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 Parent Advocate

2008

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Do you support or oppose the use of public funds for abortion (e.g., paying for abortion, promoting abortion, subsidizing organizations that provide or refer for abortion)?

Article XII, Section 8 of the Nebraska Constitution (Initiative 300) restricts non-family-farm corporations from owning Nebraska farm/ranch land and engaging in farming/ranching in this state. Should this provision be: Left Alone? Modified (in what way)? Repealed?

What public-policy changes and/or initiatives should be pursued, if any, to bring about greater economic development in Nebraska’s rural communities that depend on agricultural production?

Do you support or oppose a ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

As the State of Nebraska moves forward with a corrections reform plan (LB 46, 2003) that emphasizes community-based corrections for offenders (including substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, work-release and educational opportunities), what is your position on promoting greater use and coordination of probation and parole, rather than incarceration?

Do you support or oppose repealing the death penalty and replacing it with a sentence of imprisonment for life with no possibility of parole—subject only to the constitutional power of the Board of Pardons (Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State)—and with a mandatory order of restitution?

Do you support or oppose providing state support, through education-expense tax credits, vouchers, and/or tax credits for donations to fund K-12 scholarships, to enhance the ability of families to choose any K-12 school—public, private or religiously-oriented—they deem best-suited for the education of their children?

Do you support or oppose enabling state-certificated teachers employed by state approved and accredited private and religiously oriented schools to participate in state-sponsored professional development programs on a basis equitable with that of public school teachers?

Do you support or oppose a ban on research that requires the destruction of live human embryos in order to obtain their stem cells for experimentation (embryonic stem cell research)?

Do you support or oppose changing Nebraska law to make it legal for physicians to administer lethal injections or give lethal drugs to terminally ill patients who request that their deaths be caused in this manner?

What is your position regarding the Nebraska Behavioral Health Services Act (LB 1083, 2004), which is intended to reform the state's behavioral health system by using limited resources more efficiently and by transitioning from regional centers to an array of community-based services?

Do you support or oppose ensuring, as a matter of legislation, that (newly arrived) immigrants, who are employed, paying taxes and living in Nebraska, have access to basic services, including education, public assistance and driver’s licensing, regardless of immigration status?

Do you support or oppose preserving tax-exempt status for property owned by religious, educational and charitable organizations and used predominantly for religious, educational and/or charitable purposes?

Do you support or oppose reinstating the sales tax on home-prepared food purchases?

Do you support or oppose providing adequate funding for transitional support (i.e., job training, childcare, transportation and medical care) for individuals striving to become self-sufficient by following the state’s track from welfare to work (i.e., Employment First welfare program)?

Do you support or oppose the "family cap" welfare policy, which prohibits additional cash assistance for children born to mothers already receiving aid for dependent children?

Comments: As a pro-life candidate, who has been endorsed by "Nebraska Right to Life", I do not believe that public funds (tax payers’ money) should be used for abortion purposes.

Comments: As a farmer who is involved in agriculture I believe Initiative 300 should be left alone. I could only support modifying it to withstand a court challenge.

Comments: A policy change would be to properly and fairly fund our rural schools and not rely so heavily on property taxes as a source of revenue to fund our schools.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: I do not believe we should clone human embryos for any purpose.

Comments: I support community based corrections as long as there are strict, monitored safeguards in place to protect the citizens of the community.

Repealing death penalty and replacing it with imprisonment for life without possibility of parole and with mandatory order of restitution?

Comments: I oppose repealing the death penalty, but due to the cost of litigation in carrying out the sentence I would consider imprisonment for life with no parole.

No specific response

Comments: I am still studying the issues revolving around vouchers.

Comments: If these programs will help educate our children then I support enabling all teachers, regardless of the school in which they teach, to participate in professional development programs.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: Since this would be destroying a human life I would support a ban on this research.

Comments: I do not support any law that enables a human being to take his own life.

