Donald Rients
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Donald Rients
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 105
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, Associate in Applied Science Electronic Technology, 1991
Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, IL, Associate in Science, 1984
Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, Associate in General Education, 1996
Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School, Minonk, IL, High School, 1981
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts - Roanoke Troop 71, Chairman, Gideons International - Livingston County
Varied - President, Vice President, Treasurer, Benson Fire Protection District, President
St. Petri Lutheran Church, Board Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Darin LaHood (2020)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)
State Republican Party Organizations (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Illinois Family Institute Voter Guide
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
If the child is no longer viable, i.e. dead in the womb. Or if the mother would die prior to being able to deliver the child early, i.e. tubular pregnancy.
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?
It should be made less complicated and more straight forward so that lawyers are not needed to figure it out. I beleive that income tax is intrusive to the home and, though it would be very hard to change, that income tax be removed and a value added sales tax be implemented instead. The more you have generally leads to more spending than less wealthy people, so they would pay more depending on their spending.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
First find and eliminate fraud and the wasted spending due to cronyism. I think that pork projects embedded into bills should be limited. Projects worthy of tax payer dollars should be able to stand on their own merit. A long-term goal would be pension reform, where new hires would get an investment or savings fund of their choice. Illinois cannot continue to guarantee high retirement payment models for new employees.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Most of the workforce do not need bachelor degrees for their jobs, nor can they obtain these skills through the classroom. Why should those who do this get a free ride at the expense of the rest of society? We live in a capitlist free market country. Lets keep it that way.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
This shouldn't even be a question. This country has its basis in God and the rights we have come from Him. Included in these rights is to not violate religious doctrine. To make a cake that goes against your faith, or to force moral doctors to perform abortions is horrendous.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None, the citizens of this country are given their rights from God. The goverment is limited in what it can do, per the constitution.
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?
No one should be forced to put foreign substances into their body. Each person should have that choice to decide based on their own circumstances.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Find Islamic terrorist cells in this country that plan to do harm, arrest and convict them.
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?
Any that come here must legally go through the VISA process. There is an extensive list of Visa Catagories and these have to be strictly followed.
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
. Without God you have no grounded morals. Without morals you cannot have grounded laws.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
There are two genders, male and female.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Agree
Goverment does have the ability to marry one man and one woman together even though they aren't religious. That is why this gets an "agree" rather than a "strongly agree". Marriage is between a man and a woman only. As stated earlier, laws are based on morals, and morals come from God. So laws need to be in line with Biblical principles.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
CRT is a terrible evil device designed to destroy this country.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a beleiver and follower of Jesus Christ, which is part of the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Ghost). My values are based on the Bible as the foundation of my salvation and guidance in everything I do in life.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would mandate voter ID, and only citizens vote in all goverment elections.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not a threat to domestic security. I do not see a civil war taking place based on race. This country has come a very long way in race relations, but damaged by the Obama administration. There could be pockets of violence due to people who want to destroy this country by trying to use race to divide us.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Just another stupid idea. Would I get reparations for my great grandpa who fought for the north and was disabled during the civil war. Absolutely not, and I expect none.
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 is closer.
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 provide for the general well being of its citizens by protecting us from outside and inside enemies and threats. It should also provide an infrastructure so that commerence can thrive, giving its citizen a free way to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.shawlocal.com/mywebtimes/news/local/2022/01/28/rients-joins-race-for-105th-district-state-rep/ https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local/2018-02-22/meet-donald-rients-republican-congressional-candidate-march-2018-illinois-primary https://1430wcmy.com/2022/02/21/candidate-intro-don-rients-asking-for-republican-nomination-in-illinois-house-105th/
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?
A representative is to serve the citizens. I will go to office to protect your rights and to help government work for you. I believe that the closer the power is to the people the better the government can serve its constituents. i.e., School Boards. The citizens of this State are not to be ruled over, i.e., unconstitutional mandates, but to be governed as it’s citizens’ request.
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
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Only so guns are not in the hands of non citizens, convicted violent felons, and well proven mentally ill.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
