Greg Knott
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Greg Knott
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 62
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Indiana University, Bloomington, BS Public Affairs, 1997
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Grace Church (Bloomington), member, contributor, volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Monroe County Council, 2014
US House (IN9), 2010
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I used to think "for the life of the mother" but have since learned that is just a cop out answer that some politicians like to claim, when in reality there is never a medical reason to kill the baby once it has been removed from the womb, even in the rare circumstances when the life of the mother would require removal. So now I do not believe there is ever a justification to kill a child before birth. Scientifically, this is a separate human life with unique DNA.
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
I think gov't has no role in this issue and should not make any laws either way. There are plenty of ways a person can end their own life now without any assistance. By the property rights principle of "self-ownership" there should be no laws against a person committing suicide. Any laws regarding suicide should be repealed immediately.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Freedom of Religion and association should not be infringed.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
No circumstances per our 1st Amendment.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
All forms of terrorism, regardless of the motive or the perpetrator are already illegal in Indiana. There is no law that can "eradicate" terrorism, only laws that can punish it, so I'm not sure I understand the premise of this question.
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
Israel and the Palestinians should work out their own issues and the USA shouldn't meddle. I do not think this is an issue the State of Indiana should be meddling in.
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.
Personally, I'm closest to D, but that isn't politically feasible. Also, I'm running for state legislature and Medicaid and Medicare are federal programs.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government - only if it is government employees like the military, or Private employers that receive federal contracts - it could be a condition of those contracts, for example, nursing homes could be required to get all their employees vaccinated if they want to be eligible to receive federal funding. Schools - all private schools should be able to set their own policies per the foundation of Western Civilization - private property rights. Public school policy should be set by the Indiana General Assembly or local boards. Anything else is big gov't infringement of private property rights. Employers - should be able to set their own policies per the foundation of Western Civilization - private property rights. Anything else is big gov't infringement of private property rights.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
In principle, tax laws should have a broad base, few if any loopholes or breaks, and as low of a rate as possible to support essential government services like police, fire, roads, etc. To the extent possible we should have zero tax on the fruits of labor, savings, and investment; and only tax things like consumption and natural resources. Taxing the fruits of our labor discourages work.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Indiana is required to balance the budget.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The Indiana Constitution requires taxpayer funded education only through high school and that is the way it should be in my view.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Of course the US should secure all of our borders, but this is not an Indiana issues. We do not have any international borders, only an International Airport and it is very secure.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Law abiding and hard working people who are willing to work and contribute to our economy. I do not think there should be a "path to citizenship" for everyone who wants to come and be a guest worker in our country. They simply want to work here, send some money back to their families, and return to their families, not come here permanently, become citizens and vote, etc. We need a strong guest worker program because of the extreme shortage of workers, not a "path to citizenship" type program. However, all of this is a US issue and not an Indiana issue.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Educational Savings Accounts where all the funding follows the student to the school of their choice is the best system because there are no gov't restrictions attached to it that place an undue burden on private schools. Vouchers are better than nothing, but not near as good as ESAs.
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
Absolutely not! Qualified Immunity is Judicial Activism and very bad policy. Police who commit abuse and misconduct should be held fully accountable for their actions and not soil the good reputation of the good police. Nobody is above the law!
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Police are an essential service and should be fully funded.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The people who have committed felonies are currently banned from possession of firearms. They have proven they cannot handle that right responsibly. There should be absolutely no restrictions on gun ownership for law abiding adults who have not been adjudicated as mentally unfit with Due Process.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Anyone can sue any manufacturer, but they should lose these frivolous cases and have to pay the attorney fees of the dealers and manufacturers.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect life, liberty and property, and to punish and deter the initiation of violence or fraud. Our constitutions provide an excellent framework on the limits of government power and the proper role of government, but are too often ignored by those who swear an oath to uphold them.
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
I support individual liberty 100%. In today's terminology that makes me "very conservative", but it is what we used to refer to as "Classical Liberalism". Funny how the meaning of words change over time. At the federal level I find myself agreeing most often with elected officials like Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, and Mike Lee. At the state level I often agree with Curt Nisly, John Jacob, Zach Payne and Chris Jeter. I think Eric Holcomb is a RINO and has been a horrible Governor.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Google Greg Knott or Greg "No Bull" Knott. My views are out there and have not changed. I'm a very libertarian leaning constitutional conservative Republican like Rand Paul. I actually volunteered for him in his first primary race in 2010 and spent over a week knocking doors for him in Kentucky as part of the Young Americans for Liberty group of volunteers. I'm a long time activist for individual God given liberties.
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?
My most important vote will be for Speaker of the House. I will vote for a member of the Hazlitt Coalition (Curt Nisly, John Jacob, Zach Payne, or Chris Jeter). The current Republican leadership is too liberal and has blocked conservative legislation from getting to the House floor for an up/down vote. Voting for the status quo leadership will guarantee our agenda doesn't even get a vote and will die in committee. If someone claims to support our agenda then they need to commit to voting for new leadership.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
This is an undeniable truth. It is historical fact and not subject to opinion.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
No, I do not support this. We need to protect Freedom of Association and property rights.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Choose not to answer
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred right - not a government granted privilege as a "marriage license" implies. Marriage licenses should be abolished and marriages should be between the individuals, God, and their church. Get government completely out of marriage once and for all!
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
CRT is an incorrect theory. The best solution to all this indoctrination in public schools is Educational Savings Accounts so that parents can enroll their children in a school that fits their values.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christ follower. I believe we are all sinners and that He died on the cross for my sins so that I could have everlasting life if I accept Him as my Lord and Savior. I believe our fundamental rights come from God and are enumerated in our US Constitution and Indiana Constitution. Government cannot take away what God has given us.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
The exception to this in Indiana is currently mail-in absentee ballots. This loophole should be closed and an application for a mail-in ballot should be accompanied by a copy of a photo ID issued by gov't or the last 4 digits of the voter's SSN.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
First, close the Voter ID loophole for mail-in ballots as I described above. Second, require every Indiana county to use voting machines that produce a paper trail that can be re-counted and audited by hand if necessary, and do this by the 2024 election.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is a social problem that has to be solved by changing the hearts and minds of individuals. All crimes, including racially motivated crimes, are already illegal. There is no gov't solution to this social problem.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Nobody alive today participated in moral wrong of slavery, and their property should not be confiscated to pay former slaves who are all dead anyway.
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.
For the most part, most environmental issues can be remedied in civil court with the person causing the problem being held liable to pay damages. Command & control environmental laws are usually ineffective compared to this tort law remedy.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
Of course, and I also support neighboring property owner's rights to sue the fracking company if their property is damaged by the fracking. Property rights are fundamental in all these issues.
