Rick Brattin
Republican | Missouri
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Rick Brattin
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
LSHS, Lee’s summit, Dipl, 1999
WORK & MILITARY
US Marine Corps, Sgt, 6
AFFILIATIONS
Abundant Life Church, Member, Off site Small Group Leader, Rachel House Pregnancy Resource center
Contributor, NRA, Member
Ducks Unlimited, Member, Cass County Rescue Mission
Volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 8
Cass County Auditor, 2
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2022
100%
2016
92%
2021
88%, 90% (cum.)†
2021
88%, 90% (cum.)†
2022
|100%
2016
|92%
2021
|88%, 90% (cum.)†
2021
|88%, 90% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2013
|13%
2018
|0%
2021
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (5)
*American Conservative Union PAC
*Conservative Political Action Coalition CPAC
Freedom Works for America
Missouri Right to Life
Special Operations for America (SOFA)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Missouri Right to Life, Sole endorsement
FreedomWorks
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)
Andrew Koenig (2015)
Ed Emery (2016)
Jason T Smith (2014)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Mark Parkinson (2015)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Bob Onder (2022)
Cindy O'Laughlin (2022)
Keith Frederick (2021)
Kurt Bahr (2022)
WinRed (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Key votes from Vote Smart
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
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
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
only when it's absolutely medically necessary to save the mother's life.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Strongly Disagree
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
We must get back to actually budgeting instead of mere continuing resolutions. Zero-based budgeting principles need to be applied to the budget process in order to be able to make the cuts necessary.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I believe taxes need to be lowered, and I support taking steps to move away from income taxes and toward a more responsible solution like sales taxes, or to an extremely simplified low-rate flat tax system. Both would allow for the drastic reduction in the size and scope of the IRS.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is the fundamental bedrock of our nation, all of our society hinges on our 1st Amendment.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
while there shouldn't be an established church of America, the church is an integral part of the function of society and a moral, righteous government. As John Adams stated: "our Constitution was made Only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None
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 know that it will be difficult because of how entrenched Medicaid and Medicare are, but I believe government needs to get out of the healthcare business. This is not something taxpayers should be funding. I would support requiring transparency in healthcare costs, which would drastically reduce costs across the board.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
I believe that C is the best approach militarily, but B in more advisory type roles without putting American boots on the ground.
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.
Strongly Disagree
I supported the Israel Non-Discrimination Act in Mo, and would support the same in D.C.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
I agree with Trump that for decades we have turned a blind eye to China, and actually nurtured their growth into the threat that they have become today. We must adopt policies that protect our national sovereignty and security.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Our mission should be laser focused to eliminate radical cells and their financial networks, not engaging in full scale invasion forces for multiple years. I also think President Trump was right to ban travel from a number of countries with a history of Islamic terrorism. This is a commonsense way to protect America at home.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
I’m with President Trump – build the wall, along with any other technologically advanced system to combat crossings. As well as extremely harsh penalties for human or drug trafficking.
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We have to be more selective about who is allowed to immigrate to our nation. I would strongly support restricting immigration to individuals who are sponsored by an employer and have special skills that cannot be found among the local workforce, as this is a way to ensure that the people who are coming to America will not be dependent on welfare programs or taking jobs that should go to Americans.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I have fought to stop such provisions from being enacted in Mo for years.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
I sponsored legislation banning CRT, 1619, and pornography in Mo schools.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born-again Christ follower, saved by grace, through faith. And believe all scripture is God breathed, and is the infallible word of God. My allegiance is to God, and with every action, word, and deed, I know I will stand before Almighty God and give an account.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Nationally, I support taking several of the steps we took this year in Missouri, including putting an end to Zuckerbucks, banning the distribution of unsolicited absentee ballots, and getting rid of direct-recording electronic voting machines.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Well, the CRT revisionist non-sense is a huge threat to our society
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
Drill here, Drill now!
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.
Stricter environmental laws are nonsense. They destroy the economy for no reason, and drive up the cost of everything.
ABOUT YOU
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?
Very Conservative
I am a Christian, constitutional, conservative… and in that order.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://939theeagle.com/missouri-right-to-life-backing-brattin-in-congressional-race-farm-bureau-supporting-bruce/ https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article261773357.html https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2022-06-08/gov-parson-signs-law-shielding-missouri-doctors-who-prescribe-ivermectin-or-hydroxychloroquine https://themissouritimes.com/brattin-endorsed-by-freedomworks-for-america/ https://www.kmbc.com/article/missouri-state-senator-gun-toting-christmas-card/38606086 https://missouriindependent.com/2022/01/10/lawmakers-eye-expansion-of-missouri-school-choice-program-but-can-it-get-the-votes/ https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/missouri-lawmakers-fight-to-restrict-abortion/article_300b4a2c-a001-11ec-956b-2b13933b8b72.html
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 a proud conservative, and I will never waver, no matter how nasty the liberal opposition gets. During session this year, when I brought an anti-abortion bill to committee I was accosted and assaulted by pro-abortion radicals, but I stood my ground. They then started raising money to funding abortions in my name because of my fighting to protect the unborn.
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
We need to stand behind law enforcement, not prosecute them for doing their job.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
I passed a law prohibiting the defunding of police departments, as well as stronger criminal penalties for people who attack law enforcement officers in Mo.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Any restriction on gun ownership is an inherent threat to public safety. I will not support any restrictions on the Second Amendment.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
It is ludicrous to try to hold firearms companies responsible for violence perpetrated by individuals.
