John Young
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Young
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 47
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, Juris Doctor, 2009
Indiana University, Bloomington, BA, 2004
Indian Creek High School, Trafalgar, 1998
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Johnson County Purdue Extension Board, Vice-President, Johnson County Bar Association
First Presbyterian Church, Franklin
Indiana Bass Federation
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Indiana House District 47, 2016-Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Johnson County Council, 2015
Indiana House District 47, 2012
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019
100%
2020
87%, 81% (cum.)†
2019
88%, 77% (cum.)†
2019-2020
77%
2019
|100%
2020
|87%, 81% (cum.)†
2019
|88%, 77% (cum.)†
2019-2020
|77%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2020
|53%
2021
|30%, 33% (cum.)†
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
State Republican Party Organizations (2021)
Tera Klutz (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
State Republican Party Organizations (2018)
Woody Burton (2018)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2019)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Saving the life of a mother. Maybe in some cases of incest or rape, or a combination of both, i.e. biological father rapes and impregnates his 12 year old daughter. However, I'm not sure I would approve if a man was convicted of raping his wife, or a consenting couple that was in an incestuous relationship were conceiving a child. To me, it would be very fact specific on those two scenarios.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Abolish income taxes. There are several good tax reform approaches, but I favor tax policy that is structured as more user-based and/or tied to the consumption of goods. That at least gives a taxpayer some control over the amount of taxes they pay, but moreover casts a wider net on individuals who otherwise escape paying taxes.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
At the state level, we have a budget surplus and, as of this writing, I am working to help pass legislation to give Hoosiers a tax refund. Very fortunately, having a balanced budget and exercising fiscal responsibility is not a worry in Indiana.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never should it be allowed, under any circumstance.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
To start, one would need more details as to the risk. How severe and/or contagious is the disease? Is it like the flu, or covid-19, or is it smallpox or something worse? Who needs to be protected? What is the effectiveness of the vaccine? Would it protect like a polio inoculation, or would it simply provide some resistance? Are there meaningful alternatives? For the government (and this includes schools), as it was recently decided by the US supreme court in regard to the federal OSHA regulations requiring certain businesses to have employees vaccinated for covid-19, it cannot mandate a vaccine, with some exceptions in the field of health care. There are other cases, not overruled by the recent decision, going back over 100 years dealing with smallpox and other vaccines for very deadly diseases that would suggest government could have more authority to require vaccines in other circumstances. These cases include striking down challenges to mandatory school vaccine requirements. These same cases also recognized that a person has a constitutional right and liberty to choose to not receive a vaccine if they have a medical condition or a closely held religious belief. This still holds true today. As for a private employer's decision to require vaccinations, I believe that is a decision a business is entitled to make for itself. I do not believe government should be telling businesses what to do. Industries may be regulated, but to allow government to interfere in how a private employer operates would be a very reckless course. I believe the way to address the issue is to empower the individual employee with the right to be granted a religious or medical exemption from their work. This is why I supported HB 1001 this session. It protects employees without getting in the way of a business, and is consistent with both our state and federal constitutions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
At this point, with the current presidential administration, I just hope we continue to support our allies in the middle east, especially Israel, pay attention, and be vigilant. After the disaster of leaving Afghanistan, however, I fear this is no longer a priority.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
I have no issues with legal immigration, meaning individuals follow the proper steps and honor the terms upon which they were allowed entry. What is concerning is this idea of people coming from the southern border trying to claim refugee status, when they are not what I would call refugees. I have always considered a refugee to be someone who is temporarily displaced, and wants to return to their home when whatever crisis that made them leave is over. I think of the Ukranian refugees right now who have left because of the military invasion--they want to go back to their country. That is not the situation with the people coming from south/central america.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I'm a Presbyterian, and subscribe to conservative Christian beliefs, values and teachings.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would like to see early voting in Indiana shortened. I simply think 30 days is too long. I would also support going back to paper ballots. While inefficient, I do believe it has the most integrity and is worth it.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, because I do not believe there is any significant racism or racist threat in the country. The threat comes from entities that would want people to believe that narrative to divide the country.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To help fulfill the public good and provide a structure for an orderly society.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I am a constitutional conservative.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Please see my voting record found on the Indiana General Assembly website.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I love to fish and be outdoors. I'm also an attorney, and that is of great value in helping me make informed decisions on legislation. In the Indiana House, I am only 1 of 3 practicing attorneys on the republican side. Priority legislation always changes, but property rights issues, local government issues, criminal law matters, and issues involving child services are topics I'm always involved with.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Both can and should be funded independent of the other.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Improper people such as violent felons or similar should not be allowed to own a gun. I do believe that is in the interest of public safety.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
