Robert Poole's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Robert Poole has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2019 Political Courage Test.
Louisiana State Legislative Election 2019 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| Nothing further. I have heard too many cases of rape that resulted in pregnancy where mom chose to carry the baby to term and deliver resulting in a beautiful life, one where mom and baby are even more connected, in many cases, than in "better" circumstances. Even in rape or incest, the child is half that of the rape victim. I will never be pregnant but I cant imagine a situation where a mom chose to give life, even in the toughest of beginnings, where she later regretted it. | |||
1) Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Louisiana's budget.
| No | a) Do you support local governments' say over the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP), which allows approved manufacturing companies to be exempt from paying local property taxes for up to ten years? | ||
| No | b) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions | ||
| Yes | c) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | d) An income tax increase on any tax bracket | ||
| I am not in favor of pay cuts because you do not know what other opportunities an employee forwent in order to take a state position. I would not go back on a commitment already made. I'm even LESS in favor of going back on pension obligations. That is immoral. I am not pleased that so much of the budget is off limits. I would be in favor of legislation and future constitutional provisions that allowed more access to budgetary sacred cows. I'm not yet sure of what specifically I might put on the table but time will tell. | |||
| No | a) Do you support a limit 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? | ||
| No | e) Do you support automatic voter registration? | ||
| on c above I would say I favor outside participation in assisting in redistricting in a way that is fair, legal and equitable for everyone. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Should a minor 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 legislation that would ban holding cell phones while driving? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support lowering state income 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 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 Louisiana? | ||
| No | g) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support using toll revenue to help fund a new bridge over the Mississippi River? | ||
| Clarifying b) I would prefer to repeal all state tax on income and replace with a state sales tax on consumption only, not production, administered at the check-out counter exactly as sales taxes are today. c) I don't favor reducing regulation just for the sake of reducing regulations. I prefer smart regulations, imposed only where necessary. d) I'm not sure I understand the concept of "expanded access." Every citizen should have access to unemployment if they meet the criteria. | |||
| No | a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Louisiana? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| No | c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Louisiana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| No | d) Do you support legalizing sports betting for the purpose of funding early childhood education programs? | ||
| Clarifying a) I would immediately repeal everything that remotely resembles Louisiana's continued support for a federally instituted education standard. I would pull funding immediately for Wit & Wisdom and anything the resembles common-core returning education choice and curriculum to the districts and the teachers. b) My first loyalty is to public education but I do favor state funding for charter schools when the situation demands it. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| No | b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| Clarifying a) to the extent that state money could be used to bolster Louisiana's competitiveness in a renewable energy industry, I would support it, just as I would advancements in any productive economic venture. I would not support government manipulation or coercion intent on thrusting a renewable energy industry before its time. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Clarifying b) background checks are currently required with every firearm sold by a licensed firearm dealer whether that takes place at a gun store or a gun show. c) I have long advocated for willing and capable teachers right and obligation to defend and protect themselves as the first line defense against active school shooting situations. Anything less is immoral. d) licenses should NEVER be required in order to legally exercise any of the enumerated rights in the Bill of Rights. | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| No | b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Louisiana'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? | ||
| Clarifying a) to the extent that it can be afforded, I would. b) I was required to cover my children through Medicaid recently, for a short period. It was very easy to apply for and utilize. I don't know how you could "expand" it unless you force folks to access it. | |||
| No | a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Louisiana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Louisiana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | c) Do you support greater efforts by Louisiana state government in closing the pay gap between men and women? | ||
| Every matrix dealing with pay gap ignores the single most important factor in determining pay expectations...what job are you qualified for? To say there is a pay gap between woman working full time and men working full time, is the same as saying there is a pay gap between stock-clerks at Walmart working full time and stock-brokers at Goldman Sachs working full time. There are far too many other factors at play. Federal and state law prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on a number of factors, sex being one. | |||
| My agenda is decidedly Pro-Freedom, Pro-Family and Pro-Growth. Some of my legislative priorities are removing Louisiana from Common-Core and Wit & Wisdom, requiring American History and Free Enterprise to be taught for graduation, offer "Bible as history and literature" as an elective, End No-Fault Divorce in families with minor children, repeal state "marriage license" requirement such that marriage is in the venue of your choice and accomplished by affidavit filed with Clerk-of-Court, Expand access to civil justice for all citizens by creating position of non-bar, Legal Consultant. There is more but I'm out of room. | |||
| My most daunting of legislative priorities is to repeal the regressive state income tax completely and replace with a statewide sales tax which is progressive, predictable, without loop-holes and easy to understand. Much of the state Department of Revenue can then be reassigned and dissolved by attrition. The rate, yet to be determined, will be revenue neutral in the first year and produce growth and investment that greatly increases revenue to the treasury. |
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