Karen Rackley
Democrat | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Karen Rackley
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 28
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, BSN, 1995
Oklahoma City University, OKC, DNP, 2016
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
American Red Cross, Past volunteer, Right Path Horse therapy
Past side walker volunteer, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor society, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Oklahoma Democratic Veterans
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
As a healthcare provider, I understand there are conditions and circumstances in a pregnancy that could endanger the life of the mother, fetus, or both. Such things as ectopic pregnancies, Placenta abruption, malignancy, intrauterine death, among others. The expectant mother and her OB/GYN provider should be able to make health care decisions regarding the most appropriate and safest treatment with out delay and without fear of public or civil repercussions. I do not believe in abortion used as birth control. The thought of elective late term abortions is abhorrent.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Neutral
Family planning services should always be supported, however I do not consider abortion to be "Family Planning". Title X does not recognize abortion as part of the "Family Planning" services, and therefore would not be a funding source for such.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
Hospice services and dying with dignity I support. Being able to choose to go home to be with family. Being able to be kept comfortable is fine. But Assisted suicide is still suicide and not something that I could support.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I would like to see a decrease in income taxes to help keep more hard earned funds in Oklahoman's pockets to be used to help offsite the rising prices of housing, food and gas. Even if only for a limited time, say 5 years, it would be beneficial.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
We need to prioritize healthcare access, mental health, education, security, infrastructure programs and leave special interest projects for whatever is left over. Mental health care access has been dwindling for decades, and yet the mental health budget lost another 13 million dollars this past budget year. It makes no sense, but Oklahoma set aside 700 million for Panasonic ??? How is that the priority when Oklahoman's needs are not being met?
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
K-12 should be funded. Trade school opportunities need to be maximized, public college tuition needs to be more affordable.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
Businesses can refuse services to whom they choose, they will pay for it in revenues. If they can afford the risk of doing so, then I do not see a problem with it. As consumers will take their business to those venues they prefer.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
If there is a life and death emergency evacuation of a community then any businesses, church, school, homes in the area would need to comply and evacuate. Otherwise churches can govern for themselves to continue in person services or change to online services. Church goers can choose for themselves whether the benefit of attending services out weighs the 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.
None really. Medicaid and Medicare services need to stay as they benefit the most vulnerable in our communities. Private healthcare options should be more affordable. Obama care raised premiums, raised deductibles, and lowered benefits across the board for many families. This should not have happened, but insurance companies took advantage of the situation. Additionally, members of Congress, the Senate, Judicial branches, and the Executive branches should have to choose between Tricare (The insurance that covers military with its increased cost, co-pays, and premiums) or use the same insurance available to the general public. They should not be getting premium services. If they had the same insurance options as the general population, I expect that insurance services would be improved for all.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I became very ill with the first round of COVID. I was hospitalized, on a ventilator, and came close to dying. I fought my way back and returned to work full time taking care of patients. Despite this, I do not believe mandated vaccines are the answer. Vaccine decisions are personal, and should be between individuals and their healthcare providers. Vaccines are not without risks and side effects. Any institution, business, school that wants to mandate vaccines should be willing and able to FULLY ACCEPT FINIACIAL responsibility for any harms caused by the vaccines they want to mandate.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The US is behind the ball on this one. The US already provided weapons, supplies, buildings, and money to the Taliban when they abandoned these things in Afghanistan; not to mentions the loss of millions of taxpayer money that funded those items.
