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Joe Register's 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.

Joe Register has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2018 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Missouri State Legislative 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 would like to note that being pro-choice does not make one pro-abortion. I believe however that we should focus on the root causes of why women seek to terminate a pregnancy. Adequate healthcare, affordable/accessible contraception, and science backed, fact based sex education will go a long way in lowering abortion rates as well as providing economic opportunity for women and families. We should also urge adoption as well. (C) Public funds should not be used FOR abortions.

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

No a) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No b) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
No c) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
No d) An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
We should think about adding more tax brackets for higher earners. Currently someone that earns $200k pays the same percentage amount as someone that earns $20K.
Yes a) Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
Yes b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
No d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
(D) I truly don't have a problem with needing a photo id to vote however, having to pay for an id to only vote may be construed as a poll tax. If we are to require a photo id to vote there needs to be one free of charge and easy to obtain for any non-id carrying individual so that they may exercise their right to vote.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
Yes c) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
(C) This would depend upon the age of the child and that child should serve their time first in facility away from adult offenders prior to turning 18.
Yes 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?
Yes d) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
Yes e) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
Yes f) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Missouri?
Yes g) Do you support increasing state taxes on tobacco products?
Yes h) Do you support increasing funding for the Missouri Department of Agriculture?
No i) Do you support implementing tolling stations on Interstate 70 to increase transportation funding?
(A/B) There is a time for cutting taxes and a time for government spending to promote economic growth. When to do what is determined by current economic conditions. I support both to be used in different economic times. (C) Depends upon the regulations. But to cut through any "red tape" is worth looking at. (F) Working men and women deserve to earn a living wage not a minimum wage. (H) We must preserve our natural resources and we should help the Department of Agriculture do so.
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Missouri?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Missouri high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
Yes d) Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
(C) I believe everyone should be able to obtain a quality education. (D) Increase funding but not blindly throwing money at a problem as we must ensure that it is being used wisely.
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes b) Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
d) Other or expanded principles:
Yes 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 teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
No d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
(A) Sensible, that doesn't infringe on your 2nd Amendment rights if you have never given a reason to have that right revoked. (B) We must make sure whoever is purchasing a firearm is legally able to do so. (C) This should be left up to the states and individual school districts. (D) Licensing creates registries, and I am not a supporter of that.
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Missouri's health care programs?
No c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
Yes 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?
(A) The opioid epidemic needs to be combatted (B) Medicaid expansion is good for people and hospitals in Missouri. (C) I'm on the fence on the individual mandate. I understand what it is attempting to do, however, I believe in a persons right to make choices for themselves. (D) For terminal cases. (E) Again, a person has the right to make choices for themselves and children.
Yes a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Missouri's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Missouri's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Missouri state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
No d) Do you support the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces?
(A&B) No one should be discriminated against for any reason. (C) If the job requires the same skills and abilities then why are they not paid the same? (D) This needs to be up to citizens to decide if they want to keep Confederate monuments up.
It is important to me that we give our children the tools to compete in the modern world so increasing education funding while focusing on providing children with the skills necessary to compete in the future job market. Rural Missouri needs affordable/quality healthcare. I am willing to work with anyone to get this done. Small businesses must be able to compete with the big ones, in rural Missouri we need reliable high speed internet. The "broad-bandification" of rural Missouri should be a priority.

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