Brent Labenberg
Republican | Pennsylvania
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Brent Labenberg
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 134
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
(Candidate did not provide)
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Navy, MS2 (E-5), 1983-1987
AFFILIATIONS
St. John's UCC, member, Lehigh County Republican committee
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Emmaus Borough Councilman, 1996-2000,2002-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate Brent Labenberg responses to PA Family Voter survey
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Freedom Voter Guide Survey. This survey
was added after publishing the iVoterGuide online guide, and was not considered
in this candidate's evaluation.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Freedom Voter Guide Survey. This is a second version of the ADF survey, where some answers may have been clarified or modified as far as candidate comments.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
For the physical health 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
I support the current hospice system.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Reduce income tax from 3.07% to 2.9% Phase out the portion of the gas tax that pays for state police into the General fund so Gas tax actually goes towards roads
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Stop spending on any new programs until we properly fund what we have (roads, bridges, schools, nursing homes, state parks, police, etc.)
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
No religious organization should ever be closed by government. Each institution should decide on their own, along with the individual members who can choose when or when not to attend.
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.
I don't think private healthcare should ever be eliminated. Medicaid and Medicare should always remain. Government funded healthcare can be an option if it is operated efficiently.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
We have always had exemptions in the past. It has just recently been harder and harder to get them. We should always allow for religious exemptions or if it could be harmful to someone with a preexisting ailment.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Well this is really not a state issue, but securing the border would go a long way.
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.
Choose not to answer
Not a state issue.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Not a state issue
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Not a state issue.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
By having all options available parents can choose what is best for each individual child.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
But you do not have to be a Christian to have a framework of morality.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Neutral
Gay marriage is already legal.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
We really need to focus on the basics because our students are falling behind. History class can be expanded to include more black history (even the worst parts) but NOT to change our history. I believe students should be taught this is the greatest country on earth and that they can be anything they want.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am Protestant.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
I think it is disrespectful to believe someone is not capable of showing an ID. There is not a one person who believes there are people without ID. If there are the state can provide them for free. I don't understand why anyone would be against having a more secure election. In fact the first time you vote at a poll in PA you have to show an ID.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
There are 67 counties in PA. Only 22 use drop boxes. If 45 counties can have an election without them the other 22 counties should be able to also. So my belief is either all counties use them or none. I would support having none, especially since you can just mail it in.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I do not believe the United States is a racist country. With that being said, there are people of ALL races that are racist, but I most definitely do not think it is prevalent. Once again, not a state issue.
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.
I am in between.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
I believe we should be doing an all of the above approach.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
First infrastructure. Second security. I am of the mind set that no one wants more government or more regulations. Let people live their lives within the laws.
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?
Choose not to answer
Once again, foreign policy is not a state issue. But I consider myself 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?
I am currently retired. I am running for the PA State House because I care. If I didn't run my opponent would be unopposed and I believe people should always have a choice. He is running for his 4th term. He has never been challenged in a general election. You can make up your own mind if he is a career politician. I will do 2 or 4 years! Then I will retire again and spend time with my wife. I will not take a taxpayer funded pension. I will fund my own retirement. It shouldn't be a career anyway! House Reps make enough money. They should fund their own retirement. I support term limits! I support Independents voting in primaries. My priority is to take care of what we have before we spend another cent on a new program. Our roads are terrible. Bridges need repairs. Schools should be funded more to slow the property tax rate or at least level them. Nursing homes need Medicaid reimbursements increased so they can increase staff (most nursing homes are understaffed). Our state police should be funded from the general fund, not from gas tax money. We can correct this by phasing it out of the gas tax and into the general fund over several years. Also, just because you have a surplus doesn't mean you need to spend it. Properly fund what we have. Build a reserve. Whatever remains should be given back to the taxpayers.
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
The key is that they follow department policy. That changes if the do not follow policy.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
This does not mean you cannot have both! Fund the police properly.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I support the current laws.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
