MISSOURI & ILLINOIS FEDERAL LEVEL QUESTIONNAIRE

The following questionnaire was sent to candidates for the following offices: President and Vice President of the United States, United States Senators, United States House of Representatives.

1.  Terrorism & National Security
[a]  We should do whatever it takes to safeguard our nation against terrorism even though it may mean the restriction or suspension of certain Constitutional rights and protections.

[b]  The limiting of citizens' rights will not stop terrorism. The government's role in fighting terrorism should be confined to its original Constitutional role, such as controlling immigration and protecting our borders.

2.  Education
[a]  Federal support and control of education is absolutely necessary to ensure that none of our nation's children are left behind when it comes to receiving a high quality education needed to compete in a global economy.

[b]  Education should be supported and controlled at the state and local levels with minimal federal involvement.

[c]  Education of children should be left in the hands of parents without federal or state control.

3.  Second Amendment
[a]  The control of guns to reduce or eliminate crime and protect our children is extremely important. The Second Amendment applies only to the National Guard, military and law enforcement, not the general public.

[b]  I support the use of firearms for sporting, recreational and home defense purposes, but believe all guns should be registered and we should prohibit the ownership of assault weapons.

[c]  The Second Amendment broadly protects the rights of individual Americans to keep and bear arms. Gun control infringes upon those rights and violates the original intent of the Second Amendment.

4.  Legislative Philosophy
[a]  Issues related to morality are very subjective. Therefore, government should not legislate morality.

[b]  America is a melting pot of different beliefs and values. Since we live in a democracy, laws that relate to moral issues should reflect the views of the majority of our citizens.

[c]  All laws legislate morality. Since our nation was founded upon the moral principles of the Christian belief system, those principles should be our guide to the enactment of any legislation.

5.  Abortion
[a]  The freedom to have an abortion is, and should remain, a woman's choice.

[b]  All forms of abortion should be allowed except partial-birth abortions.

[c]  Abortions should not be allowed except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

[d]  Abortions should not be allowed except to save the life of the mother.

[e]  Under no circumstances should abortions be allowed.

6.  Taxation
[a]  The Constitution gives full authority to the federal government to levy taxes as necessary to provide for national defense and support of programs which aid the states and citizens in general.  The present IRS Tax Codes may need some revision, but should not be dramatically changed or eliminated.

[b]  The present IRS tax system needs to be totally revamped or scrapped for a more equitable system where the wealthy truly pay their fair share; the tax burden upon families and the poor is lessened; more services can be provided for those in need; and the size of government can be reduced.

[c]  Our nation today more closely resembles a democracy (which our founders adamantly opposed) rather than a constitutional republic. For example, our taxation system no longer resembles what was established by our founders. Our taxing system needs to return to what was outlined in the original Constitution.

7.  The U.S. Constitution
[a]  The U.S. Constitution is an historical part of the founding of our country.  It is the document that gives us our rights and liberties and outlines how we should govern ourselves as a nation.  Because the Constitution is a living, breathing document, it requires continual scrutiny and revision as the needs of our society change.

[b]  I view the U.S. Constitution as one of the primary founding documents of our country.  It should never be interpreted without first considering the intent of our founding fathers when it was written.  I recognize that it can be changed only through a properly enacted amendment, after careful consideration and public debate.

8.  Global Governance
[a]  As a world leader, the United States must make every effort to unite the world in peace, justice & economic prosperity for all nations. Working hand and hand with the United Nations will help achieve these goals.

[b]  The United States should always strive for world peace, justice and economic prosperity for all nations. However, we must never enter into any agreement that erodes our national sovereignty and we need to withdraw from any such agreement that we are involved in today.

9.  Health Care
[a]  A good portion of our citizens cannot afford the high costs of medicines and other health care expenses. Government must help those who need health care assistance just as it does in other areas of social concern.

[b]  Government should provide limited health care assistance to those who cannot afford the high cost of certain medicines and health care, but should not strive to become our nation's health care provider.

[c]  Government should not be in the health care business, whether it's paying for medicines or subsidizing other medical expenses. It is not the government's responsibility to pay for its citizen's medical care.

10.  Discrimination
[a]  The rights of all citizens, regardless of their race, nationality, religion, sex, age, physical disabilities or sexual preference, should be protected. Government must eliminate discrimination wherever it is found.

[b]  No one should be discriminated against because of their race, nationality, religion, sex, age or physical disabilities. However, special protections based upon someone's sexual preference should not be allowed.