Joseph LeBlanc
Libertarian | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joseph LeBlanc
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist.22
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 4
WORK & MILITARY
United States Army, Military Police, 3
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
No Answer
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
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.
Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Personally, I believe that abortion is wrong. That it should only be an option in the most extreme cases. But I also believe that the government's role in abortion is a very difficult situation. This should be left up to states and localities to decide their course of action.
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.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
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?
That the state cannot make laws based on religion that would favor one religion over another, nor can the state restrict ones right to practice their faith, as long as life, limb and property are not at risk.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Neutral
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
We need to reevaluate what our actions the past 20 years have done to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks, and make changes into how we further approach it in the future. The unfortunate truth is that radicalization will always be a problem in any group. We need to focus on outreach to the groups of people who are at risk of radicalization and give them good impressions.
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?
I would promote the removal of restrictions that currently reside that enforce a 2-3 insurance companies/state, allowing more competition. This along with allowing the consumer to see upfront costs of services to make the best choices for themselves. It has reduced the costs of dental and plastic surgery across the nation, why can't it be implemented to health care as well.
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?
Did not answer
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would try to reduce all spending where applicable.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
The only circumstances I believe are applicable would be in the same sense that some private institutions do when it comes to job recruitment.
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 Disagree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Agree
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.
Disagree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who in good faith wants to move to the U.S. to better themselves should be allowed to come into this country. The diversity of our people makes us better.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
It is of my belief that everyone has the right to own firearms. I would say that even felons should be able to retain that right (along with their other rights) after a fair hearing to have them reinstated. Those with a history of domestic violence should also come under scrutiny.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Agree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Repeal the Patriot Act: it is an unconstitutional piece of legislation that is open to abuse by the Federal government to selectively target groups of people. It has also allowed the federal government to invade the privacy of millions of Americans while ignoring the 4th Amendment already. Move to add an amendment for Congressional term limits, to end the life long politicians who are less likely to actually permit or even push change to retain their jobs for decades. Audit and Restructure the VA, to assist those whom have been put their health and lives on the line to serve our nation. Many have lost the ability to gain employment after their service due to service connected disabilities and the slow, often inept, VA has hindered their return to civilian life.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe Racism is real, that we have a tendency of prejudgment towards those who do not share physical characteristics we have, and that our goal as it stands should be to look past the physical characteristics of another human being to find the real value of that individual. I believe that when we fail to look past a person's outwards appearance we allow ourselves to be at risk of succumbing to hatred. This hatred towards another group is a threat to domestic security.
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?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I am socially liberal in most stances because I believe that as long as people aren't infringing on other's rights they can do as they please. I know how to best live my life, but I am not going to say I know how the best to live your life is. When it comes to economics, I am of the belief that a truly free market without government interference will adjust to fill the need of the people along with advance technology and lead to an overall better society. https://www.libertarianism.org/what-is-a-libertarian
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?
We may not agree on every stance, and in all honesty that is good. But I am always willing to listen and discuss opposing views from my own.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised Catholic, and have studied many different religions over the years to try and understand other people's faith. In every major religion some semblance of Love Thy neighbor is a major tenet, and it is the basis of how I interact with the world.