Comments: If this can be done for the patients’ benefit and the community is safeguarded, I can support this legislation.

Comments: As long as these immigrants are legally living here, employed, and paying taxes they should have access to basic services.

Comments: I do not believe that property owned by non-profit organizations should be taxed.

No specific response

Comments: At this time I would need more information to make an educated decision regarding this issue.

Comments: It is important to encourage individuals to help themselves.

No specific response

Comments: I would like to find a way to encourage mothers to be more responsible and accountable rather than enabling them to be dependent on welfare.

District 1

Comments: Being a lifetime member of the Catholic Church, a former church-board member, and a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, I realize the importance of, and will work at overturning the Rowe (sic) vs. Wade decision and preventing abortions.

Comments: I believe that farming has changed dramatically since Initiative 300 was enacted and support a review of the law. There may be ways to modify the language so as to adapt it to meet the needs of today’s agricultural community. We must not permit corporate farming operations to overtake the industry.

Comments: It is important to preserve the core values of rural Nebraska, but in so doing we must also look to the future. Rural economic development must be supported by Nebraska’s lawmakers, through programs that encourage growth and stability. Perhaps incentive programs that work in larger industries could be tailored to support growth in the smaller rural businesses as well.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: Ethics has always been a boundary that shouldn’t be sacrificed for scientific research. Recent complications in the area of animal cloning reinforce the idea that scientists have crossed into an area that should be off-limits.

Comments: In recognition of the fact that our State’s prisons are suffering from a real overcrowding problem and that the criminal justice system continues to be a huge drain to the general fund of the State, it is important to find new and innovative ways to deal with the various criminal offenders of society. We should encourage those that have the capacity to become productive members of the community, but protect us from those who pose a threat to the innocent.

Repealing death penalty and replacing it with imprisonment for life without possibility of parole and with mandatory order of restitution?

Comments: Unfortunately I must support the death penalty in certain, heinous crimes both for purposes of deterrence and the protection of society. Currently there are less than ten persons on Nebraska’s death row, indicating that the ultimate penalty is not over-used by our penal system. I think that repealing the death penalty would have a chance if a very limited appeal system was added to the above question.

No specific response

No specific response

No specific response

Comments: I strongly believe that the parochial schools of the state provide a great education to their students and as a member of St. Paulinus Catholic Church in Syracuse we make substantial financial contributions to the Lourdes School in Nebraska City. At the present time however, the public schools of the state are tremendously under-funded and as a state senator I cannot currently support programs that draw from state aid to education. If the situation were to change, then I would consider financial relief alternatives in favor of accredited parochial schools as an important matter.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: I do not support the use of electively aborted fetal cells for research purposes.

Comments: Such a law would effectively sanction murder.

Comments: The limited resources of the state’s healthcare system in general warrant the need to implement alternatives that best utilize every available dollar.

No specific response

Comments: Immigrants have played a large and important role in Nebraska’s history and developing future and should not be totally ignored by the legislature. Those who wish to become legal citizens should be provided with incentives and opportunity to do just that, including the most basic of services. There must be safeguards incorporated to any legislation relating to the matter in order to prevent and/or limit abuses.

Comments: I support the tax-exempt status of such organizations, as long as those claiming the status are legitimate organizations.

Comments: At this time.

Comments: Generally, I support transitional support to individuals who are sincere in their desire to become self-sufficient. The state cannot afford to tolerate blatant abuses of such programs, however.

Oppose (???)

Comments: A policy like this "family cap" has to be administered very carefully, so as to provide basic care, but discourage abuse. We must continue to encourage individuals who are capable of working to do so, but can’t do so at the expense of innocent children.

Comments: It should be studied. It seems rather restrictive to the small investor who may wish to invest in agriculture.

Comments: Increase the incentive program for small businesses. Increase funding for agricultural research at the Univ. More products means more chances to use the largest industry in our state—agriculture.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: Research into the use (of) adult stem cells should continue and hopefully will be the answer to curing or controlling many diseases.

