Tim Twardzik
Republican | Pennsylvania
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Tim Twardzik
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 123
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN, BA, 81
Shenandoah Valley High School, Shenandoah PA, 77
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Lehigh Valley Health Schuylkill, Secretary, Legatus Lehigh Valley Chapter
President, SEDCO, Chairman
Schuylkill Industrial Development Authority, Chairman, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
President, Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce, President
MMI Preparatory School, Board of Directors / Campaign Chairman, Central PA Food Bank
Board of Directors, Diocese of Allentown School Board, Board of Directors
University of Notre Dame Monogram Club, Board of Directors
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
PA House of Representatives, 2
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2021-2022
100%
2021-2022
88%, 88% (cum.)†
2021-2022
|100%
2021-2022
|88%, 88% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Pennsylvania
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
FARMER
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Jerry Knowles (2015)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2021)
Mike Tobash (2021)
Rick Santorum (2006)
State Republican Party Organizations (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe it is important goal to try and protect every life. In circumstances where the mother’s health or rape need to be compassionately considered.
iVoterGuide Notes:
After the Questionnaire deadline, candidate
notified iVoterGuide that the answer should read:"I believe the goal of good health care is to protect life at every
stage—from conception to natural death. While every public and private resource
should be available to extend compassionate help victims of rape and incest,
the goal of government should be to protect a mother and the child she carries.
If it is clear that a pregnancy will result in the death of the mother,
medicine should err on the side of protecting her life."
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?
I support the common sense Tax Payer Protection Act that would limit state spending and taxes to the rate of inflation and population growth. I voted to reduce the Corporate Net Income Tax and support continued reductions to make our state more competitive. The CNI keeps new jobs out and makes it harder to retain jobs in the state. The out of date School Property Tax needs to be replaced.
iVoterGuide Notes:
After the Questionnaire deadline, candidate
notified iVoterGuide that the answer should read:
"Pennsylvania already requires a balanced budget, but waste, fraud, and
abuse exist within every state budget. Passing and implementing a Taxpayer
Protection Amendment—limiting spending to the rate of inflation and population
growth would put us on the path to fiscal stability."
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
There are almost endless possibilities to make our government more efficient and to reform and abolish programs that have outlived their purpose. One of my father’s favorite sayings was to take pride in your work and try and improve just a little bit every time. We have that opportunity to make those changes.
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?
None. Protected by 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) We must continue to modernize Medicare and Medicaid to serve the patients and providers. Market based solutions such as medical sharing to health sharing accounts should be allowed to participate in the healthcare marketplace to give choice and help control costs.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Religious and medical vaccine exemptions for our neighbors must be protected.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
I do not have a role in national security policy. However, I would like to see our border secured as the flood of illegal immigrants are traveling throughout our country including Pennsylvania.
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
Yes. This crisis is stressing our services to a breaking point.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Legal immigrants came to our area to mine coal and fuel the Industrial Revolution. We need to follow our immigration laws to protect our 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.
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
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 am a practicing Catholic and member of Legatus - Ambassadors for Christ in the Marketplace
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 joined 13 other Representatives to successfully sue the State over the unconstitutional Act 77 mail in ballot fiasco. The PA Constitution states that VOTERS may change the way votes are cast not the Legislature. A constitutional amendment is needed to make changes. Voter ID, Eliminate drop boxes. Fix mail in balloting to be secure.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Great strides have been made in our country and people enjoy more freedom and opportunity here than anyplace else on the planet.
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). We have become better stewards of the environment - for example my areas past strip mining has been reclaimed by surrendering mining operations. RGGI is an awful tax on energy that will cost Pennsylvanians jobs and not improve the environment.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
We have the resources and technology to safely bring energy to the market.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Provide for the protection and safety of the community.
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).
Search and you will find… variety of newsprint and media stories are on-line
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 have enjoyed serving my neighbors and really appreciate the great work my Capitol and District office staff do for the constituents. I have learned from my fellow legislators on how to navigate the “winding roads” in Harrisburg lawmaking. Committee assignments and their Executive Directors and staff are invaluable in working on issues that are important for our area. I’ve served with Health, Commerce, Education and Urban Affairs this first term and all were affected by the pandemic. My Bill to make Safer Hospital ID Badges became law Act 79 of 2022) and saved medical facilities hundreds of thousands of dollars each while providing safer IDs. I’ll continue to work to move my Blight Fighting Bill forward to combat vacant and blighted properties that ruin neighborhoods. Education improvements and safety, Senior services, Veteran services and lowering taxes continue to be priorities..
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
We need to properly fund and train our Police. I voted for additional funding of mental health and community programs.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I do not support limits on constitutionally-protected freedoms
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
We have a constitutional right and it is the criminal who is responsible not the dealer or manufacturer.
