Rick Self
Democrat | Pennsylvania
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
Rick Self
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 39
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
California University, Brownsville, PA
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army in Korea with a Service Connected Disability, Specialist or Spec4
AFFILIATIONS
South Park Dems, Various and Now Treasurer, Allegheny County Friends of the Park, South Park
Founding Member and Served on the Board, Mon-Valley Unemployment Committee, Founding Member
Free Masons and Knight's Templar, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Elected Auditor South Park Township, 20 Years
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
PA House District#39, 2022
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)
*Communication Workers of America (CWA) Political Action Fund
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
AFL-CIO www.paaflcio.org
They See Blue Pennsylvania theyseeblue.org @theyseebluepa
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Go back to the terms in the Roe Decision. It is Abhorrent to think a 12 year old victim of rape should be made to carry a rapist baby, or that a dead fetus is made to stay in the Mother's womb. Abortions always for Rapist and Incest Victims, all medically required procedures, and for the Life of the Mother. Never a late term abortion unless medically necessary to save the mothers life. This is a extreme measure and only occurs in 1.3% of cases. If there is a potential for a baby to be born, all efforts should be taken to proceed with saving the baby. A either or situation should be between the doctors and mother as to viability of the baby and the life of the mother.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Health care providers should all be treated the same. Planned Parenthood should be given funds or grants in the same proportions as other healthcare providers. Besides the Abortion issue Planned Parenthood provides routine medical services for women's health needs for the health of the patient, contraception methods, vitamins and nutrition before or during a pregnancy, among others.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
I agree in medically verifiable situations that all viable options for recovery are gone, & the patient is not deemed insane and/or unable to make that decision, and the Medical Professional's are on board that it is medically sound on the bases of quality of life, pain and suffering, and the probability that death is inevitable.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The ultra rich need to pay a fair share of taxes and loopholes need to be evaluated and eliminated as needed. Biden plan the they all pay a 15% Minimum is a step toward a more equitable and fair system.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
We can argue about cutting cost in various ways but it doesn't seem to do much good. There seems to be overlapping departments that may be combined to make them more efficient in providing the services. Otherwise the best way to reduce the budget is by increasing the GDP and growing the Economy. Tax breaks to the rich does nothing to reduce debt or balance the budget. The Republican Tax breaks to the rich did nothing to balance the budget and the National Debt increased 7.5 Trillion. Biden's 2-Years resulted in a net gain in revenue and appears to be a better way improving government and balancing the budget.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Agree
The Government Receives $10.00 for Every $1.00 they pay in Student Aid was a figure I had seen a few years ago. More income, promises more tax revenue. There has been excessive increases in the the amount paid to Collège Administrators. Private schools with excessive salaries and high tuitions are not the answer but every effort should be made to provide a college education for those who qualify. Never should the government give lending institutions money to lend to student leaving them in debt.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Agree
Unless a customer requires a merchant to break some kind of law, pornography standards for instance, no vendor should be allowed to withhold services. Again, this is about separation of Church & State. If you buy and sell you are required to pay taxes and abide by various laws that protect consumers. Vendors in these instances can do business with a private audience or members only company, but dealing with the public should be open to all. Disagreements may need to be handled by the Courts.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I am a born again Christian over the last 39 years. When Churches are used as a political branches of any other organization they should be stopped. Separation of Church and State is a Fundamental Principle in the Constitution. If you use the Pulpit to preach politics you should pay taxes. Only extreme examples of abuse and/or deceitful or illegal finances should be cause for Government interference or shutting down a church.
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.
Did not answer
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Did not answer
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Did not answer
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.
Did not answer
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Did not answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Did not answer
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Did not answer
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Did not answer
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Did not answer
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Did not answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Did not answer
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Did not answer
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Did not answer
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
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.
Did not answer
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Did not answer
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?
Did not answer
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.
Did not answer
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
Did not answer
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Did not answer
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Did not answer
