Issues

Civil Forfeiture: What does this mean? Cornell Law School explains that “[c]ivil forfeiture allows the government (typically the police) to seize — and then keep or sell — any property that is allegedly involved in a crime or illegal activity. Owners need not ever be arrested or convicted of a crime for their cash, cars, or even real estate to be taken away permanently by the government. The government does not have to charge the property owner with any specific crime in order to seize the property, and must prove only by a preponderance of the evidence that the property is legally forfeitable.” Cornell Law School. Civil forfeiture. Legal Information Institute. In essence, legalized theft by the government. This must not be allowed! Cooperating with federal agencies in any way for civil forfeiture should be forbidden. I will propose legislation to make it so property can only be forfeited after a guilty verdict or guilty plea on a felony. Restore justice to those not convicted.

Education: I am a father of two children, a 7th and a 5th grader. My wife is an elementary school teacher.  I support “Backpack Funding.” Children will be given a certain amount of money depending on their grade and special needs.  Parents will be able to choose any school they want and the funding will follow the child.  This money can be used for public education in or out of district, for private schools, or for tutors and materials for home schooled children.  It is time to allow low-income families to be able to send their children to the schools of their choice.  Give educational justice to all.

Eminent Domain: Cornell Law School explains that “[e]minent domain refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use, referred to as a taking. The Fifth Amendment provides that the government may only exercise this power if they provide just compensation to the property owners.” Cornell Law School. Eminent domain. Legal Information Institute. Kelo v. City of New London is one of the worst Supreme Court decisions of my lifetime. Eminent domain should NEVER be used to take property from anybody other than for public use, and then only after compensation of one and a half times the value of the property and the costs to move.

Environment: The Atlantic Coast Pipeline uses eminent domain for its construction, so I oppose it.  If the law allows people to trespass on land, then the law must be changed. I do not care how much of a “vitally important infrastructure project” this is, you may not use the government to take property from others for private use. This is not residential distribution of natural gas, so it is not a public use.

I would like to reduce income taxes by using externality taxes. One of the most commonly proposed externality tax is a carbon tax. It is easiest to apply at the well head, as well as when it is imported. The tax should be set to increase over a known amount over time to allow the industry time to adjust. This should also replace other pollution regulations. Taxation prevents grandfathering of pollution, and forces economic pressure to reduce pollution. Under the present system, a manufacturer must have new plants meet current environmental standards, but old ones can be grandfathered in. This encourages old, polluting, inefficient plants to not be replaced by newer ones.

Gun Rights: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” I will propose “constitutional carry” legislation. While still issuing concealed licenses for reciprocity, concealed carry should be allowed without a permit in the commonwealth.

Law Enforcement and Judicial System: Changes must be made to the Commonwealth’s judicial system and law enforcement all over the state. I would propose or support legislation that:

• will make those unable to pay a fine be able to do community service instead.
• will make it so that only driving offenses can result in the loss of ones drivers license
• will make the state will cover all costs (bail, attorney’s fees, and lost wages) for those found not guilty of felonies and misdemeanors. Anybody charged with felonies but only convicted of misdemeanors will also have their court cost covered.
• will increase the funding of the public defenders.
• will instruct prosecutors to prosecute perjury of state officials as a high priority and sentences will be doubled.
• will place all fines into the general fund of the state
• will make restitution payments a higher priority than fines.
• will make it that state and local police will be required to use, and the state will fund, body cameras while on patrol.
• will require state and local police to video tape all interviews with suspects.
• will remove any incentive or quotas for police officers to arrest people or hand out citations.

Medical: Certificate of Public Need (COPN) requires a committee to approve expansion of medical facilities, with competitors able to have an input.  This is a way for established medical organizations to prevent competition.  It allows them to keep their prices artificially high while preventing Virginians from having access to medical care.  According to Christopher Koopman and Thomas Stratmann of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University “[i]n particular, for Virginia these programs could mean approximately 10,800 fewer hospital beds, 41 fewer hospitals offering MRI services, and 58 fewer hospitals offering CT scans. For those seeking quality health care throughout Virginia, this means less competition and fewer choices, without increased access to care for the poor.”  I will propose legislation that will repeal the need for a Certificate of Public Need.  

I will also propose legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe anything for their patients. By expressly allowing any drug or medication to be prescribed in the state of Virginia, it will be possible for experimental medication to be given in the state as long as it does not cross state lines. This could put the Commonwealth of Virginia at the forefront of medical research.

Restoration of Civil Rights: I am grateful that our state has restored the voting rights to felons that have served completed their sentences.  I will propose legislation make this permanent and add gun rights and any other rights that were taken away by their felon status. Once you have done your time, you should not continue to be punished. If you are a convicted felon who has questions about the restoration of your right to vote, you can visit Revive My Vote to check your status and get more information.  Know your rights!

Victimless Crimes: When a person is arrested for victimless crimes such as recreational drug offenses, prostitution, homelessness, etc., their life is substantially made worse. It deprives an individual of their liberty and can create single parent households that put innocent children at risk. After release, it makes their life considerably harder due to their criminal record. Not only that, but think of how much money the tax payers have to shell out: the arresting police officer, the courtroom staff, the housing and care of the prisoner, and the welfare of any family left behind. Police are diverted away from crimes that actually have victims; every hour a police officer spends on a victimless crime is an hour not spent bringing justice to victims of actual crimes.

• Prostitution: It is now common to call prostitution “Human Trafficking”, but the vast majority of people in the sex trade participate voluntarily. The way it stands now, if sex workers are raped, not paid, or are robbed, they have limited access to legal justice. I will propose or support legislation to legalize, tax, and regulate prostitution.
• Recreational Drugs: I will propose or support legislation to decriminalize personal use amounts of all drugs, not just marijuana.
• Sexting: Teenage “sexting” is not a crime, and under no circumstances should it be treated as such.