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Home	Port Huron	District 81	District 32
State of Michigan - House of Representative Races 2008
Candidates are invited to participate in our forum. Local opinion will supply four questions and invites each candidate to submit two questions. Responses will be pasted into the appropriate box, unedited. Long responses will "link" to a second page, but will not be altered. Revised answers will be allowed.
District 32		District 81		District 83

John Accavitti	Jennifer Haase	Phil Pavlov	Brent Pencak	Steve Kearns	John Espinoza
Question 1 (Submitted by Local Opinion) IDENTIFY AT LEAST TWO STRATEGIES YOU WOULD SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE OR ATTRACT BUSINESS INVESTMENT IN MICHIGAN?
NO RESPONSE	NO RESPONSE	We must eliminate the 22 % Surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax (MBT). This tax was levied to replace the failed "Tax on Services" that was in effect for a short time in 2007. Once we eliminate the Surcharge, we must begin the phase out of the Personal Property Tax that businesses pay every year on the equipment and machinery they use to run their business. Our neighbors in Ohio were successful with eliminating PPT and have seen job growth as a result.	NO RESPONSE	1 I favor the enactment of HJR-III that would prohibit property taxes from increasing, when property values are falling. 2 I favor the passage of the Right to Work Laws, in nearly every case those state that have right to work laws have a better performing economy.	NO RESPONSE
Question 2 (Submitted by Local Opinion) PRESENT THREE IDEAS YOU WOULD INCORPORATE TO REDUCE THE COST OF RUNNING STATE GOVERNMENT?
NO RESPONSE	NO RESPONSE	In the past two years the current administration has failed in the attempt to truly reform state government. We have huge cost savings available to us thru Privatization Cost savings exist thru consolidation of departments as well, for example, we could reduce our 14 HR departments into one. I believe if we put all state spending on line for the taxpayer to review, it would force government to maintain responsible spending limits.	NO RESPONSE	1 Freeze pay on all state employees, until property values increase and unemployment decreases. 2 Freeze hiring in all state agencies. 3. Implement cost saving ideas as presented by the Mackinaw Center.	NO RESPONSE
Question 3 (Submitted by Local Opinion) DO YOU FAVOR A UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE WITH EXTENDED TERM LIMITS?
NO RESPONSE	NO RESPONSE	I do support modification of term limits, but do not support the concept of Unicameral Legislature.	NO RESPONSE	Michigan is one of only a few states whose legislature is in session full time. Texas, a larger and more vibrant state, has a legislature that meets for 140 days, every other year. They are paid $7,200. I would favor a part-time, unicameral legislature with term limits of 12 years.	NO RESPONSE
Question 4 (Submitted by Local Opinion) IN YOUR OPINION, WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN? UP TO WHAT POINT IS ABORTION JUSTIFIED?
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM: Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.	DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM: The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.	I believe life begins at conception. Abortion should only be an option in case of the life of the mother.	DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM: The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.	I believe in the right to life and would oppose any legislation favoring abortion.	DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM: The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.
Question 5 (Submitted by Steve Kearns) WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON GUN CONTROL?
NO RESPONSE	NO RESPONSE	I support the second amendment and am proud to be the only candidate endorsed by the National Rifle Association with an "A" Rating.	I am a supporter of the Second Amendment right to own firearms. Michigan’s economy receives a large boost from hunting, shooting competitions and other gun-related activities. The right to own a gun extends to protecting individuals’ safety as well.	I fully support the National Rifle Association's position as it relates to the right to bear arms and to own guns. I favor the concealed weapons law that currently exists in Michigan because it allows law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves.	NO RESPONSE
Question 6 (Submitted by Steve Kearns) WOULD YOU SUPPORT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ALLOWING GAY MARRIAGE?
NO RESPONSE	NO RESPONSE	. No, I believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman.	NO RESPONSE	No. I believe that marriage should be recognized only in the traditional sense, that being between one man and one woman.	NO RESPONSE
Question 7 (Submitted by Phil Pavlov)

Question 8 (Submitted by Brent Pencak)

Question 9 (Submitted by John Espinoza)

Question 10 (Submitted by Jennifer Haase)

Question 11 (Submitted by John Accaviti)

Question 12

Question 13 (Submitted by Phil Pavlov)

Question 14 (Submitted by Brent Pencak)

Question 15 (Submitted by John Espinoza)

Question 16 (Submitted by John Accaviti)