Comments: There are far less expensive alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders of the law—alternatives that can be just as punishing as incarceration and still keep the offenders working and supporting themselves and their families.

Comments: I believe that life without parole is the sentence we should be using, but until more people in Nebraska share this belief, we must work to see that the death penalty is used as fairly and humanely as possible.

Comments: The constitution and laws of Nebraska require tax supported public schools. When someone doesn’t pay that tax or reduces it some way, the rest of us are required to pay more.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: Much progress is being shown in the use of adult stem cells.

Comments: Community based programs work best.

Comments: These kinds of expenditure save bigger dollars spent later on.

Comments: The money is for the child.

District 3

Candidate did not respond.

No response

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

No specific response

Comments: Undecided. My primary concern is for the safety and welfare of innocent victims.

No specific response

Comments: Where will the money come from to pay for these programs is the question we are faced with.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

No response

No response

No response

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: I support the uniform delivery of probation and parole services under one administrative framework. The current delivery system, under two separate branches of government, lacks cohesive collaboration. A merged system offers enhanced parole capacity, continuum of service and reduced recidivism. It is the next logical step in our endeavor toward a community corrections model.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: Reform focus ought to be centered upon the best interest of patients and their families. This can best be achieved by a genuine shift away from an institutional environment of care to truly community based care. I sincerely hope the fidelity of LB 1083 is maintained in the reform process and that we do not merely establish a "Regional Center" in a more densely populated area of the state.

Comments: Support access to services for immigrants that have initiated the necessary steps toward legal residence/citizenship.

Comments: I feel there should be greater economic development in rural communities.

Comments: We should revive rural economic development initiatives, and continue public/private partnerships such as Main Street business consulting conducted by our universities.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: Non-violent, non-repeat offenders should not be incarcerated at greater cost to the community than community-based corrections.

Support

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: However, we need to make sure that there is no break in services for persons who need this care.

Comments: This is a difficult decision to make because it is very important to me to make sure that children are not penalized through this system.

District 9

Comments: I am the only Pro Life candidate for Legislative District 9. I believe life begins at conception. I am morally against all abortions, all euthanasia, and all artificial formation of human life outside the womb. I have been endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life.

Comments: I support the spirit of discovering new ways to expand the rural economy and enhancing the family farm environment by providing additional opportunities for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers and would have voted in favor of LB 1086 to determine if modification of I-300 is warranted.

Comments: I would work to provide regulatory relief in an effort to simplify the process of continuing to provide a safe and affordable food supply to an expanded market. More efficient government and less State administration, regulation and control will result in lower taxes and lower production costs.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: I am morally opposed to all artificial formation of human life outside the womb.

Comments: I will work with the Department of Corrections to find ways to reduce the prison population by transitioning non-violent offenders to an environment of rehabilitation through greater use of an expanded parole system. The parole system could be expanded by merging with the probation system, providing a savings to taxpayers.

Comments: I will work to find ways to maintain the integrity of the public, private or religiously-oriented schools as the above stated funding mechanisms carry with them stipulations that could dilute and homogenize the essence of the private programs and redefine the demographics of the student populations in all environments.

Comments: I support all classroom educators regardless of their place of employment and especially support those teachers willing to expand their abilities to better benefit our children.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: I am the only Pro Life candidate for Legislative District 9. I believe life begins at conception. I am morally against all abortions, all euthanasia, and all artificial formation of human life outside the womb.

Comments: I am the only Pro Life candidate for Legislative District 9. I believe life begins at conception. I am morally against all abortions, all euthanasia, and all artificial formation of human life outside the womb for the purpose of cloning or fertility treatment, all assisted suicide, and all so-called mercy killings.

Comments: I support expanding public/private partnerships in the local communities to provide the needed mechanism to seamlessly transition patients from a condition of dependency to a state of self-sufficiency.

