GENERAL ELECTION 2008 | |
Know the Positions of the PA Auditor General Candidates | |
As part of a statewide effort to educate people about candidates and their positions on issues important to Catholic voters, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) sent a questionnaire to candidates for statewide office to give them the opportunity to make their positions known on key specific issues. The answers they provided are listed here for educational purposes only; the PCC does not endorse candidates for political office. | |
DEMOCRAT | REPUBLICAN |
 Jack Wagner |  Chet Beiler |
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, what is your position on providing legal protection for unborn children from the moment of conception? | |
SUPPORT, with exceptions for life of the mother, rape and incest | SUPPORT, with exceptions for life of the mother |
What is your position on allowing the people to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman and to prevent legal recognition of civil unions? | |
DID NOT INDICATE I voted for Act 124 of 1996 because I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. | SUPPORT |
What is your position on school choice legislation in the form of direct grants, or vouchers, to students to attend the school of their choice? | |
DID NOT INDICATE I am always open-minded about exploring innovative ways to strengthen the quality of education in Pennsylvania. I would want to review the details of such legislation. | SUPPORT |
What is your position on research that involves destroying live human embryos to obtain their cells for experimentation (embryonic stem cell research)? | |
OPPOSE, GENERALLY I would want to review the details of such legislation. | OPPOSE |
What is your position on imposing a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania and simultaneously establishing a commission to study how the death penalty is implemented in our Commonwealth? | |
OPPOSE Oppose a moratorium, but I am open-minded to finding ways to validate the process of how the death penalty is applied, such as DNA testing. | OPPOSE |
What is your position on legislation that allows only single individuals or married couples to adopt children? | |
DID NOT INDICATE I support children being adopted to a loving home. | SUPPORT |
What is your position on increasing funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), which encourages businesses to donate to K-12 scholarship programs? | |
SUPPORT As a state senator, I voted to create and expand this program and increase its funding. I want to continue to monitor its effectiveness. | SUPPORT |
What is your position on legislation to create a registration system for religious child care providers that includes health and safety requirements (but not licensure by the Department of Public Welfare) and preserves their religious freedom (i.e., in curricula and hiring practices, and discipline)? | |
SUPPORT | SUPPORT |
What is your position on legislation or administrative regulation that forces Catholic health care providers to provide, pay for or refer for services contrary to their conscience and moral teachings? | |
OPPOSE | OPPOSE |
What is your position on this statement: The government should assume financial responsibility for providing affordable, accessible health care for the uninsured? | |
DID NOT INDICATE I am open-minded to any proposal to expand access to health care for the uninsured in a fiscally responsible way, but would want to review the details of such legislation. | OPPOSE |
What is your position on legislation that would guarantee comprehensive freedom of conscience for health care providers and health care institutions? | |
SUPPORT GENERALLY I would want to review the details of such legislation. | SUPPORT |
What is your position on legislation requiring employers to provide employee benefits to which they are morally opposed, for example, mandating health care coverage for contraceptives, if other prescription drugs are covered? | |
OPPOSE I believe that employers should make these decisions. | OPPOSE |
Published by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, the public affairs agency of Pennsylvania’s Catholic Bishops. For more information, contact PCC at PO Box 2835, Harrisburg, PA 17105 717-238-9613, info@pacatholic.org. | |
