Kendra Penry

Strongly Disagree

I understand the desire to ensure taxpayer funds do not go to abortion, however we must start seeing this as more than a black and white issue. Women deserve adequate healthcare, especially given that pregnancy is one of the most dangerous times in a woman's life. Organizations like Planned Parenthood offer essential healthcare for many women and funds given to them from the government do not pay for abortion. Providing adequate healthcare is actually a prime way to reduce the rate of abortions.

For a long time, this country recognized that viability is an important line to recognize for elective abortion because the mother's life is equally important. This is a standard that we need to return to as it respects the ability of women to make the right decisions for themselves while still recognizing the other life as well. At no point should our government be intervening in the doctor's office.

Disagree

This is crossing into religious territory in terms of creating laws based on religious beliefs, which we must be very careful about. There are many religions that do not agree that conception is the start of life, rather it is birth. Yes, the government should recognize and protect human life; however, from conception is allowing a religious belief to step into creating law and leading to many women being criminalized for tragedies over which they have no control, which is unacceptable.

Neutral

This is, again, an area where the government should not be intervening as this crosses into territory that is deeply personal and challenging for many families to navigate and allowing religious beliefs to dictate laws.

Strongly Disagree

The Comstock Act does not ban interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs as those drugs did not exist when the law was passed. It is erroneous to try to insert modern day issues into historical laws that could not have foreseen where we are now. If our representatives are serious about banning these drugs, they need to grow a backbone, take a stand, do the research, and write a modern day law to address a modern day issue.

We have failed our people with our current rules on minimum wage. We must raise minimum wage to recognize the value of labor and of human dignity.

Neutral

Free enterprise and private property are valuable tools that must be balanced with efforts to protect workers, ensure fair competition, and support public needs. For generations, we have recognized that our economy without guardrails leads to exploitation of people and concentrates wealth in a tiny minority. Businesses thrive when there is a vibrant public education system, all of us benefit from well maintained roads and infrastructure, and a vibrant middle class is essential to our economy.

I am seeking a state level position so I would support limits on raises for representatives/senators unless approved by the voters, limits on the number of bills proposed in the legislature to eliminate the waste of time and resources on merely grandstanding, cutting subsidies and tax breaks for large corporations, and streamlining agency reporting requirements/eliminating unnecessary paperwork to save taxpayer funds and worker time.

Separation of church and state means that the government must remain strictly secular, ensuring public policy is never driven by religious dogma and all people receive equal treatment regardless of faith. As intended by our founding fathers, it means no religion is given precedence over any other. Laws and public policies should be based on science, reason, and human rights.

Neutral

The separation of church and state and First Amendment are intended to protect our people from the government instituting a religion, so if it is a public entity or a government service, yes, they should have to provide services to all people regardless of their beliefs. I realize that is difficult but that is how our country was founded. Private businesses are different and are not required to follow those same ideals.

B. Our government should provide a minimum standard of healthcare guaranteed for all people. Additional insurance can be available for those who need or want it based on their individual circumstances, but there should be at least a minimum that all people can depend on as access to healthcare is a basic human right since it is necessary to our wellbeing.

Strongly Disagree

The government should not be keeping a record of our citizens' medical conditions. That is opening up people to their information being stolen or used in ways that are unethical. Medical decisions are between a person and their doctor only.

Agree

Yes, China is one of the most active and persistent cyber threats to the US, and we need strict export controls and investment safeguards to protect sensitive American innovations. The best strategy for dealing with this is ensuring strong multilateral alliances and targeted, enforceable rules.

Of course the US' relationship with Israel is important. It is because of that relationship that the US can take a stronger stance on human rights and we should not be providing unconditional military support for any country.

Agree

It has been proven that in sanctuary cities, immigrants are more likely to report crime and act as witnesses when needed. Study after study shows that sanctuary jurisdictions often experience stable or lower crime rates compared to non-sanctuary areas, alongside stronger community cohesion. I understand the need to enforce our immigration laws, but we must never lose sight of the fact we are talking about human beings who deserve dignity and respect.

