Following are the unedited answers of Curtis Harris to the Colorado 2010 Candidate Survey. Questions are in bold.
SUMMARY
In a Twitter-length reply (140 characters maximum), please state why you are running for political office.
Colorado is heading down the same path as Washington and it must be stopped and turned around. I have the skills and conservative values to do it.
ECONOMIC ISSUES
* Should the federal or state government spend money in an attempt to “stimulate” the economy? If so, on what sorts of projects?
No. It should cut spending, increase energy income, and taxes
[January 25 Update: Maes sent in the following clarification: “Please correct/modify delete ‘and taxes’ as it looks like I want to increase taxes. The message was to increase energy income and energy severance taxes to the state.”]
* Should tax dollars be directed toward energy projects, tourism, or any other form of business subsidies?
Only if the voters approve doing it.
* (State-Level Candidates:) Should the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights be kept completely intact? If not, how should it be altered?
Yes.
* (State-Level Candidates:) Should Amendment 23 be repealed, maintained, or modified?
Repealed as first choice. Suspended in Ref. C fashion as a second.
* (State-Level Candidates:) Should any particular state taxes or fees (such as the state corporate income tax or the subjects of the tax-cutting initiatives) be repealed or reduced? Should any be added or increased?
FASTER should be repealed.
* Should state or federal spending (depending on which office you seek) be higher or lower than it is currently?
State should be lower.
* Should the state or federal minimum wage (depending on which office you seek) be repealed, maintained, or increased?
Maintained and re-examined based on economic realities.
* Should college education be subsidized by tax dollars?
Yes.
* Should antitrust law or its enforcement be changed?
Need more clarification.
SOCIAL AND CHURCH/STATE ISSUES
* What do you believe is meant by the “separation of church and state,” and do you endorse it?
The federal government is not to create or endorse a national religion/church. I would enforce that.
* Should religious institutions receive tax dollars for providing welfare or other faith-based services?
NO
* Should the teaching of creationism or Intelligent Design be subsidized by tax dollars?
All public education is paid for by tax dollars. Thus, if the above were part of a school’s curriculum it would be.
* Should tax-funded schools establish a period of permitted or required prayer?
I support prayer in schools but no specific period of time should be required or encouraged. There is enough spare time in public school schedules already w/o crating more.
* Should government officials promote religiously oriented displays and comments on government property and at government events?
It already does as part of our historic architecture which reflects the reality that our country was founded not on the principles of men, but on those God given principles captured in our founding documents by men.
* Do you support gay marriage?
No.
* If you answered no to the question above, do you support domestic partnerships, civil unions, or comparable legal recognition of gay couples?
I would be willing to discuss civil remedies in areas that gays feel they are not equally protected.
* Should gay couples be allowed to adopt children by the same standards as heterosexual couples?
NO
* Should government never, always, or sometimes mandate parental notification and consent before a minor may legally obtain an abortion, and, if sometimes, under what conditions?
Always.
* Should government mandate waiting periods or ultrasounds before a woman may legally obtain an abortion?
Yes/no.
* Do you endorse the “personhood” measure that may appear on the 2010 ballot?
Yes.
* Should abortion be legal in cases of fetal deformity?
It already is.
* Should abortion be legal in cases of rape or incest?
It already is.
* Should abortion be legal in cases of risk to the woman’s life, as determined by the health professional selected by that woman?
It already is.
* Should elective abortion be legal?
It already is.
* If you believe that abortion should be legally restricted, what criminal penalties do you advocate for a woman and her doctor for obtaining or facilitating an illegal abortion?
No comment.
* Would execution ever be an appropriate penalty for obtaining or facilitating illegal abortions?
No.
* Should types of birth control be legal that may prevent a fertilized egg or zygote from implanting in the uterus?
I support the laws as they stand.
* Should fertility treatments be legal that may result in the freezing or destruction of a fertilized egg or zygote?
You ask way to many questions about an issue that is just not a priority at this time.
* Should research involving the use of embryonic stem cells be legal?
Not if there are other viable solutions.
* Should abortions or embryonic stem cell research be subsidized by tax dollars?
No and no.
IMMIGRATION
* (State-Level Candidates:) Should Colorado government force employers to verify with the federal government the legal status of potential employees, and, if so, what penalties should apply for failure to do so?
Yes and 10,000.00 per incident.
* Should federal or state tax-funded benefits (depending on which office you seek), including K-12 education, be extended only to U.S. citizens, to legal immigrants and guest workers, or to everyone in the U.S. including illegal immigrants?
They already are per federal law. It should stop at all levels.
PROPERTY RIGHTS
* What restrictions, if any, should be placed on the use of eminent domain?
It should be limited to cases where exercising it is indisputably for public use only. I use the word “use” versus interest or benefit.
* Do you endorse the use of eminent domain in the case of the Pinon Canyon military expansion? Do you support the military expansion if it does not involve eminent domain?
I do not “endorse” the use of it anywhere. I would support it reluctantly only if the Army can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they have no other options but to do so. I support a mutual agreement between willing sellers and leasers, and the Army as a first option.
* Should the Endangered Species Act be altered or differently enforced?
No opinion.
* (State-Level Candidates:) Should the smoking ban be maintained, expanded, or repealed? Should it apply to on-stage performances?
No opinion.
BILL OF RIGHTS
* Should McCain-Feingold and state campaign finance restrictions be repealed, maintained, or expanded?
Maintained. Moot now, isn’t it?
* Should the federal government control what radio or television stations may broadcast?
They already do via the FTC.
* Should the FTC’s rules regarding blogger endorsements be rescinded?
?
* Should students with licenses be legally permitted to carry concealed handguns on the property of tax-subsidized colleges?
Yes
* Should additional restrictions be added (or repealed) on gun ownership? Please specify.
No
* Do you believe that desecration of the U.S. flag should be outlawed by Constitutional amendment?
Yes
* Do you believe that pornography or obscene materials involving consenting adults should be legally restricted?
It already is.
OTHER
* Should state or federal laws (depending on which office you seek) pertaining to marijuana be altered, and, if so, how?
Yes. Med. mar. is a disaster and must be regulated like a pharmaceutical.
* (State-Level Candidates:) Should rules pertaining to petitioners be altered, and, if so, how?
No.
* If there is any important issue that you believe we have missed, please state what it is and state your position on it.