Daniel Lawless
Republican | Michigan
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Daniel Lawless
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 21
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
none
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
none
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Citizens for Traditional Values-Michigan
Right to Life of Michigan
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
WinRed (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
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?
I am pro life and endorsed by Right to Life PAC. I believe abortions should only be a last resort 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
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I think we should immediately eliminate the income tax and the pension tax. Career politicians spend way too much money on pork projects and crony backroom deals. Reducing taxes keeps our economy strong and our legislature focused on the important areas of spending like safety, infrastructure and education.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Considering the significant increses in spending across the board, at a time where our families are struggling to fit rising costs of gas and groceries into their budget, we can make meaningful reductions to our state budget. Eliminating the income tax would mean cutting about $11 Billion from the budget. While that seems impossible, all we would really need to do is revert back to the 2020 budget. Factor in the almost $9 Billion in unemployment fraud the state paid and you can quickly see how wasteful Lansing is with your tax dollars.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The rising cost of college is a huge problem. The real solution is to encourage students to look for alternatives such as trade schools. Tradesmen can make $60-$80,000 after short training programs and apprenticeships. These are solid careers that don't require years of college and the debt associated with a traditional 4 year institutions. We should also encourage students to do some classes through community colleges.
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
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. Medicare and Medicaid aren't the best solutions, and many who benefit from these programs understand the inadequacies of them. We should strengthen programs that provide preventative care that ultimately saves money. Pricing transparency is a huge issue in the medical sector. We need more consumer choices in their coverage and who their doctor is so consumers can fine the best value for their families.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
NO MANDATES! Prior to covid, we have required vaccinations for schools, but we had exceptions so parents could opt out of the program. I think parents should be the only ones making decisions about vaccines for their children, with the consultation of their doctors. The government has a role and interest in mitigating diseases that spread, and should encourage the use of vaccinations that prevent the infection and spread of a disease. The COVID vaccination does not prevent infection or spread, and therefore has no place in this program.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We should remain vigilent, support our allies in the region, and encourage free and secular societies.
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
We must complete the border wall, secure our borders and prevent the human suffering occurring at the border. An open border is allowing criminals into our communities, enriching drug cartels, and facilitating the trafficking of drugs and children. It's inhumane and contributing to the opioid and fentanyl deaths of thousands of Americans.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should have a sound and enforced immigration policy. We should prioritize the best and brightest, while also having options available for any who apply. But we must have a clear policy and that policy must be enforced!
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
We should fund students, and parents know what is best for their children. The growth of administration within our schools is preventing districts from hiring more teachers and rewarding the teachers they already employ. We would also certainly benefit from some consolidation within our system. Michigan has more districts per county than any other state, this adds to the layers and cost of bureaucracy that deprives the classrooms of the resources needed.
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
Agree
I believe in marriage between one man and one woman is a foundational building block of our communities. It is the God-ordained union.
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'm a Christian who believes in loving everyone and helping your neighbor. I think we all do well when we serve each other. Charity and giving is a key component of the Christian life, but government imposed charity is not charity at all, it's theft and subsidizing of corruption and poor choices. So many of our citizens are willing to freely give to help someone in need but have grown resentful of government imposed redistribution that doesn't actual help achieve better outcomes, only encourages more bad behaviors.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
You need ID to buy a beer. The local Meijer gas station started a new policy of requiring ID for ANYONE, despite how old you appear. If its good enough for booze its good enough for ballots. I also support the ID being provided free of charge to anyone with an economic hardship.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
1. Require ID for all voting 2. Require drivers license # or a partial SSN for an absentee ballot 3. Signature verification on all absentee ballots 4. Prohibit private funding of election administration 5. Allow for fact finding audits in precincts that are "un-recountable" due to "errors" a practice that happens in many Detroit precincts
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
The threat is the exploitation of perceived racism by some politicians and agitators.
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 can have responsible environmental protections without job killing regulation.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
Fracking has brought down the cost of energy dramatically and that is something we would all benefit from these days.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government exist to provide order. That is why the failure of government to enforce laws is so devastating. Society benefits from order, from a sense of justice, and when those don't exist, it foments and citizens turn to violence to restore order. Governments should focus on setting fair laws and enforcing those laws, and should not meddle in things the individuals can handle themselves.
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).
Did not answer
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 main focus is to provide meaningful tax relief, be a strong advocate for individual rights, and adhere to the values of our community. We have such a diverse community but we share so many core values. We want a safe place to raise our family. Quality education for our children. Low taxes. Quality Roads. These are not difficult goals to achieve, we simply need representatives who are more concerned with the people than they are with the lobbyist and corporate cronies. I will be that representative.
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?
Our community is safer when we allow the citizenry to be armed to defend themselves and their families. The statistics show time and again that this is true. We must not prevent good law abiding citizens from exercising this fundamental right.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
No company should be liable for the illegal use of their product.
