Walter Coppage
Democrat | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Liberal (Conditional)
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Walter Coppage
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 69
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, BBA, 1974
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
First Presbyterian Church, Wichita Falls, TX, Member and Elder, Interfaith Outreach Services, Wichita Falls, TX
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
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.
LIBERAL (1)
*Liberal Texas
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (9)
ActBlue (2022)
Bernie Sanders (2016)
Beto O'Rourke (2022)
Justin Nelson (2018)
Kim Olson (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE*
*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
All Americans deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about their own body, their own health care and their own future. Women deserve the freedom to decide if, when, and with whom to start a family. I trust women to make their own health care decisions. The decision to have an abortion is personal. Abortions should be permitted during the first 12 weeks without restrictions or waiting periods. After 12 weeks, abortions should be permitted if necessary to safeguard the physical and mental health of the mother. I believe those decisions only belong between a woman and her doctor.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood provides health care to women who cannot currently receive adequate health care. Planned Parenthood provides more than abortions. Planned Parenthood provides healthcare to women.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
As a Certified Public Accountant for over forty years, I have an understanding of changes to the tax code over the years. We have gone from building the Interstate Highway System in the 1950's and 1960's to landing a man on the moon in 1969. We began trying to help the environment in the 1970's. Those were accomplished with top tax rates as high as 91% in the 1950's and early 1960's and 70% from 1971 through 1980. Under President Reagan, top tax rates were cut to 50% in the 1980's. That was when the wealthy stopped paying their fair share and the middle class started shrinking. The United States of America needs a graduated tax rate that allows the wealthy to pay their fair share. Increasing the top tax rate to 70% would be a positive change to the tax code.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
No candidate or incumbent has an understanding of exactly how and where the country spends money. Many programs consume funds for years only to be shut down by the next administration or the next congress. Government is messy. It isn't fun to look at. However, our government can get better at balancing the budget.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Churches should not be closed by government. However, churches need to be prudent when the health of their congregants is at risk.
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.
B
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Our present system allows for religious and medical exceptions and is fair.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Islamic terrorism is not the only terrorism we need to prepare to confront. White Nationalist groups also have conducted terrorism. The United States must prepare to defend ourselves against terrorism from any group.
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.
Neutral
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
Implementing a guest worker program will be a legal way to fill labor shortages in agriculture, oil and gas, and manufacturing. We can identify who is coming and who is not allowed. That would take most of the pressure off the southern border.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who seek to come to the U.S. for asylum in escaping certain death or gang violence in their country or enslavement, as well as those who show they can be a productive part of our society.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Spiritual beliefs and values are personal to everybody. Moral behavior is important to have a great country.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Everyone should have the option of voting by mail.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Until we can all live together as neighbors helping neighbors, there will be an undercurrent of racism, although not always from where you think it is coming from.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
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.
B
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
As a candidate with an understanding of oil and gas exploration, I understand that hydraulic fracking is needed to produce the oil and gas we need. However, there are ways to do it with more care that can mitigate damage to the environment.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government is there to do the things that we can't do for ourselves. We can't build an Interstate Highway System or dredge a harbor so ships can dock. We can't provide for the common defense. Things we can't do for ourselves is where government can help.
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?
Liberal
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
None is available as I have not held an elected position.
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?
Public education is job #1. I will work to fully fund public schools and fully support teachers and students. I will work to provide retired teachers an increase in their retirement benefits that they have not had for twenty years.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Disagree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Texas gun laws have been loosened at the urging of the NRA and other groups that are intent to carry guns of all kinds everywhere, openly. The school shooting at Uvalde exposed the myth of the 'Good Guy With a Gun.' I am a strong advocate of the 2nd Amendment, however the 2nd Amendment was written while muskets used round shot and bullets had not yet been invented. If we cannot come together and agree on common sense laws, we will continue to suffer losses that are heartbreaking. Raising the age to 21 for handguns and automatic weapons is reasonable. Requiring background checks is reasonable. Having Red Flag laws are reasonable. If we can't be reasonable, we will continue to have funerals in our communities that could be avoided.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Agree
