Austen Schauer

Strongly Agree

The goal should be to uphold the value of life while showing compassion in complex cases. The circumstances of an elective abortion would be to save the life of the mother when a pregnancy poses a serious risk to her life. And in rare cases where the fetus has a condition incompatible with life.

Strongly Agree

Yes—human life has inherent dignity and should be protected in law from conception until natural death. That principle reflects a belief that rights don’t come from government but from God. Those rights are fundamental and should be safeguarded at every stage.

Agree

Yes—human embryos, regardless of how they are created, represent early human life and deserve legal and moral consideration. Their origin through technologies like In vitro fertilization doesn’t change their inherent value.

Agree

I believe laws on the books should be enforced, but the application of the Comstock Act needs to be interpreted in light of current law. The Dobbs case says abortion policy should be set at the state level. A broad federal enforcement approach that overrides state decisions could conflict with Dobbs. If the Comstock Law is outdated or unclear, Congress should clarify, update, or repeal it to reflect current policy goals.

I believe wages are best determined by the labor market rather than a one-size-fits-all state or federal mandate. While the goal of helping low-income workers is important, large increases in the federal minimum wage can reduce job opportunities.

Strongly Agree

1. Conduct regular, zero-based budgeting reviews, 2. Strengthen oversight and transparency. 3. Reduce duplication across state and federal agencies. 4. Reform procurement and contracting processes. 5. Return more decision-making to states and local governments.

The phrase does not appear in the U.S. Constitution itself. It comes from a letter by Thomas Jefferson describing the First Amendment’s religion clauses. The core idea is that government should not establish an official religion or interfere with the free exercise of religion. This is grounded in the First Amendment, which both prevents a national church (“Establishment Clause”) and protects religious liberty (“Free Exercise Clause”).

Strongly Disagree

Individuals and private businesses should not be forced to provide services that directly compel them to violate sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. Compelled participation in objectionable activity is viewed as a serious infringement on religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

B. Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. This would preserve choice and competition, limits government monopoly power, protects existing safety nets, (Medicare and Medicaid), and encourages market-driven innovation.

Strongly Disagree

The government should not maintain or use a centralized database of people’s ongoing medical illnesses to evaluate their economic value or burden, because that raises serious privacy, civil liberties, and ethical concerns. Why? Medical privacy is fundamental. Health information is among the most sensitive personal data. There are better alternatives for cost control measures such as price transparency, competition among providers, insurance market reform, and fraud reduction.

Strongly Agree

The United States’ relationship with Israel is important because it serves key U.S. strategic, security, and geopolitical interests in a volatile region. Israel is a strategic ally in a critical region. It is a stable democratic partner in the Middle East. It provides intelligence cooperation, military coordination, and regional stability. We have shared security interests especially around counterterrorism. Our partnership with Israel led to the destruction of Iran's military.

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Government is best at the local or state level. However, if federal dollars go into education, the feds have a right to know how that money is being spent and set the guidelines for it.

Agree

I favor prohibitions knowing foreign countries can use funding to shape curricula, research priorities, or campus culture in ways that divide us. However, foreign funding can support research, scholarships, and cultural exchange programs. Although I lean toward prohibition, I am open to policy that requires disclosure, limit funding in sensitive research areas, and increase review of contracts.

Strongly Agree

Parents have a fundamental right and responsibility to direct their child’s education and health. However, there needs to be a partnership with parents and their educators and doctors. The only time non-parents should step in if there are signs the child is being abused.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Marriage according to the Bible is a God-ordained, sacred union between one man and one woman. I believe this as a Christian, but government is controlled by the people and allow gay marriage in certain states.

Disagree

I do not support the expansion of gambling, but no one is listening to me. It is now become a multi-billion-dollar industry.

I am a Christian. I believe in the Gospel message of Jesus.

Disagree

Asking for one form of ID to vote should be a fundamental requirement. It can be a driver's license or any form of legitimate ID.

Strongly Disagree

No to reparations. Where do you begin and where do you stop?

Strongly Agree

This is common sense. Keep men out of spaces reserved for women.

Disagree

Coal and water.

Conservative

Never.

No.

Punishment and rehab.

Strongly Agree

If we are not protecting our children, why are we here?

Strongly Agree

There may be some common sense, legal, or law enforcement gun restrictions, however, gun control measures do not reduce violent crime, and should not go against the 2nd Amendment and its guaranteed rights.