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Candace Ayars' 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.

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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Candace Ayars has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2024 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Kansas State Legislative Election 2024 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
No c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds (e.g. Medicaid) for organizations that perform abortions?
These organizations perform many other essential healthcare services primarily for low income women. For that reason, they should receive taxpayer funds as appropriate to any healthcare organization.
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support limiting state government spending on social programs (e.g. SNAP, TANF)?
No b) Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to promote economic growth?
Yes c) Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs in your state?
Corporations and wealthier individuals should pay their fair share of taxes.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for violent crimes?
No b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No d) Do you support the use of private prisons?
No e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders?
There are some cases where an adolescent should be prosecuted as an adult, but generally, this should not happen. Judges should have discretion to impose sentences that are appropriate for individual situations.
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
No b) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector (e.g. for business or the environment)?
Yes c) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Kansas?
Yes d) Do you support government spending on affordable housing projects in Kansas?
Yes a) Do you support adopting federal education standards (e.g. Common Core) in Kansas?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Kansas?
Yes d) Should immigrants in the United States who graduate from Kansas high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities, regardless of immigration status?
Given that immigrants have been in the state long enough to graduate from a Kansas high school, that should entitle them to resident status with respect to a college education regardless of their documentation because there is a high likelihood they will remain in the state as productive taxpayers.
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No b) Do you support state governments allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
Yes a)Do you support limiting campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
Yes b) Do you support the use of an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting?
No c) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes d) Do you support automatic voter registration?
Yes e) Do you support the implementation of ranked choice voting in Kansas?
Yes a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, closing the boyfriend loophole)?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Do you support the right to concealed carry in Kansas?
There needs to be consideration of the different situations with respect to guns in rural vs. urban areas. The different needs of citizens in these different situations make some gun control laws necessary; however, law-abiding citizens should not have a problem with basic gun sense laws to protect urban areas from gun violence, especially with respect to school and other mass shootings. Urban citizens need to understand the very real need of rural citizens to have guns for practical purposes.
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program such as Medicare-for-All?
Yes c) Should an individual have the right to choose to die (e.g. those with a terminal illness) through euthanasia?
Yes d) Do you support mandating vaccinations (e.g. for school or employment)?
Yes e) Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
Yes f) Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
Yes g) Do you support legalizing medical marijuana for patients who have chronic diseases, conditions, AND/OR are terminally ill?
No h) Do you support banning gender affirming care for transgender youth in Kansas?
I do not support limiting an individual's access to healthcare for any reason and this includes those seeking gender affirming care. This is the purview of medical professionals and the legislature should not be practicing medicine without a license. A medical professional will know best how to approach the care of individuals in this situation.
Yes a) Do you support inclusion of sexual orientation in Kansas' anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Kansas' anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Kansas' state government in closing gender, racial, and other wage gaps?
I am committed to tax reform in Kansas to ensure the continuation and improvement of a graduated income tax as well as tax policy to lower property taxes. I support public school funding and will resist attempts to divert that funding to private schools for any reason. I support expansion of Medicaid to increase access to healthcare for low income Kansans.

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