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
This is an issue that needs to be settled between Israelis and the Palestine people. I do not take sides on this issue. This has nothing to do with Oklahoma Politics.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
YES!! Human traffickers, drugs, criminals are pouring across our borders. The number of illegal immigrants that are crossing the borders is overburdening and overwhelming the border states resources and communities.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Any persons who follows the current immigration laws and policies, is vetted, and deemed not a threat to national security should be allowed to immigrate, work, pay taxes and contribute to society as a whole. Immigration services needs an adequate workforce to process these applications, and a border barrier that limits the flow of immigrants into the county needs to be established.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Disagree
I support better funding of K -12 education. There are schooling choices available to all, computer/online schools, home schooling, private schooling. But vouchers do not benefit rural Oklahoma students, and the majority of Oklahoma students are rural. I do not support a situation that benefits only the few while taking from the many.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
Moral standards form the basis for the law of the land in the United States
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Protections are already in place for sex, race, national origin, color, age... Sexual orientation, gender identity, even pregnancy already falls under these protections under the class of sex discrimination.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Disagree
I believe in the Bible's definition of marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. However several of my children do not, and have same sex spouses or significant others. That would not be my choice, but it is theirs...and I love them. That is all I can do, love my children for who they are. Their decisions are between them and GOD.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
History should be taught as it happened, the good, bad, and ugly. It is how society learns to do better. There may be situations that may have systemic flaws, if identified, then we need to work on promoting change. But to teach that all systems in society are racially biased is wrong.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in GOD, that that Jesus Christ died for my sins.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I disagree. Photo ID is required for every day transactions: banking, to write or cash a check, drive, sell property, buy firearms, buy liquor; it is not considered burdensome to have ID to do these things. Voting occurs a few times a year, and you must be able to verify whom is voting, and whether or not they have the legal right to do so. If you had to have ID to register to vote, you should still have that ID to vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Current Oklahoma voting regulations are working well, not sure I would change them. People have the opportunity to vote by mail, early voting and during regular voting hours.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I do not believe racism is a threat to domestic security. But inflammatory language and actions that create diversion in our communities most definitely is. Creating diversion should not be happening in any level of government, local, state or national. It promotes violence and distracts the people from other issues that may be occurring right under their noses. We are more alike than we know.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Unfortunately, throughout history atrocities have been committed on all manner of peoples by others. We can learn from this and move forward. But to say everyone is individually responsible for "The sins of their fathers" is not feasible.
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.
Corporations have a duty to protect the environment, rampant pollution of land and water resources should be avoided for the health of Oklahoma citizens. Regulations protect the environment.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
Depends, if done in a responsible manner, away from water resources and with the company willing to compensate for any damages; then yes. But when large numbers of fracking episodes occur in a small area, causing earthquakes and damage to property; then no.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Provide for national security, protect our borders, fund the military, establish the laws that protect the citizen's rights, build infrastructure and protect our freedoms.
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?
Lean Conservative
I have been a Democrat since I registered to vote at age 18, because I thought the democratic party best represented working class America. I am not a leftist Liberal. Socialism is not on my agenda; one only has to look at Cuba or Venezuela to see how poorly that works for the majority as it gives power to a few that abuse it. Venezuela is a social experiment failure and that country's people are suffering for it.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
??
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 believe healthy families and strong communities make for a strong Oklahoma. The people of Oklahoma are it's best best resource. I have been in the healthcare field for 27 years as an RN, the last 6 years as an APRN Nurse Practitioner. I have spent my career in the service of others, caring for those in vulnerable conditions. I believe that my education and experience makes me well suited to serve in the public arena. I have been married to my spouse for 28 years. He is retired from 41 years of service with the US Army and Oklahoma National Guard. I have a good understanding of the trials Oklahoma Veterans and military families experience. I live in rural Oklahoma and have seen services such as healthcare access, mental health services, safe roads and bridges, education all suffer due to lack of funds; these things should be a priority as far as budgeting is concerned.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
If they are following policy guidelines, then yes. There is a responsibility of the general public in regards to their own actions in a situation that involves the police. If you are aggressive, do not follow verbal requests, or choose to fight with the police, then that decision of yours has consequences which may end in tragedy. But you are responsible for your own actions. If you feel the police are wrong, you still comply and take it up through appropriate avenues.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
Mental health and community programs need good funding, and are often underfunded. However those funds do not need to come from police department funds being redirected. Funding for both is much needed.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Age restrictions for gun ownership. Vetting to rule out mental health instability, domestic violence history, or felony convictions with an appropriate waiting period to allow adequate time to complete that process. Gun owners should have certificate of having gone through either a gun safety class, CLEET education, hunter safety class, or concealed carry class.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Absolutely not. You do not sue car manufacturers for car accidents, or brewing companies for damages caused by drunk people. A person is responsible for their own actions. The tools they use are NOT the responsible party.