Comments: I fully support nurturing legal immigrants and providing access to all basic services. I strongly oppose providing the services to any population that chooses to break the laws that govern us, define who we are and create the environment so many are attracted to.

Comments: Preserving tax-exempt status relating to religious, educational and charitable organizations helps to maintain those entities so they will be able to provide their various services to our communities as they do today and in a future expanded public/private partnership environment.

Comments: I fully support providing opportunities to help people transition from a state of dependency to condition self-sufficiency.

Comments: We are a caring, loving, compassionate people. That is who we are, that is what defines us as a society. We must be careful of our commitments and expenditures, but our first obligation is to our children. Our children represent our future and our hope for a kinder world.

Candidate did not respond.

Comments: Tax incentive package developed for rural communities.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

No specific response

Comments: Oppose a blanket ban, such as last year, which would ban surgery used cloned cells, such as healing spinal cord injury.

Comments: Strongly.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

No specific response

Comments: Oppose blanket bans.

District 13

Candidate did not respond.

Candidate did not respond.

Comments: Abortion should be illegal. I believe that life begins at conception.

Comments: Perhaps it should be looked at with input from ag sector.

Comments: We have to look at value-added initiatives to market our ag products. Continue to support our Micro Enterprise programs and have to get more industry into rural Nebraska, but those in the rural areas have be the initiators.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: It makes more sense to rehabilitate those non-violent offenders to make them productive members of society. In the last session we began to promote this and we must continue.

Comments: If we could do as suggested, with guarantees I would support it, but I don’t think that it would happen.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: We should never create and destroy one to perhaps save another.

Comments: I supported the legislation because it will serve the clients much better. But, I will oppose closing any of the institutions until there is a guaranteed placement for everyone.

No specific response

Comments: If they are here legally with the intent of becoming citizens.

Comments: It has been working and necessary that we continue on the same track.

Comments: We cannot deprive a child of support because of the actions of the mother.

District 17

Candidate did not respond.

Comments: Now that John DeCamp has filed a lawsuit over the constitutionality of I-300, I believe it is in the best interests of our state to await its outcome and react accordingly.

Comments: I strongly support LB 775 and would like to see programs developed that encourage economic development in the rural areas. I believe Nebraska must take steps to preserve and enhance livestock production across the state.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: Each case presents unique factors and issues. I do believe in the effectiveness of drug courts.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

No specific response

Comments: Undecided. I need to research this issue further.

No specific response

Comments: It is unclear what is meant by "basic services’ in this question. I would need more information.

No specific response

Comments: Undecided. I need to research this issue further.

Comments: Generally opposed given our state’s budget situation. However, I am open-minded and would like to see a detailed plan and more information.

Comments: Many things are being looked at and some are more successful than others. It takes a strong local community to attract new businesses.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: Only for non-violent offenders.

(Question mark)

Comments: Yes, if the school or individual pays any necessary fees.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

No specific response

Comments: "Requires" is the key word. I would not support creating embryos for this purpose.

(Question mark)

Comments: Some patients should be treated in a regional center. Get community services running before closing Hastings and Norfolk.

Comments: Only if they are legal immigrants.

Comments: However, this could be the only tax some people pay.

No specific response

Comments: I do not support abortions. However, there are times when a pregnancy creates significant long-term health problems or threatens the life of the mother. Abortions may be necessary in such cases and if the woman meets a needs criteria for publicly funded medical assistance then I support her receiving it. [Comments exceeded length limitation; additional comments on file at the Nebraska Catholic Conference.]

Comments: I-300 is important in protecting farming opportunities as well as our rural communities. If I-300 can be improved to better protect rural communities and agricultural opportunities without risking its being declared unconstitutional, I would support those modifications. However, I will not support modification if it puts Initiative 300 at risk of being eliminated.

