Editors Note: For his honesty with voters by answering "The Conservatism Test For Primaries 2010" David Larsen, CD 7, earns the "Justified Right Seal of Approval!"
Here are David's answers:
CONSERVATISM TEST FOR PRIMARIES 2010
1. Do you believe that a human being’s rights are granted automatically when the human being is created, or do you believe that rights are granted by the establishment of laws?
The rights of every human being, regardless of sex, race or creed, are established by God when he created each of us.
2. Regardless of how it were done (by Constitutional Amendment, Referendum or Statute), would you support or oppose a change in American law regarding abortion, to make abortions illegal except in cases of rape, incest or where the life of the mother is in danger
Yes, more than 50 million dead babies in America since Roe vs. Wade is a tragedy of unimaginable proportion. Abortion on demand must be stopped and I would wholeheartedly support the repeal of Roe vs. Wade and any measures that move in that direction.
3. Do you support or oppose federal funding of embryonic stem cell research?
I oppose funding of embryonic stem cell research, but would support proven technology such as placental cell research.
4. Do you support or oppose the use of marijuana as a medicine if prescribed by a physician?
No.
5. Do you support or oppose the government having the power to disallow homosexuals marrying?
I believe in marriage between one man and one woman only.
6. Do you support or oppose the government having the power to disallow heterosexuals marrying?
No.
7. State whether you supported or opposed the President’s recent health insurance initiative signed into law, and if you opposed it, state if you had an alternative plan and what it was.
The President’s recent Health Insurance Tax will cost us, our children and our grandchildren more than a trillion dollars. Forcing people to buy health insurance either individually or through an employer mandate could require nearly 100 million Americans to switch to a more expensive health plan. In addition, this would violate President Obama’s pledge to allow people to keep their current health insurance. Rather than forcing people to buy health insurance, Congress should make it more affordable by creating inter-state commerce laws that allow people to choose their own plan from any state in the Union instead of just from the state they live in. Breaking up state monopolies on health insurance would increase competition among health plans and provide more options for individuals. It would also increase access to coverage for people currently uninsured, without imposing new taxes or government subsidies.
Also, there are weighty regulations on providers that increase healthcare costs because most providers need to obtain licenses from every state in which they practice. If one state recognized the licensing of physicians and clinicians from another state, this would benefit the consumer. Getting rid of licensing monopolies would provide a greater array of options to consumers by allowing greater competition among providers. Right now the consumers’ options are limited because states can hold those options at bay with licensing regulations.
Another major change that would greatly help individuals and families is to allow portability in the purchase of healthcare. One of the problems with the current system is that if you lose your job, you lose your healthcare. With companies paying less and less of their employees’ healthcare tab due to skyrocketing costs, we need to give control of healthcare back to employees and individuals. Congress can do this by reforming the tax treatment of healthcare using large health savings accounts. These health savings accounts would reduce the number of uninsured Americans and free workers to buy health coverage from any source, not just the increasingly limited options that many employers are forced to offer these days. Putting people in charge of their own healthcare dollars would help eliminate wasteful spending as they see exactly what their money is paying for.
8. Do you believe the passage of a law requiring individuals to purchase health insurance is a power Congress has pursuant to the Commerce Clause or the General Welfare clauses in the U. S. Constitution?
No.
9. New Jersey Republican Congressmen Smith, LoBiondo and Lance voted for the President’s “Cap and Trade” plan. Would you have voted the same as those Congressmen did, or would you have voted oppositely from them?
No. Cap and Trade is just a huge tax on already struggling American businesses, which they have to pass on to us, the consumers
Do you support Israel’s plan to build housing in East Jerusalem? Do you think East Jerusalem should rightfully be under Israeli or Arab control, or the control of someone else?
America should remains friends with the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel. As an issue of national sovereignty, they have a right to do what they see fit for their citizenry.
11. Should the concept of "irreducible complexity" be taught in high school biology classes, or should it be banned from discussion?
Yes, the concept of "irreducible complexity" should be considered in public schools.
12. What could your Democratic opponent have done differently to stop the closing of Fort Monmouth?
We need to research this issue more.
13. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide if the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms applies to the states. Do you believe that it does?
I do not have a Democrat opponent. But I am a small business owner and it is clear that this will impact businesses in the Fort Monmouth area. Recent articles (www.app.com5/20/10) have indicated that business owners are bracing for the anticipated negative impact, which cannot be good for NJ’s already struggling economy.
14. Do you support or oppose the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v FEC which changed the law on corporate campaign spending?
No, I do not support that decision.
15. Did you support or oppose the passage of President Bush’s $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and support or oppose President Obama’s $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act??
No and no.
16. Does America have a "wall of separation between Church and State" or a "prohibition against excessive entanglement of Church and State?"
According to the U.S. Constitution, no such wall should exist. The framers of the Constitution were trying to avoid one religion from being established as a state religion, as occurred in Britain.
17. Do you support or oppose Eminent Domain where the taken property will ultimately be privately developed and owned?
Adamantly oppose the taking of private property. It is protected under the 14th amendment to the Constitution.
18. Do you support or oppose amnesty from deportation for non-citizens who illegally enter America?
Oppose. My mother and grandparents came to this country from Norway legally. I welcome people of diverse backgrounds, but ask that they come here legally.
19. Do you support or oppose adjusting the age limits and means testing for Social Security Benefits?
No.
20. Do you believe the government has the power to proscribe private discrimination? If your answer is yes, do you believe the 1st Amendment protection of Freedom of Association should be repealed?
No.