Christopher Leone's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
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Christopher Leone has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2018 Political Courage Test.
Arizona State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | 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? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| I do NOT support public money being used for abortion. I do support funding for affordable contraception and education to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The way forward is to work with all entities to reduce unwanted pregnancies, thereby reducing abortion. Reducing unwanted pregnancies necessitates providing education and accurate information that is unbiased and non-judgmental to everyone. When an unwanted pregnancy occurs, making adoption an equally viable option to terminating a pregnancy or raising a child must be a common goal. | |||
1) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Arizona'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? | ||
| As online sales, better gas mileage, and other structural changes to our economy reduce revenues to the State General Fund, it is time for a comprehensive review of our state's tax structure that draws from the collective imagination of all our elected state representatives. A comprehensive approach to tax reform that includes a service tax could not only provide an additional $1 billion annually for education, but if done right, it could help to align long-term funding for health care and public safety. | |||
| No | 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? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| For those who have difficulty getting to a government agency to obtain a photo ID, I would like to see other options considered, such as providing transportation or having one or more agencies offer a mobile ID service. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| Everyone, including state and local police, must be involved in making communities safe. No one should have to live in a community or go to a school where they do not feel safe. Public safety is one of my top priorities. A safer Arizona is a stronger Arizona. Stopping lawbreakers as soon as possible not only benefits law-abiding citizens, but it also benefits the lawbreakers who are on a path that is not sustainable. We must also consider prison reform the redirects and incentivizes both public and private prisons toward longterm/permanent rehabilitation that reduces recidivism dramatically. | |||
| 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? | ||
| No | f) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Arizona? | ||
| No | g) Should local governments be permitted to impose restrictions on plastic bag use by local retailers? | ||
| Arizona must continue to remain a stable and attractive place to invest, live, and start a business. The most important thing legislators can do now is to put into place a forward-looking, data-driven strategy for budgeting. A stable government where individuals and businesses know what to expect begets a stable economy. Access to quality public education as well as higher education and workforce training opportunities is also essential to developing a sustainable economy that can benefit Arizonans of all income levels who see to make the most of themselves. | |||
| No | a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Arizona? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Arizona high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget? | ||
| Without a party platform to guide me, I had a heart-to-heart with myself before beginning my campaign, which led to putting education at the top of my list, not only because I have three sons in public school, but because it is essential to representative democracy. At the top of my education list was a teacher pay increase of 20 percent; I advocated for a pay increase before RedForEd. I am also calling for: Consolidating school districts, Reducing the average class size, Increasing teacher autonomy, Increasing district spent in classrooms to 70%, School choice, No on Prop. 305. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| One of the first things the State Legislature needs to do is stop and then reverse the trend in groundwater basin depletion with sensible legislation that protects our environment without stifling growth and development. Independents, free of partisan and private interests, are best equipped to forge win-win solutions that safeguard groundwater levels while allowing for growth and development. I support actions to reduce and limit carbon emissions, which lead to a higher average mean temperature, which in turn makes our water-shortage worse. I support utility-scale renewable energy efforts and zero-energy design for commercial and residential buildings to minimize water usage. | |||
| 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? | ||
| No | c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom? | ||
| No | d) Should a license be required for gun ownership? | ||
| I support more effective gun regulations that protect everyone while protecting our Second Amendment rights. Weapons must be removed from those who would harm others. The Safe Schools Arizona plan must get passed because it: 1. Enables a Severe Threat Order of Protection (STOP) so that any weapon can be quickly removed from an individual 2. Holds gun owners responsible for keeping their guns stored safely 3. Provides funding to make school less vulnerable in an attack including funding for SROs 4. Increases funding for mental and behavioral health in K12 | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Arizona'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? | ||
| Regarding healthcare insurance, I would like to see incentives that make coverage nearly universally and state-run risk adjustment pools that encourage competition among insurance providers based on the quality and personalization of medical insurance programs. I would like to see the most popular provisions of ACA incorporated into our State insurance code. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Arizona's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Arizona's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support greater efforts by Arizona state government in closing the pay gap between men and women? | ||
| My mother established the first chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in our New Jersey community, some 50 years ago. I grew up with two sisters, one older and one younger. I will do everything I can to support and amplify the message and work of the #MeToo movement. Moreover, I will work to educate both men and women in the Legislature and throughout Arizona that sexual harassment is unacceptable and ignoring the sexual harassment of a co-worker is also intolerable. I will support stakeholders working to mark and celebrate the centennial of women's suffrage in 2020. | |||
| My top priority has been EDUCATION from the moment I began my campaign. Every student deserves a great teacher, and every teacher deserves a great compensation agreement. I will vote no on Prop 305. My second priority is HEALTHCARE. Everyone needs access to affordable, comprehensive health care, including people with pre-existing conditions. Equally important and at the foundation of a strong Arizona is PUBLIC SAFETY. Everybody deserves to feel safe in their communities especially in our schools. See section on Budget, Spending, & Tax Issues for funding explanation. |
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