy day" fund | ||
| No | b) Decreasing funding for public universities | ||
| No | c) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions | ||
| No | d) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | ||
| Slightly Increase | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Slightly Increase | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Slightly Increase | c) Environment | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Health care | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Law enforcement/corrections | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Transportation/infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Increase | g) Welfare | ||
| Maintain Status | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | d) Small business taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Gas/Oil taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Property taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | g) Sales taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | i) Income taxes (mid-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | j) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Yes | k) Do you support applying sales taxes to all online purchases? | ||
| With responsible budgeting, we can ensure Georgia's finances remain strong and healthy. The same principles that I use to help balance the budget and pay bills for my family, and family business, are ones I will apply as a state legislator when it comes to spending and fiscal issues for Georgia. Protecting taxpayers, and ensuring efficient government is my focus. | |||
| Georgia's students deserve the best education possible, both K-12, and higher education. In order to ensure that we can meet the needs of students, slight increases in spending are needed. Likewise, investment in healthcare, transportation, and the environment are important for protecting, and improving quality of life in Georgia, along with promoting economic growth. Spending in welfare should be focused on making sure those able to work can find quality employment, and get themselves, and their families off of public assistance, and out of poverty. | |||
| I support examining all types taxation, and their rates, in Georgia, with a focus on decreasing taxes on working, and middle class families, while ensuring that corporations in particular are paying taxes comparable to the government services they utilize. Georgia families and small businesses deserve to keep more of what they earn, and this is something I know first hand with both my family, and my family business. | |||
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? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| Transparency and governmental reform is an important part of my campaign platform. We need limits on campaign contributions, and spending to discourage corruption, and make sure our elected officials, and those running for office are focused on what would be best for the people of Georgia, and not special interest groups, big donors, and lobbyists. The influence of money in politics is corrupting at all levels of government in both parties. We also need transparency so we know who is funding politicians. I support reforming redistricting to prevent gerrymandering, and districts that aren't representative of our state. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana? | ||
| No | d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction? | ||
| The death penalty should only be invoked for heinous crimes such as murder, rape, and child sexual abuse, and safeguards are needed to ensure those executed are truly guilty. I'm a big supporter of criminal justice reform overall, including the reforms promoted by Governor Deal. Incarceration for non-violent offenders is an expensive burden on taxpayers and often doesn't produce the intend result of rehabilitating those who have broken the law. Local and state law enforcement should be focused on protecting public safety, rather than expensive, and complicated enforcement of federal immigration law related to minor offenses. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | ||
| Yes | i) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage? | ||
| No | j) Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them? | ||
| Unnecessary regulations on businesses should be removed, or reformed to promote economic growth, however, we need to ensure protections exists for workers, health and safety, consumers, and the environment. Targeted spending and programs that promote economic growth, without being a kickback to special interests, are a good investment. The minimum wage should be raised considerably to help working families, and reduce dependence on welfare, however, I support exemptions for small and family businesses who would be burdened by an increase. | |||
| No | a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative? | ||
| No | b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| Yes | g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Georgia high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| We need community based solutions on education, not federal mandates such as Common Core. As a parent, I'm involved myself in my children's education, and I view parental involvement as key to successful education policy. Higher education is the pathway to prosperity, that's why we need to do more to support Georgia students, and prevent them from running up student debt, and make sure they stay in school, focusing on learning. Charter schools, homeschooling, and other alternative schools do work for families, and have benefits, however we need to ensure access to a quality education is available to all children. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| No | 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 state funding for improvements to Georgia's energy infrastructure? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? | ||
| Hall County, and the state of Georgia has been a leader in the private sector for renewable energy businesses. As a state legislator, I will continue to promote and support these modern job creators, while ensuring Georgia has the energy infrastructure necessary to support our growing population. | |||
| 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 citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Do you support allowing concealed carry on public college campuses in Georgia? | ||
| Yes | e) Should a license be required for gun possession? | ||
| I support the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms, as outlined in the second amendment. I support Georgians keeping themselves, and their families safe by owning firearms, and those who use them for sport, and recreational activities. With that said, we still need responsible policies that ensure those with bad intentions, and unstable individuals do not have easy access to firearms. | |||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| No | f) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | ||
| Medicaid expansion is essential to helping Georgia families that fall within the "coverage gap", and not only will increasing access to quality health care help families, it will also help businesses, by reducing illness in the workforce that leads to decreased productivity. Reducing the cost of medical insurance, and promoting choice and freedom for Georgians when it comes to their health care is important to me as well. Medical Marijuana is a proven medicine that helps those with special needs, disabled children, veterans, and more. We need to ensure Georgia patients have legal access. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Georgia's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Georgia's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | d) Based on the religious beliefs of the owners, should businesses be allowed to refuse services to their employees and/or customers? | ||
| As a person of faith, and a person with a role in my family business, I understand the unique relationship that exists between those seeking to practice and follow their deeply held religious beliefs, and the need to ensure freedom when it comes to commerce. RFRA and similar laws are harmful to Georgia's economy, and it is best the government not get involved in the practice of religion. We also need protections that make Georgia safe and welcoming to all who seek to live, and work here. | |||
| My priority as a state legislator will be to put Hall County first. I will first listen to the community, and hear from them on the priorities they would like to see completed in the next legislative session. In terms of my platform priorities, expanding Medicaid, restoring full funding to the HOPE scholarship program, and legislation to support, and promote small businesses in Georgia are my top 3 priorities. |
Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.