Joseph Silk
Republican | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joseph Silk
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 2
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, B.A., 2012
WORK & MILITARY
United States Coast Guard, Petty Officer (E-3), 3
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Oklahoma State Senate District 5, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019
A+
2019
84% (cum.)†
2019
76%, 78% (cum.)†
2019
51%, 57% (cum.)†
2019
54%
2019
|84% (cum.)†
2019
|76%, 78% (cum.)†
2019
|51%, 57% (cum.)†
2019
|54%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
|20%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*Free the States
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2016)
National Federation of Independent Business (2016)
Oklahoma Conservative PAC (2016)
State Republican Party Organizations (2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
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 Disagree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Human being of all ages from the time of conceptions should be given equal protection under the law. Most pro-life organizations even by into the "life of the mother, rape, or incest exceptions", which are very immoral. Abortion should be classified as murder, no exceptions. Even if there is pregnancy complications, it should be the physicians duty to perform basic triage and utilize all his medical resources to save every life he can instead of defaulting to murdering the child. If a physician can prove that he did indeed exhaust every medial resource to save the child and mother, in the event the child does not live, naturally he should be immune from liability.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
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?
Legislation needs to be passed that insures all social security that is paid in, is put into investment accounts that guarauntee a certain repayment rate.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Reduce foreign aid drastically, and terminate any government agency/spending that is not a federal government responsibility according the U.S. Constitution.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
Under no circumstance should tax payers pay off others student loans.
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?
The term "Separations of Church and State" is found no where in the Constitution, and was actually in one of the Federalist papers talking about how the Government should not adopt an official denomination. In no way should the government be involved in or influence the Church however the Church should be actively involved in political activity, and should influence the government. Moral guidance, found in scripture should apply to all law the government passes. The Government should not influence the Church
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
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?
The focus should be on decreasing the cost of medical expenses and services. The medical industry has driven costs up to a completely unethical cost due to the issue with insurance companies only paying a certain amount. Again, if the government would focus on insuring that health care services are fair and ethical, the cost of insurance would decrease drastically.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
1. Keep the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the CIA very strong and active with a focus on preventing terrorism. 2.Keep engaging in military activity oversee against terrorist organizations. 3. Closely screen and monitor those who enter the U.S. from other countries to ensure they do not have ties to terrorism.
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.
Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who is willing to abide by our Constitution, and be a productive, law abiding citizen should eventually be allowed to migrate to the United States.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
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.
I am evangelical protestant who believes the Bible is the holy word of God and teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and the sole means of salvation, as well as the Godhead is a trinity consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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.
Google "Senator Joseph Silk, Oklahoma" and you will find a host of articles and TV interviews regarding my political activity from my 6 years in the Oklahoma State Senate
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?
Visit silkforcongress.com
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?
No gun restriction on law abiding citizens are needed for public safely. The best way to keep the general public safe is to allow law abiding, legal citizens to keep and bear arms without government infringement.
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.
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?
1. Empower the States and limit the Federal Government back into the 10th ammendment restraints. 2. Balanced budget legislation, mandating that the Federal Government start the process of passing a balanced budget and reduce national debt. 3. Push for term limits on congress
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. The percentage of people who are truly racist are so few that they do not pose a risk to domestic security. Racism is a horrible thing and should not be condoned, however true racism is rare.