Strongly Disagree

The Department of Education is essential to ensuring high quality education that businesses and individuals can trust no matter where people live. Through the DoE, equitable funding for high poverty areas is secured and civil rights protections for those with disabilities is better enacted. We must not forget that states and communities have ALWAYS had control over curricula and programs in schools. This has always been the case, the DoE merely enforces equitability of access for all students.

Neutral

Foreign government funding would not seem necessary if we more adequately funded education ourselves. Also, this is only an issue truly affecting colleges and universities which are private institutions and should be allowed to make their own decisions. These should be on public record, but is not an issue that the government should necessarily be involved in given that our government likes to brag about free market capitalism, which this is.

Neutral

This has always been the case. It is fear-mongering to suggest otherwise.

Disagree

Anyone who has worked with a child that is seriously suffering with gender dysphoria knows that true child abuse is not recognizing this is a serious situation that demands love and acceptance. Denying the situation leads to severe mental health consequences, including suicide. Decisions on transitioning should be made with medical guidance, not dictated by the government.

Neutral

Marriage is a social construct. It has constantly undergone changes, even in the Bible, on who people can marry and even how many. To declare that it only has one definition is allowing a modern day religious belief to impact our political decisions, which in this country, should never be allowed.

Neutral

Gambling can boost the economy and serve as entertainment for most people. However, expansion, if allowed, must be done with proper safeguards in place to ensure access to help with addiction and consumer protections.

This has no bearing on my ability to do this job. I value that all people are created equally, that we as a society should strive to ensure all people have equitable access to succeed, and that compassion and empathy are essential. However, my spiritual beliefs are both personal and should be completely separate from governance.

Neutral

Most states already require photo identification in the process of voting, whether in person or when registering to vote. It is proven that voter fraud is exceedingly rare, so adding another layer of identification will be onerous for most. If photo identification is required, we must be sure it is instituted with care, allowing for several solutions so no one is disenfranchised. Our Constitution guarantees the right to vote. We must respect that making it possible for all people to participate.

Neutral

This is difficult because of the practicality of instituting reparations would make them virtually impossible. At this point, given how much time has passed, it seems we would be better served by offering universal programs, such as a minimum standard of care through universal healthcare and access to free secondary learning to lift up all low-income people. A comprehensive study of restitution options would serve all of us well to ensure all people have equitable opportunities for success.

Neutral

Much more research is needed before these decisions are made. There have been few, if any, truly neutral studies showing the impact of gender on sports performance. Additionally, if we are honest, biological males intent on harming women do not care if a restroom is labeled for women or men - they will enter those spaces anyway. We need to have strong reporting mechanisms for all people, rather than worrying about people transitioning just to harm others, which is not happening.

Strongly Agree

There are no other issues that so many scientists widely agree on other than man-made climate change. To deny it treats us as unintelligent as if we cannot believe what we are experiencing and we are not smart enough to develop solutions. We must be responsible for our actions and willing to take the steps necessary to find solutions if we are serious about leaving a world we are proud of to future generations. To do otherwise is to condemn our children and grandchildren to suffer.

Solar energy. It is already the cheapest form of energy available, which addresses much of the affordability crisis, and with innovations in batteries and storage is possible to use year round.

Choose not to answer

My personal views are not necessarily what matters. This job is to represent the people of this district. If I do this job well, no one would know what my party is.

No

No

Our criminal justice system should focus on rehabilitation and harm reduction. Other countries where this is the goal see far lower rates of recidivism. We are better served and save money by lowering the number of people in prison, especially for low-level or non-violent offenses, by stopping crime before it happens by addressing poverty, lack of jobs, and improving schools, and using programs like restorative justice where people who broke the law work to repair the harm they caused.

Agree

I support laws that require corporate accountability. Tech companies are capable and should be required to prevent harm and report abuse. I would support restrictions on addictive algorithms and targeted data collection aimed at minors.

Neutral

This is fear-mongering. This is not happening and in no way could happen if we follow our Constitution, the First Amendment, and enforce the separation of church and state.

The majority of Americans (close to 90%) support universal background checks, preventing individuals with mental illnesses from purchasing firearms, and raising the minimum purchase age to 21. I would support all of these in line with the idea of democracy allowing the people's voice to be heard.