Mark Tippetts
Libertarian | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mark Tippetts
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
Governor
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
(Candidate did not provide)
WORK & MILITARY
Self Employed, Owner, 20
AFFILIATIONS
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lago Vista City Council (TX), 2017
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Travis County Judge, 2010
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Bill Weld (2018)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue, and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, I believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.
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.
Agree
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?
None. Republican Governor Abbott closed churches for COVID-19 but that was abuse of his authority and he should not have done that.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The U.S. should have a non-interventionist policy. Bring our troops home from around the world. Stop bombing and invading foreign countries. Invading Middle Eastern countries causes terrorism.
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.
Neutral
The United States should stop meddling in foreign affairs. We have our own problems to solve here in Texas.
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.
D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government should not require vaccinations. Private schools and employers should have the right to choose whether or not to require vaccinations. I'm a Libertarian.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Eliminate the property tax. Cut taxes and spending. Eliminate corporate welfare (tax incentives for businesses).
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
All government spending should be reduced.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Disagree
I'm against building a wall. It's a waste of taxpayer money. We should make legal immigration easier.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
It’s nearly impossible to immigrate to America legally unless you’re a high-tech worker or have family connections. Most illegal immigrants come here to work in construction, landscape, clean homes, work in restaurants, and many other low-skilled jobs that most citizens don’t want to do. The typical illegal immigrant pays $5,000 to have a coyote smuggle them across the border. Immigrants risks their lives crossing the Rio Grande and stretches of dessert and often must hide in dangerous, and sometimes deadly, hot trucks. The federal government spends billions policing the border and the state spends millions as well trying to stop illegal immigration, but it doesn’t work. We could end most illegal immigration by enacting a good comprehensive immigration policy, making it easier for honest, hardworking people to come work and live here legally. While some immigrants take advantage of free government services and welfare, most economists agree that on average, immigrants use social services much less than American citizens, and are a net positive to the economy. I do not minimize the seriousness of the illegal immigration problem (and by extension, drugs, trafficking, crime, etc), and I believe that all countries international borders and points of entry should be respected. I do not believe, nor do I advocate, that people can or should cross an international border at any point they wish, as to do so is usually trespassing on private property. Just like at my home, I am open and inviting but they must enter my front door not over the rear fence. However, we must put the problem in perspective, in order to solve it. Governor Abbott declared that we have a robust immigration policy that should be followed by everyone who wishes to migrate to this great nation. What governor Abbott failed to mention is that our immigration policy is more of an impossible immigration policy than a robust immigration policy. He also failed to mention that both Republicans and Democrats have been promising, for decades, to pass a comprehensive humanitarian immigration policy. The reality is that both Republicans and Democrats politically capitalize on the lack of a comprehensive humanitarian immigration policy. With that said, until we have a true comprehensive humanitarian Federal immigration policy, the only thing a Republican or Democrat governor will do is put band aids on the problem. It will take a Libertarian Governor of Texas, using all the power at his disposal, to force the Federal government, Democrats and Republicans, to enact a comprehensive humanitarian federal immigration policy. I would like to see a comprehensive immigration policy that would take into consideration the shortage of laborers, the labor offered by immigration, the trade of ideas and commerce between countries and people, while at the same time taking into consideration the humanitarian plight of immigrant women and children. As outlined by our Constitution, this is a federal issue and must be solved at the federal level.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Disagree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I fully support the Second Amendment.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Too often Democrats want to force you to spend your money a certain way and Republicans want to force you to behave a certain way. Government should protect our liberties, not take them away.
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?
Moderate
Libertarian: for personal and economic liberty. Against socialism and against religious authoritarianism.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
KHOU: https://tinyurl.com/39c3dvfz
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'm for school choice, lower taxes, legalizing marijuana, oppose mandates, and would make it easier to immigrate legally.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Disagree
Freedom is necessary for a system of limited government. Judeo-Christian values sometime establish theocracies and big government, and sometimes establish liberty.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
I am socially tolerant and accepting of alternative lifestyles, but government should stay out of gender issues and should not force views on people.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
The war on drugs is fundamentally racist. I would end the war on drugs.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I support freedom of religion for everyone.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I'm part of a lawsuit to overturn the filing fees that Republicans imposed on Libertarian Party candidates recently. Republicans are scared of Libertarians because we keep pointing out how Republicans have increased taxes and spending at the state, federal, and often at the county levels as well. Democrats also increase taxes and spending, but Republicans are also guilty as charged. We need more choices on the ballot, not fewer. By exposing the bad behavior of Republicans, Libertarians help promote free markets, lower taxes, and less spending.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. Free markets and low taxes create prosperity for all. However, Republicans keep raising taxes, and then try to blame minorities and immigrants for a poor economy. That's racism and economic ignorance that threatens the future prosperity of America and Texas. We need leadership who understands how free markets and liberty leads to peace and prosperity.
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
