1. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, what is your position on providing legal protection for unborn children from the moment of conception?
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
1a. If support, what exceptions, if any, would you require?
a) would not require exceptions
b) life of the mother
c) life of the mother, rape, and incest
DID NOT INDICATE
I believe abortion should be legal but as rare as possible. My efforts to improve our adoption services have been recognized with two national awards.
C - life of the mother, rape, and incest
2. What is your position on research that involves destroying live human embryos to obtain their cells for experimentation (embryonic stem cell research)?
SUPPORT
OPPOSE
3. What is your position on a provision in the state budget to fund contraceptive services?
SUPPORT
I have also increased funding for abstinence education.
OPPOSE
4. What is your position on mandating employers and health insurance plans to cover contraceptives in their prescription drug plans?
SUPPORT
DID NOT INDICATE
The specific health services provided by a certain employer or health insurance plan should be left to the discretion of those providers and employees.
5. What is your position on a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania?
OPPOSE
Capital defendants must have access to experienced and able counsel and to DNA testing, even if they cannot afford it.
OPPOSE
6. What is your position on amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman and prevent civil unions or another functionally equivalent legal status?
OPPOSE
I agree with our existing legal definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman, and I therefore believe the amendment is unnecessary to protect marriage. I have always supported giving same-sex couples in a committed relationship functionally equivalent benefits.
DID NOT INDICATE
I support a clear and unequivocal amendment to the state constitution that defines marriage between one man and one woman.
7. What is your position on legislation that allows only single individuals or married couples to adopt children?
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
8. What is your position on school choice legislation in the form of direct grants, or vouchers, to students to attend the school of their choice?
OPPOSE
I have, nonetheless, doubled funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit.
SUPPORT
We must allow children in perpetually underperforming schools to have other academic options.
9. What is your position on increasing funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), which encourages businesses to donate to K-12 scholarship programs?
SUPPORT
EITC scholarships have doubled since I took office.
SUPPORT
10. What is your position on giving more public dollars to state-funded preschool (ages 3-4) program available to all students regardless of family income and administered exclusively by public school districts?
DID NOT INDICATE
I strongly support pre-kindergarten funding for school districts AS WELL AS for high quality community providers.
OPPOSE
All providers of preschool should be available for state funds.
11. What is your position on legislation to create a registration system for religious child care providers that includes health and safety requirements (but not licensure by the Department of Public Welfare) and preserves their religious freedom (i.e., in curricula and hiring practices, and discipline)?
DID NOT INDICATE
I believe that staff/child ratios, corporal punishment and staff qualifications ARE issues of health and safety.
SUPPORT
12. What is your position on using more public money to make assisted living/personal care more affordable and provide more health care options for the elderly so that they may choose the setting best suited to their needs (i.e., home care, assisted living/personal care, nursing home)?
SUPPORT
I have nearly doubled the number of seniors able to live at home and in dignity while receiving needed services.
SUPPORT
13. What is your position on legislation establishing a review board to impose standards that ensure scientific research in Pennsylvania adheres to ethical principles?
DID NOT INDICATE
I am willing to consider any evidence of the need for such a board.
SUPPORT
We should build off the model in the tobacco settlement legislation.
14. What is your position on legislation that forces Catholic health care providers to provide, pay for or refer for services contrary to their conscience and moral teachings?
DID NOT INDICATE
My position would depend on the specific service.
OPPOSE
Each provider's policy should be made clearly known to the insured associated with the institution.
15. What is your position on the appointment of a task force to examine Pennsylvania's long-term care policy and funding needs for senior care services so Medicaid-funded home and community based alternatives are carried out in partnership with all types of long-term care providers?
SUPPORT
My Long Term Living Council is soliciting input from stakeholders.
SUPPORT