Comments: Nebraska needs to provide economic development funding more equitably between efforts that benefit large corporations and metropolitan areas and those benefiting small businesses and rural Nebraska. At present Nebraska commits over $200 to development activities that benefit large corporations and primarily the metropolitan areas of the State for every $1 committed to efforts that will benefit small businesses, which are more likely to locate in rural communities. We can do a better job than that. We can also educate our rural youth in entrepreneurial skills so they have the confidence and skills to start their own rural businesses. We need to follow the example of other states and help small businesses promote their value added products through a "Buy Nebraska" campaign.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

No specific response

Comments: I need to know more about this topic to answer this intelligently. At my present level of understanding, I would not support cloning to create human embryos.

Comments: There are certainly cases where incarceration is required and it should be used for those cases. However, it is expensive and is often not effective in preventing repeat offenders. There are a number of cases where the community based corrections concept is a very viable option. I would support a greater use of probation and parole with treatment (where appropriate) and rehabilitation (including training and educational opportunities) where appropriate.

No specific response

Comments: This is a very tough question for me. At one time in my life I opposed the death penalty. I felt and still feel that society should set a strong example regarding the commandment "Thou shall not kill". Then I became a father and had a hard time reconciling the horrible crimes committed on children by some individuals. If we continue to have a death penalty it should be restricted to the most horrific crimes.

No specific response

Comments: Based on national comparisons, Nebraska has a very good public education system. It would be even better if it was adequately financed. Having the state fund two systems (public and private) through tax credits and vouchers would make the financial situation worse and would hurt the quality of the public education system that most children and their families rely upon. I don’t think Nebraska can afford funding both the public and private education systems. I need to know more about the Scholarship Tax Credits, but I lean toward supporting.

No specific response

Comments: I need more information on this subject, but my initial reaction is to support this proposal.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

No specific answer

Comments: I do not believe in the creation of live human embryos so they can be destroyed to obtain their stem cells. However, just as many loving families donate the bodies of loved ones to science or their organs to others in desperate need of a new heart or lungs, I believe that embryonic tissue from miscarriages or from fertilized eggs created by in-vitro fertilization clinics that will not be needed and therefore destroyed should be allowed to be donated according to the family’s wishes.

Comments: Before I would take a position on a bill on this subject, I would want to learn much more about this area. However, if a community-based system is more efficient and provides the same level of services to the clients and is safe for the citizens of the community, I would support it.

No specific response

Comments: If their immigration status is legal, I believe they should have access to the same services as all other citizens. If their status is illegal, I do not believe they have the same rights to these services as legal residents. I do support educating all children living in our state regardless of status. Not because it is our responsibility as a state, but because it is the Christian thing to do and it will be to our benefit if they manage to remain in our state into their adulthood.

Comments: Yes, with restrictions on what the property can be used for when it is not being used for religious, educational, or charitable purposes.

Comments: Sales tax on home-prepared food is one of the most regressive taxes (requiring low-income citizens to pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than other citizens). The State needs to look at its tax structure, but taxes on home-prepared food should be a last resort.

No specific response

Comments: I understand the intent of the "family cap" – to discourage a person from having additional children in order to get a larger welfare check. Perhaps there are better, more effective ways of helping women in poverty become less reliant on public assistance than by punishing them and their families for becoming pregnant. It is an area I need to learn more about before choosing to support or oppose the above statement.

District 23

Comments: I feel that there are opportunities to tailor incentive programs with population limits that would create more opportunity for smaller communities.

Enacting ban on cloning processes that create human embryos for any purpose?

Comments: I like this idea, but it must have considerable thought. There is no room for error with lives of potential future victims.

No specific response

No specific response

No specific response

Comments: At this time I am supportive of these measures, but I need to fully educate myself before a final conclusion is made.

Enacting ban on research that destroys live human embryos for their stem cells?

Comments: Making health care affordable for the state is crucial, but is this best manor (sic) to do it, I am not totally convinced. I will look forward to obtaining more information and the views of both sides.

Comments: I support this measure only if it is proven to work and it is heavily monitored.

Candidate did not respond.

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