Bill Bennett
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Bill Bennett
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 25
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, M.S. - Chemistry, 2014
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, M.S./S.M.(AAM) University of Kentucky/American Academy of Microbiology - Medical Microbiology and Public Health, 1997
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, B.S. - Microbiology/Chemistry, 1988
WORK & MILITARY
Professor of Microbiology and Chemistry.
AFFILIATIONS
Former President and Chairman, Hardin County History Museum, Kentucky Science Teachers Association
Board of Directors and Chairman - Legislative Research Committee, Kentucky Education Association, Representative
Kentucky Association of Professional Educators, District Representative, University of Kentucky Science and Math Initiative
District Faculty Chairman, University of Kentucky Society for Microbiology, President and Vice President
American Society for Microbiology, Fellow, American Society of Clinical Pathologists
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Elizabethtown City Council, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*Freedoms Heritage Forum
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only in the very rare cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother's life.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Do you support the proposed Yes for Life amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, which makes clear that there is no state constitutional right to abortion?
Yes
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
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Almost never. The exceptions would be the abuse of children, or parishioners in a cult.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The full fledged support of our intelligence agencies and military to gather information, analyze the data, and implement operations to eradicate the threat.
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.
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.
Choice C. However, we must rein in healthcare and drug costs by allowing multiple healthcare insurance companies to provide coverage within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The monopoly of healthcare insurance is too expensive for Kentuckians.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
During a pandemic. As a board certified Microbiologist in Infectious Disease and Public Health, I am quite aware that masks and vaccinations do work - we have known this for over 200 years. Reading memes, or opinions from social media does not give one the education, or experience necessary to make important medical decisions that affect not only you, but the people you interact with on a daily basis. That being said, the Government - state and federal, acted capriciously and irresponsibly with the COVID pandemic. Their obfuscation and heavy handedness exacerbated the public distrust for our state and federal governments.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Removal of the state income tax and implement a higher, but moderate sales tax. However, I would exclude the sales tax on food, medical, and veterinarian services.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
As an educator, researcher, and consultant in the post-secondary and secondary education fields for 35 years, I have personally witnessed the waste, abuse, and fraud within the education systems. The elimination of useless degrees, unproven social programs, and unnecessary high stakes testing would be the first items to eliminate. Additionally, I would focus on the waste and fraud within the state transportation office.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
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?
Only individuals from war torn countries - such as Ukraine, and individuals who seek assylum from religious, or political persecution.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Agree
The only exception I would include are charter schools. Charter schools have a very high teacher turn-over rate and their curriculum focuses on high - stakes testing only. Numerous studies have shown that charter schools are no better than public schools. Thus, I would not support tax money going to charter schools. However, I do support private parochial schools, and home schooling. I also support the parents' choice of the public school they would like their child to attend.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
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?
No one with a medically verified mental disorder should own a firearm.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support the expansion of gambling in Kentucky?
No
The LGBTQ+ agenda’s advocacy for puberty blockers, biological males competing on girls’ sports teams, and allowing biological males into girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, and showers threatens the wellbeing of our children.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
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).
Meeting minutes of all votes and discussions as an Elizabethtown City Councilman.
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?
1. Elimination of the state income tax. 2. Lowering drug and medical costs by allowing numerous health insurance companies to compete within our state. 3. Harsher penalties for serious crimes committed, and the construction of more jails. 4. Pass laws that better protect our teachers, police officers, firemen, and EMT's from assault. 5. Elimination of unfunded mandates from the Commonwealth of Kentucky that are placed upon our local governments and school boards. 6. Pass laws to make the teaching of Critical Race Theory illegal in all Kentucky K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. 7. Pass laws to ensure that biological males may only participate in male sports programs in all Kentucky K-12, college, and university sports programs.
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
Absolutely not!! This would manifest into constant legal challenges that would attack religious institutions and the First Amendment.
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 Christian - always have been.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
None - voters in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must show photo ID to vote.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. People who constantly look for racism will eventually find it. Seeking the grace of God is a better alternative for a life of peace.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
All ethnicities have been slaves and slave owners at some point in history. Slavery is as old as the history of mankind, and still continues today. Time to move forward and focus on the problems of today.
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.
With my experience and science background, the view I adopt is between the two choices. We need environmental laws to protect our air, water, and earth. No one wants to breath polluted air, or drink contaminated water. Nor, do they want carcinogenic chemicals poured into the earth's crust. That being said, common sense laws must be implemented to protect our environment from nerdowells, without destroying the responsible industries that provide jobs.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
