Jennifer Meltzer
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jennifer Meltzer
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 73
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Xavier University, Cincinnati, BS, 2006
IU McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, JD, 2009
Milford High School, Milford, OH, HS Diploma, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Girl Scouts, Gold Award recipient and current leader for my daughters troops., Coulston Elementary Parent Teacher Organization
Vice President, Shelby County Youth Assistance Program Board, Member
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Member, Shelby County Republican Central Committee
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (9)
Jeff Linder, former Indiana House of Representative; Kevin Nigh, Shelby County Commissioner; Jordan Caldwell, Former Shelby County Council
Scott Furgeson, Current Common Council Member and former Mayor of the City of Shelbyville; Louie Koch, Shelby County Sheriff;
Scott Asher, Current City of Shelbyville Clerk Treasurer and former Shelby County Council Member; Mark Weidner City of Shelbyville Police Chief;
Tony Titus, Shelby County Council President; Ryan Claxton, Shelby County Council; Amy Glackman, Shelby County Auditor;
Chris Ross, Shelby County Commissioner;
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Greg Pence (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only to save the life of the mother.
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
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
If there is demand for a service then the free market will meet that demand without Government requiring any individual or business to do so. One person's protected rights under the law should not be given greater preference over another's equally protected right to religious freedom.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Under the United States Constitution a closure of churches would only be permissible in the most severe of circumstances. Unfortunately, many states tested the limits during the COVID-19 shut-downs, many of which were an unconstitutional infringement on our First Amendment Rights. It is imperative that our legislature understand and respect our constitutional rights. I have defended the constitutionality of Indiana statutes in Federal Court and will use this experience to better represent you.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Support friendly countries, monitor threats, and stop terrorists prior to their entry into the U.S.
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
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?
First, anyone who has a medical or religious exemption from receiving vaccinations should always be exempt. Second, employers should have the right to require vaccinations in their work place in the same manner in which they choose to enforce other safety measures. Any employee who doesn't want to be vaccinated and doesn't have a religious or medical exemption is free to quit. Third, historically governments, including schools, have required a number of vaccinations (ie. polio, mmr, rotavirus ) for the protection of public health. There are circumstances in which this is appropriate, COVID-19 is not one of them.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The tax code should be simplified.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Indiana has a balanced budget as required by an amendment to the Indiana Constitution in 2018. It is important that our State government only spends within its means and that we do not raise taxes to do so.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
Although, higher education beyond a high school diploma is important for some careers I think that it is more important for children to be receiving educational and developmental opportunities between the ages of 0-5 as these are the fundamental years that significantly impact a child's educational outcomes. Therefore, I would vote in support of mandatory kindergarten and support for pre-school education prior to funding any post-secondary schooling.
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?
Individuals who properly and legally fulfil the current requirements including refugees and those seeking a better life for their families. No one should be allowed to immigrate to to the U.S. using any illegal or undocumented means.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Every parent should have the choice on where to send their child to school and the tax dollar should follow the child regardless of which school choice thier parent chooses.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
Qualified immunity is the legal concept that a state actor, including a police officer, when acting in their capacity as a public official is immune from civil liability under the U.S. Constitution for acts that have not previously been deemed a violation of the U.S. Constitution by a Court of Law. This protects your public officials and your tax payer dollars (as State and local funds pay the damages) for actions that they had no reason to know would be a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
We need to fund mental health and community programs but not with funds currently appropriated for police.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
A violent felon, domestic violence, and red flag laws that provide for constitutional due process are appropriate.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government should only be responsible for those things that are generally needed by the public as a whole for the benefit of everyone. Infrastructure, police, fire, utilities, public health, and protection of the vulnerable. Smaller government is better.
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).
I am unaware of any.
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 legislative priorities will be: mental health, children, pro-life, pro-second amendment, and support for local government. To many of our rural communities have a significant need for mental health treatment and lack treatment providers necessary to meet the needs of community. Hoosiers should not have to travel hundreds of miles to receive the medical care they need and deserve. All children deserve the right to be born, loved and cared for in a safe and loving environment. Parents deserve the right to have a voice in their children's education. Smaller government is better government and therefore local issues should remain at the local level and the State should not pass laws that hinder the ability of locals to do the jobs they were elected to do.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
The United States Supreme Court has held that Title VII, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, includes a prohibition of discrimination based on a persons sexual orientation and gender identity. This issue has already been decided by the Courts and any change to the law would have to begin with Congress. No action I could take in the Indiana General Assembly would change this.
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 confirmed Catholic and attended Xavier University. My husband and I continue to practice our catholic faith and our raising our daughters to be strong in their faith as well. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and love. That we should treat others the way we want to be treated and should teach our children the same. I value life from conception to death and support opportunities that help children to be their best loving, respectful, and successful self.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Indiana's voting laws are strong and fair and I do not have any proposed changes at this time. Indiana requires photo identification, has several days and times to provide every voter with an opportunity to vote regardless of their work schedules. It is important that every voter has ample opportunity to vote while ensuring that only legally registered voters vote and that each person only receives one vote.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No.
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. Some environmental laws are necessary to ensure that our environment is protected. However, more regulation leads to more bureaucracy, red tape, and wasted tax payer dollars. There needs to be clear laws with clear requirements of the executive branch in the enforcement and proper due process procedures for appeals.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
Being energy independent is important.
