Andy Biggs
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Andy Biggs
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 5
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Brigham Young University, Provo, B.A. Asian Studies, 1982
University of Arizona, Tucson, J.D., 1984
Arizona State University, Tempe, M.A. Political Science, 1999
WORK & MILITARY
United States Congress, U.S. Represenative, 2017-Present
Arizona State Senate, Senate President, 2011-2017
Arizona State House, State Representative, 2003-2011
Attorney-at-Law
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
U.S. Representative, 2017-Present
Arizona State Senate, 2011-2017
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (8)
Arizona Free Enterprise Club
Arizona Right to Life Action
Campaign for Working Families
Center for Arizona Policy Action (CAP Action)
Citizens United Political Victory Fund
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (19)
Brian Fitzpatrick (2019)
Bruce Poliquin (2018)
Club for Growth (2016)
Daniel (Dan) Bishop (2019)
Don Bacon (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (42)
Campaign for Working Families (2018)
Citizens Against Government Waste (2018)
Citizens United (2019)
Club for Growth (2016)
Conservative Promises PAC (2016)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2016)
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (2020)
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (2018)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I am staunchly pro-life and do not support abortion. According to St. Joseph’s Pregnancy Resource Clinic, 0.1% of abortions in the United States since 2012 were performed to save the life of the mother and I would not support expanding the circumstances under which they are performed.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of church and state is not mentioned anywhere in the U.S. Constitution. It is rooted in a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to Danbury Baptist Church arguing that no religious sect should receive primacy over another by virtue of government power or influence. Sadly, we’ve seen that notion of separation be twisted into a belief that religion and government may not intermingle in any way and used to eradicate religion from the public square. It’s time to reverse that notion so that citizens can practice their faith in all circumstances.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
To maintain peace here at home, I am a firm believer in the policy of “peace through strength.” In addition to a robust military force, we must also have control of our Nation’s borders. These are the two most fundamental principles of national security that we must not compromise on if we are to defend against this threat.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Lower costs and higher quality care are not mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, we have seen that increased government intrusion has not led to better outcomes and has only served to increase distortions in the marketplace. To combat the issues we face, we must repeal Obamacare in its entirety. I have and will continue to push for more freedom and less regulatory red tape to finally bring relief to providers and patients alike. Our physicians are the most dedicated and skilled in the world, and I believe that they know how to care for their patients better than any bureaucrat does. The sooner the doctor/patient relationship begins to look less like the result of a system and more like a personal relationship, the better off we’ll be.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
We must keep the promises made to those who currently or will soon rely on Social Security for their retirement. Recently, the Social Security Board of Trustees projected that the Social Security “trust fund” will run out of cash reserves by 2034. This is especially sobering when we consider our Nation’s enormous debt load of $21 trillion and the fact that the funds which pay these benefits are taken from the general fund. When we consider the state of our Nation’s finances, one thing is clear: the government should not be trusted with such a large portion of the American people’s retirement funds. With our national debt now exceeding our GDP, we must ensure that Americans are not forced to turn over their hard-earned savings to bail out big-spending politicians. As we increase the freedom of individuals to determine how and where they will save their own money, we will better protect future generations from suffering the crushing effects of austerity and uncertainty.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Now approaching $27 trillion, our national debt has become a threat to our national security. Our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be saddled with the burdens of Congress’ irresponsible and out-of-control spending habits. We must cease spending on unconstitutional federal programs and pass a true balanced budget that respects our constitutional foundations and prevents future economic collapse.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
Taxpayers should never be on the hook for student loans. The increase in federal assistance, including loan forgiveness programs, has allowed the cost of higher education to skyrocket, while saddling graduates with unsustainable levels of debt. Student loan debt now tops $1.6 trillion, second only to mortgage debt. Rather than seek additional federal funds, students should be cost-conscious consumers that force colleges and universities to offer innovative programs at reasonable rates.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Our immigration policies should support the interests of our nation while always protecting American jobs. We should move towards a merit-based system that allows individuals with in-demand skill sets who will create additional jobs and increase economic opportunities for all Americans. We must also address rampant illegal immigration, end birthright citizenship, and eliminate chain migration. We cannot truly protect our citizens and communities unless we reclaim our sovereignty and restore control over our nation’s borders.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
New restrictions on our Second Amendment rights are not necessary to keep our communities safe. Legal gun ownership by law-abiding citizens is not the driver of criminal activity in our nation. Criminals by definition do not follow the law, and new restrictions will do little to curb gun violence. The loss of faith, breakdown of family, and acceptance of cultural violence are the root of many of these unfortunate instances.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
I will introduce legislation to ensure Congress passes a balanced budget, to reduce the cost of healthcare by increasing options for consumers and removing government mandates, and to fund and build the border wall to keep our nation safe.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Failure to respect the dignity of all human life, no matter the color of their skin, will threaten the fabric of our nation. Every individual should have equal opportunity to pursue their dream and better their life, no matter their race, religion, sex, or economic background. The United States provides that opportunity better than any other nation in the world. We cannot let race become a wedge that drives us apart as it will only hamper the ability of us all to succeed.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Ratings by Conservative Watchdog Groups: Club for Growth: 100%; FreedomWorks: 98%; Americans for Prosperity: 96%; American Conservative Union: 94% Heritage Action: 94%
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
First and foremost, I am a Christian. I believe that each of us is a child of the same God and that He loves us. As God’s children, we are endowed by Him with rights that are as natural and necessary to the human soul as breathing is to the human body. Our natural rights cannot be granted to us by government, as they are not a government’s to give. Ultimately, the duty of our governments is to protect these inherent rights by ensuring that each of us are free to live and fulfill the measure of our creation.
