Mark Ramsey
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mark Ramsey
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist.38
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, BSME (High Honors), 1979
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Woodsedge Community Church, Worship and donate, Spring Baptist Church
Worship and Sunday school teacher, Champion Forest Baptist, Worship and Sunday school teacher
Republican Party of Texas, Multiple, including Executive Committee Member, Chair of State Convention Platform COmmittee, Chair of State Convention Legislative Priorities committee, Chair of SREC Resolutions and Lege Priorities Committees, Donor, NRA
Long time member--40+ years, Tomball Gun Club, Long time member--35+ years
Gun Owners of America, Member, many years, Texas Right to Life
Donor, advocate, Texas Values, Donor, advocate
AFA, Donor, advocate
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Member and Chairs of various issue related committees-Platform, Resolutions, Legislative Priorities, etc., 2008-2020
Texas State Republican Executive Committee Member (until term limited off), 2012-2020
Chief of Staff for a Texas House Representative, 2016-2018
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (4)
Conservative Coalition of Harris County TX
*Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Right to Life
Texas Values Action
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Multiple members of the Texas Freedom Caucus in the Legislature
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
Texas Railroad COmmissioner Wayne Christian
Cathie Adams, fmr chair of the Republican Party of Texas
Multiple current and former members of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)
Briscoe Cain (2020)
Carlos "Charlie" Garza (2016)
Conservative Republicans of Texas (2016)
Dan Patrick (2014)
Debbie Riddle (2008)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Ramsey presided as Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas' Permanent Legislative Priorities Committee in 2020 which included the abolition of abortion, constitutional carry, children's gender modification abolition, election integrity, and other issues.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO 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
-
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Short answer is "none", though I do understand that if there is a genuine risk to the physical life of the mother (which is rare), then the principle of self-defense comes into consideration.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Strongly Disagree
-
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
-
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
1) Simplify. 2) Eliminate "loopholes". 3) Reduce taxes collected as they are strangling parts of the economy. 4) Consider alternatives to the income tax. 5) Eliminate immoral property taxes, which fundamentally prevent home or land owners from ever truly owning their own property.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
-
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
-
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
As the Founders rightly said, there should not be a government-preferred national religion or denomination. However, that does NOT mean that religion and worship should be banned from the public square or from government offices. Churches are free to be as involved as they desire to be in government, but government should never regulate churches. It is a true abomination what government did in shutting down churches during Covid and in preventing family members, pastors, and priests from visiting hospitalized patients--some of them terminally ill--during Covid. The left's goal of governing without God has been a miserable failure.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Certainly NOT in current COVID circumstances. Given the abuse that we have seen of both patients and data, governments, schools, or employers should not be able to mandate vaccinations. This should remain voluntary for individuals and families to decide for themselves.
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. Government intervention in any market, and in healthcare in particular, results in corruption, inefficiency, and unintended consequences. We have experienced both poorer quality healthcare and skyrocketing costs as more and more of "Obamacare" has been phased in. A safety net can be maintained.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
C). Further, wars should be declared by Congress, not merely ordered by a President. A) sounds good but has been abused, resulting in unending "police action" interventions that are too costly in lives and treasure.
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
I was able to attend the signing of an ANTI-BDS resolution here in Texas, and then hand-delivered a copy of it to colleagues in Israel!
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
-
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Secure our borders, ports, and airports against infiltration. Maintain a Zero tolerance of violence or threats of violence against Americans or American interests. Focus intelligence efforts on foreign enemies and not on Americans. Work with other friendly governments to ensure safety for all.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
-
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
-
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Legal immigration, where qualified law abiding individuals seek to work or live here under our rules and laws is a good thing and has been part of the secret of American economic success for over two hundred years. Following the legal immigration process is the key to a successful immigration policy. STOP illegal immigration and remove payments of taxpayer dollars to those who enter illegally. BUILD THE WALL. SEAL THE BORDER.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
-
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.
Christianity and a personal belief in Jesus Christ as Savior is the "way" to heaven. Values of life, human dignity, God-given rights and associated freedoms and other issues flow from my faith!
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
-
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Voter ID, including types difficult to counterfeit, along with technology to prevent multiple voting, ballot harvesting, and other cheating schemes are now required. Additionally, MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT and FULLY TRANSPARENT counting systems should be used, and if the multiple counting systems do not agree, then an immediate investigation and correction needs to be made--which would provide a built-in at the time of counting audit system. Violation of voting laws, especially related to destroying votes or voting illegally, should be met with rapid prosecution and jail time and fines sufficient to dissuade those who might be inclined to cheat. Individuals should not be allowed to donate to election authorities, such as happened in 2020. All voting systems should be made and operated within the boundaries of the USA, and neither the ballots (electronic, paper, or otherwise), nor the counting of ballots should ever be transferred to other countries' jurisdiction. Military ballots, including overseas ones, should be handled with the same carefulness and chain of custody requirements as those cast by civilians.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
-
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Racist policies are already illegal in all institutions in America. Efforts by the left to promote "CRT" programs in schools and government are counterproductive and should stopped.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
Yes, I believe in low-cost energy sources to support civilization. Abundant low-cost oil & gas energy sources are one of God's gifts to mankind, enabling a wide range of activities and industries that would not be possible without it, Current environmental protection technologies make them "clean". Energy independence & low prices obtained through fracking & drilling are good! As an oil & gas consulting engineer, I have witnessed the enormous benefits the oil & gas industry provides worldwide!
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. It is past time to stop the war on our valuable and productive oil and gas businesses and employees. Oil and gas operations provide abundant, high-paying and safe jobs. The oil and gas industry, and the benefits of abundant low cost energy sources, benefit all through agriculture, mining, air travel, and more. In the developing world, the oil and gas industry provides not only those benefits, but helps advance those countries' economies (and thus benefits their families) through improved roads, schools, hospitals, water systems, sanitation systems, education, and much much more. To tell the developing world that they cannot use hydrocarbons is tantamount to telling them they cannot have electricity and grow their manufacturing, as they cannot afford alternatives. We are witnessing the results of failed energy policy of the Biden/Harris regime already with scarcity and high gasoline and other energy prices.
ABOUT YOU
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
Social AND Economic Constitutional Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I have written policy articles on a wide range of subjects, including for redstate.com, the Heartland Institute (Heartland.ORG), and TexasGOPvote.com. I have also written a peer-reviewed technical book on oil and gas drilling. I am a registered professional engineer in Texas and have several patents in my technical career. My campaign website is RAMSEYforTexas.com. Last but not least, I have been very instrumental in guiding the Texas Republican Party and its Platform and separately, its Legislative Priorities and moving those all to the right. The recent GOP Texas platforms are some of the envy of the nation, and I had a large role in their development, including Chairing the statewide committees that wrote them.
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 was asked to run by conservative activists who are, like myself, were not pleased that we have a well-financed, Washington, D.C. establishment-backed candidate being forced upon this new district in Texas. This is a true grassroots conservatives vs. Washington, D.C. establishment campaign.
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?
"...the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
-
