Tennessee Eagle Forum
State Candidate Questionnaire 2008
Thank you for offering yourself for public service through elected office. Since only an informed electorate can
make sound decisions, we ask you to state your positions so that we can distribute them to your potential
constituents. Please indicate your position with an A (Agree) or D (Disagree) to the left of each question.
PLEASE PRINT:
Candidate Name ______________________________________________Party__________
Address______________________________City___________________Zip____________
Phone____________________Fax_____________________e-mail____________________
CANDIDATE FOR:_______________________________________ DISTRICT:__________
I think the most important issue facing Tennessee today is:____________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Further Comments:___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE RETURN BY July 12, 2008
3216 Bluewater Trace, Nashville, TN 37217 (615) 360-8810 Fax: (615) 360-9005
State Government Issues
_____1. I oppose a state income tax.
_____2. Without amending the State Constitution, I believe a state income tax is unconstitutional.
_____3. I support the constitutional cap on state spending (Copeland Amendment) which limits spending
increases of state revenue to a percentage of the growth in personal income.
_____ 4. I would vote for legislation that would require a Photo ID to vote.
_____ 5. I would vote for legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
_____ 6. I would vote for legislation that would require driver’s license exams to be given in English only.
_____ 7. I would vote to prohibit local governments from enacting sanctuary policies toward illegal
immigrants.
_____ 8. I would vote to prohibit foreign ownership of toll roads.
_____ 9. I would vote for legislation that would protect the right of employers to require employees to
speak English while engaged in work on the job.
Education Issues
_____10. Tennessee should undertake an initiative to include intensive, systematic, direct phonics and other
clinically proven methods of teaching reading in the classroom.
_____11. Students should be able to read grade-appropriate material by the end of the first grade.
_____12. The public school systems should not be hiring K-2 teachers who do not know how to teach reading
and have not had adequate education in reading instruction.
_____13. Colleges of Education should provide for and require a course in intensive, systematic, direct
phonics of all students preparing to teach K-3.
_____14. Tennessee has a Family Life Education law which requires that "primary emphasis be place on
abstinence" among other requirements. Schools should comply with all provisions of this law.
_____15. I would oppose MANDATING the statewide teaching of birth control & contraceptives in sex
education classes, leaving that decision under local control.
_____16. Parents must have the right to exempt their children from questionable methodology, curricula,
classes or surveys that they consider privacy invading or offensive to their religion or values.
_____17. Parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children; inspect and review
instructional materials and methods; this includes access to all records of their children.
_____18. School-based health clinics should not be permitted to perform physical or mental examinations,
provide immunizations and medications, without direct, explicit permission from parents.
_____ 19. School-based health clinics should not be permitted to dispense birth control pills or birth
control devices or make abortion referrals.
_____ 20. Parents have the right to home school their children with minimal government interference.
_____ 21. Understanding that ‘testing drives curriculum’ I would vote against legislation requiring that home
schooled and/or private school students take the same tests required of public school
students.
_____ 22. I would vote for legislation that would prohibit school personnel from COERCING parents to put
their children on psychotropic drugs like Ritalin.
_____ 23. I would vote for legislation that would assure that if parents choose not to put their child on
these mind-alerting, dangerous and sometimes deadly drugs, the student could not be prevented
from attending school
_____ 24. I would vote for legislation that would prohibit the universal mental health screening of children.
_____ 25. I would vote against any legislation making Pre-K mandatory.
Gambling Issues
_____26. I would vote against any legislation or constitutional amendment to permit Casinos in Tennessee.
_____27. I would vote against any legislation that would legalize Video Lottery Terminals.
_____28. I would vote against any legislation that would legalize Keno games/machines.
_____29. I would vote against any legislation that would legalize the “collector card” machines, “baseball
card” machines, “redemption” machines, or any other such gambling device.
_____30. I would vote against reinstituting the State Racing Commission thereby authorizing horse
racing and pari-mutuel wagering.
Family Issues
_____ 31. I will vote for legislation opposing the state recognition of “civil unions” or “domestic
partnerships” between people of the same sex.
_____ 32. If the US Congress sends to the several states a proposed amendment to the US constitution
defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman, I will vote to ratify.
Sanctity of Life
_____ 33. An unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life; therefore, abortion should be
prohibited except to save the life of the mother.
_____ 34. I would vote for a Constitutional amendment that would render the state constitution silent on
abortion and leave any “exceptions” to abortion to the General Assembly to debate and decide
statutorily.
_____ 35. No state tax dollars should be used to pay for abortions except to save the life of the mother.
_____ 36. All abortion providers should be required to carry Medical Malpractice Insurance for the
protection of patients.
_____ 37. We should not be creating and destroying tiny little human beings (embryos), thus making them a
commodity, in the name of research. The ‘end’ does not justify the means.
_____ 38. Cloning human beings, which is growing a human being from a single cell of genetically identical
human being through asexual reproduction should be made illegal.
_____ 39. An unborn child has the right to be legally protected from criminal assault by a third party
regardless of gestational age.
_____ 40 Women should be informed about the scientifically proven connection between abortion and the
increased risk of breast cancer.