Joseph Perez
Republican | Maryland
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joseph Perez
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Catholic University of America, Bachelors
Marymount University, Graduate Certificate in Health Care Informatics
Marymount University, Master's in Information Technology
National Catholic Bioethics Center, Bioethics Student, 2021
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
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
Tax payer money should not fund abortion providers. Pregnancy is not a disease. Abortion is not healthcare.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Autonomy does not include deciding when to end one's life. I support improving and funding palliative care.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Human life begins at conception in the womb of the mother. Abortion ends a human life, so it should not be allowed. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the affected area may be removed as this is not a direct abortion.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Disagree
Americans are very generous people. Everyone should be free to decide how to distribute income they earned. It is not the responsibility or right of the Government to take someone's money and give it to someone else.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
The Government has been irresponsible in borrowing and spending money. As stewards of tax payer money, the Government should stop borrowing and spending money as if it has unlimited resources.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Tax code should be made more simple.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Over the past several years, there has been an increasing number of attacks on religious liberty in the US. Even the Government, which should help with conscience protection, has not worked to help people of faith. Moreover, physical attacks and vandalism has increased against places of worship.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
In a free society, nobody should be required to violate their moral and religious beliefs. If doing so is bad for business, then let the market decide.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
The state should help guarantee religious freedom and stop allowing or promoting the violation of conscience of people of faith.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccines that are ethically made, well-tested, and proven safe may be required for contagious, high-risk, and dangerous diseases that have no cure.
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.
B. The patient-doctor relationship must be respected in any healthcare system in the US. Medical decisions should not be dictated by the Government or health insurance companies to the doctor or the patient. Medicare and Medicare should be evaluated for its efficiency and effectiveness, and reformed to better serve the people.
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.
B. The US should not unilaterally get involved in another county's government and should avoid direct conflict with another nation. The US should work with other nations to promote freedom and fight tyranny diplomatically.
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
Israel should decide how they handle own borders and immigration.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The US Government needs to stop all activities that contributed to making the CCP an economic super power. The Government should also encourage American companies to move business operation from China to another country.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
This is a multi-faceted issue. The US should work with Islamic leaders on how to prevent people from being radicalized. The US should monitor known extremist groups to thwart their plans.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
All nations have immigration laws. A physical barrier to secure the southern border of the US will serve as a deterrent for anyone who is considering making the dangerous task of crossing the border.
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.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
People who can demonstrate good citizenship in their current country, and have a good chance of successfully assimilating into and contributing to their communities should be allowed to immigrate into the US. The US should reform immigration laws and figure out a way to make it easier for good people who are willing to do laborious work to enter the US.
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.
I am a practicing Catholic and believe in traditional family values.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Respect for the sanctity of the vote and the will of voters in deciding elections require that a voter's identity be verifiable with basic proof of identification.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
At the very least, all states should require signature verification for absentee/ mail-in ballots. With the advancement of technology, a copy of photo ID can be texted or emailed to the vote processing center with a unique numerical code or QR code associated with the mail-in ballot to verify each vote. Those who do not have a computer can go to a local public library and submit proof of ID there. Casting a vote is important enough to require proof of one's identity. There should also a law that prohibits any state or polling places from stopping counting votes at any time on election day. And there should be surveillance cameras at all polling places and absentee ballot drop off locations.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is an issue not only in the US, but also around the world. We must continue to work together and dialogue to improve inter race relationships, and eliminate hate crimes based on race.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
I am not well versed with the practice of hydraulic fracking. It seems like an innovative and efficient way to extract oil and natural gas. There should be more research and effort to improve the safety of workers and to protect the 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.
B. Laws and regulations should be reasonable and protect workers and the environment.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
N/A
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Never.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am not a politician, and I never had ambitions to be one. But here we are with our country on a moral and economic decline, and I sense a call to get directly involved. The Government has been irresponsible with tax payer money, and spending is out of control. Every election year we hear about the need for fiscal responsibility, but we keep electing the same politicians who are not faithful stewards of tax payer money. Consequently, everything is unaffordable with the record high inflation. 1) to cut unnecessary Government spending and national debt, and 2) to fund and support the police to keep our communities safe.
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 a strong police force. I am glad to see the police presence in my community. The facts of each situation should be evaluated on its own.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Mental health and community programs should be funded separately.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Law abiding citizens should have access to guns so they can defend themselves and their families. Current gun laws should be followed and enforced. Federal and State legislators need to work on ways to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Agree
If the firearms dealer or manufacturers breaks the law to sell firearms, then they should be held liable.
