Jeff Howe
Republican | Minnesota
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jeff Howe
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 13
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
St Cloud State University, St Cloud, BES, 1998
WORK & MILITARY
US Navy, Petty Officer 3rd Class, 1978-1981
MN Army National Guard, Lieutenant Colonel, 1983-2017
AFFILIATIONS
Warrior to Citizen, Member, VFW 4847
Member, American Legion 428, Member
Gloria Dei Luthern Church, Member, Rockville Veterans Monument
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
House District 13A, 2013-2018
Senate District 13, 2018-Present
Rockville City Council, 2010-2012
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Stearns County Commissioner, 2002
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2021
100%
2021-2022
100%
2019
94%, 88% (cum.)†
2021
|100%
2021-2022
|100%
2019
|94%, 88% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
|8%, 27% (cum.)†
2021
|0%, 13% (cum.)†
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (4)
Minnesota Gun Owners PAC
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Minnesota
*Patriot Parents
LIBERAL (1)
*International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49
OTHER (2)
*Minnesota Farm Bureau PAC
*Minnesotans for Health and Parental Rights
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association
National Rifle Association
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
National Federation of Idependent Businesses MN
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership PAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
James Newberger (2017)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2016)
State Republican Party Organizations (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
David Osmek (2018)
Many Individual Conservatives Helping Elect Leaders Everywhere (2012)
National Federation of Independent Business (2022)
Tom Emmer (2012)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Dorsey Political Fund (2018)
International Union of Operating Engineers (2022)
North Star SFAA (2018)
Saint Paul Teachers Pension PAC (2022)
Service Employees International Union (2021)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE*
*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only in cases of incest or when life of the mother is at stake
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?
Eliminate Income tax and corporate taxes and rely on sales or consumption taxes. Freeze property taxes on homesteaded properties for those over 65 meeting certain income guidelines.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Reduce the amount of money going to non-profits. Non-profit organizations should get their money from citizens who then should get a tax deduction for supporting that organization. The state should not be taking citizens tax dollars and deciding who to give the money to that decision should remain with the tax payers. I would also reduce many of the State Agencies budgets.
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?
Only when it can be proven that they are not truly a religious organization.
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?
I believe that vaccinations actually prevent an illness then they can require it but there should always be exemptions for those that have objections (either religious or moral) to getting the vaccination. No one should lose their job over a vaccination.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Ensure that all immigrants are properly vetted for radical influences including those illegally crossing our boarders. Schools need to teach civics in the last two years of High School to ensure that young adults understand responsible citizenship.
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?
Those people that are persecuted in their home country should be allowed in after being properly vetted, they must either work to become citizens or return to their home country within a specified period of time. All immigrates should have sponsors to help them assimilate into our culture and work to become citizens within a specified period of time. We must do better in tracking and enforcing our visa and immigration laws to ensure those that are not here legally are processed out of the country.
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 believe that Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins. The belief in Jesus and his sacrifice is far more important that a belief in a certain religion. We all should be working toward acting like our mentor, Jesus Christ.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Eliminate the use of unattended Ballot Drop Boxes. Require valid photo identification with proof of residency to vote. We need to make it easy to vote but hard to cheat.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes, because it divides us as a nation and a people. If we would just treat people with the respect and kindness everyone deserves none of this would be an issue. The destruction of the family unit and the increase in fatherless homes has put many families in poverty with little hope of getting out.
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.
There is a happy medium as we all want clean air and clean water but I am closer to A than B as I believe there is a great deal of over regulation in the pursuit of the perfect over what is good.
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?
Government is there to protect peoples rights in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. The MN constitution also says the government shall provide for the public education and transportation. Government is doing far more than it should and it must be dialed back.
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
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Conservative Political Action Conference rates me at an 88% lifetime and the most conservative active senator in Minnesota.
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 am a fiscal and social conservative. I have served 38 years in the Military with 3 decorated deployments. I served 27 years in the fire service from firefighter to ChiefI believe we must take care of those that protect and take care of us. We must reduce our taxes as we exporting wealth and importing poverty. Many senior and working young adults are relocating out of our state due to taxes and lack of safety in our neighborhoods, this must be fixed.
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?
I believe in the right to protect yourself and the right to keep and bear arms. Those that have committed felonies that involve violence should be prevented from having access to weapons until their civil liberties have been restored.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
