COPLEN, RICK

Meet the Candidate

Running For:

Representative in Congress

District:

10

Political Affiliation:

Democrat

Age:

62

Occupation:

Teacher

Education: (click to expand)

Biographical Info: (click to expand)

Why are you running for office? (click to expand)

Survey

Response Legend

YYes
NNo
UUndecided
−Declined to Respond/Undecided, Position Unknown/Unclear
*Comment
†Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question	Response	Comments/Notes
1. Should government-run healthcare be provided to every American?	N*	No. However, there should be a public option for every American to choose if he or she wishes.
2. Should experiments using tissue obtained from aborted babies be prohibited?	N*	No. Those experiments can save millions of American lives.
3. Should the President nominate Supreme Court justices that adhere to the original meaning of the Constitution?	N*	No. Original meaning is certainly something to consider. But so is the experience of the past 246 years that the founders could not foresee.
4. Should education funding be directed to families through a voucher, scholarship, or education savings account so that parents can send their children to the school of their choice, including non-public schools?	N*	No. Despite assertions otherwise, such programs predominately help almost exclusively students from families of means and they undermine public school budgets.
5. Should Congress pass the Equality Act - which would require individuals and businesses to provide services or use their artistic expression in ways that violate their moral or religious beliefs?	Y*	Yes. In a pluralistic society such as ours, those who open their doors to We the People have an obligation to serve all who enter.
6. Should Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform or refer for abortions receive federal funds?	Y*	Yes. Planned Parenthood provides valuable services unrelated to abortion that deserve to be funded.
7. Should the federal government limit abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned?	N*	No. That decision should be left to the states, who have primary responsibility for matters pertaining to public health.
8. Should the federal government take further steps to block border crossings from undocumented migrants?	Y*	The federal government should adopt comprehensive immigration reform that provides a viable path to citizenship to those seeking to contribute to our Nation of Immigrants.
9. Should the federal government pursue energy independence through projects like the Keystone Pipeline?	N*	No. The Keystone XL Pipeline is not necessary for energy independence, which we have already achieved. Additionally, renewable energy sources can strengthen our energy independence.
10. Should the federal government have the power to impose a vaccine mandate on individuals and private businesses?	Y*	Yes. Under extraordinary circumstances in order to save lives, as Washington did in the Revolutionary War, such steps may be needed.
11. Should federal law require public schools to allow males who identify as females to compete in girls’ sports?	N*	No. This is a decision best left to the local level where those who have to live with the decision can debate it.
12. Should Congress pass the For the People Act, which would federalize election law?	Y*	Yes. The electoral rights of American citizenship in federal elections should be the same across all US states. Our DEMOCRACY is at stake