Nancy McLaughlin for State Senate District 3 GOP

Issues

View below to see all the issues Nancy takes part in.

“For 7 years, as Spokane City Councilwoman, I have listened to the frustrations of moms, dads, singles, retirees, employers, and employees. I voted against the $20 car tab fee and excessive water rates because of the current reduced job opportunities, high taxes/fees, and extensive regulations. As your next State Senator, my demonstrated fair, common sense leadership will help ensure a climate for job creation, education reforms (to include more local control and accountability), and sustainable budgets that won't leave an oppressive debt burden on our children and grandchildren.”

“I will work to help pass a jobs package called "Let's Get Washington Working Again" which requires: (a) tax rate simplification and reduction, (b) state agency permit decisions to be made within 90 days or the permit is, by default, granted, and (c) hydropower to be recognized as renewable energy (lower electricity rates). The results will give small businesses an opportunity to grow and create new jobs thereby expanding the tax base to help pay for our children's education and take care of our most vulnerable citizens.”

“Yes, I agree with the Court. No, I disagree with Gov. Gregoire’s assessment that tax increases are needed. Instead of tax increases I will push for (a) flexibility in how dollars are spent, (b) more local control and accountability, (c) preserving the Levy Equalization Assistance dollars, and (d) curtailing unfunded mandates passed down to local school districts. These four elements are key to getting more education dollars into the classroom thereby ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to a quality education.

Our local businesses need employees with a quality education which I why I believe that the highest priority for our state budget, before any other state program, should be K-12 education. Currently, only about 60 cents of every dollar allocated to education reaches the classroom (State Auditor's Report 2012, p12: http://www.sao.wa.gov/AuditReports/AuditReportFiles/ar1007826.pdf). My goal is to push that to 80 cents.

“Yes and Yes. In the years when the two-thirds requirement was in effect, tax hikes were a last resort resulting in more reform and fewer taxes. In 2010 the Democrat-led Legislature overruled the voters again by suspending the two-thirds requirement, resulting in almost $800 million more in taxes with few, if any, needed reforms. Later that year, 64% of citizens in the 3rd District voted in favor of I-1053, reinstating the two-thirds requirement. The Legislature has failed so miserably in multiple budget crises that a state Constitutional amendment would assure less talk and more action concerning necessary reforms.”

“In addition to providing Medicaid and health insurance to Public Employees, the state has taken on the needs of eligible, low-income residents. However, over 11,000 non-state residents are currently receiving benefits. This needs to stop. Redirecting health care resources to Basic Health, realigning public employee contributions to match private sector, shifting to consumer-directed health plans by funding HSAs, using competitive insurance plans for catastrophic insurance, and reducing health insurance mandates should be considered. In Indiana, this reform is saving the state $17-$23 million each year, while employees are saving $7-$8 million by making wiser health care decisions.”

“I support the right of people to agree to disagree on issues. The lifestyle choices that people make are up to them and I respect those choices. However, I am not in favor of changing the definition of marriage to anything other than a union between one man and one woman.”

“Refinements to the existing design have already resulted in approximately $300 million in savings and can be staged to provide an interim drivable section with the ability for future expansion. Additional state and federal funding must be pursued first before asking citizens for more, especially with Washington’s already high gas taxes and prices. Furthermore, this project is ranked 19th of 80 on the Congressional High Priority Corridor List for the National Highway system and will result in gas savings, improved air quality, improved safety, and provide economic growth opportunities for commercial and industrial development, ultimately resulting in needed jobs.”

“I do not support the legalization of marijuana for adults, including recreational purposes. Washington is one of 17 states where medical marijuana is legal, yet is illegal under federal law. I support asking the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify medical marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug, which would allow its use for treatment - prescribed by doctors and filled by pharmacists. Until this happens, the arrest and prosecution of the possession of marijuana should be given a low priority when we have such limited law enforcement resources.”

“Local and state officials must negotiate with union representatives in good faith to assure fair wages and working conditions. However, government unions now have too much power. Employees usually must join. Then government unions use that money to support issues and influence elections that are not necessarily in the best interests of the employees or the public. They have too much power to require that taxpayers’ money be used to award bigger and better benefits than their private counterparts. Other priorities of our state are suffering because we can no longer afford the overly generous benefits unions have bargained.”

“The arts are critical to a vibrant and engaging community which attracts new businesses, an educated workforce, and a creative, curious younger generation among other reasons. However, in hard economic times, state and local governments have to reduce support in favor of higher priorities of service such as public safety. I would support grants for creative fundraising, scrutinize administrative policies, etc. I would hope the budget could at least maintain current funding.”

“Voters rejected the idea of a state income tax HEAVILY in 2010 (64.15% said "no" to I-1098). The promise of reducing other taxes in favor of an income tax does not give citizens assurance because once enacted, taxes tend to be raised, not reduced, i.e. the state gas tax began at one cent per gallon and today its 37.5 cents per gallon, the first state sales tax was two percent and today it is 6.5%. We need to reduce taxes on small business and continue to reform Worker's Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, etc. in order to get people back to work.”

“Yes, as long as it improves safety and reduces traffic violations. Red light running is a serious intersection safety issue across the nation. People are more likely to be injured due to a red-light running related crash than any other type of crash. Cameras can significantly reduce intersection crashes and red light violations. It even changes driver behavior by reducing violations at intersections without cameras. Pictures are only taken of a vehicle's license plate and not the driver so is very nonintrusive.”

“I support the creation of public charter schools, STEM schools and other innovative organizational school designs. Forty-one states allow their students to attend charter public school and they are popular with parents. These public charter schools should be modeled after charter schools in other states that have shown success in student achievement. Charter schools should be granted a high degree of financial and organizational autonomy so that they have the freedom to customize staff, curriculum, and educational services to best meet their students' needs. Charter schools should be held accountable for improving student performance.”

“I would not support allowing local governments to form a district to add “fees” to anything without a public vote. People are not fooled. They know this is actually an unapproved tax. Especially because of our difficult economy, I voted against the $20 license tab “fee” when it was passed by others on the City Council, but I would have supported it with voter approval.”

“Yes, I would support limiting tuition increases and reducing the cost of higher education by scrutinizing the programs we offer. Focus state dollars on marketable programs that train a workforce for the demand; don't demonize the trades/apprentice programs; provide a type of "Truth in Advertising" by informing our secondary students what kind of careers are going to be in demand, allowing them to make informed choices. Limit subsidized education for "career students" who are still taking up limited slots after 5 years; retain slots for in-state students and provide adequate tax savings accounts for higher education.”