In order to gather information about the candidates, we sent them e-mails inviting them to respond about various topics. This is the response given by Scotty Boman.
1. Voting Rights: Michigan voting laws place unnecessary burdens on college students because they require that you re-register to vote each time you change residence, and they also make absentee voting extremely difficult for first-time voters. A significant number of students have been disenfranchised for these reasons, contributing to the marginalization of students by government because they "don't vote." We want to maker sure students take part in the political process. How have you supported student enfranchisement in the past, and if elected, what will you do to make voting more accessible to students?
Absentee voting voting should be simplified. Voters should be able to print the absentee ballot online, so you don't need to wait for it to arrive. Ballots postmarked by election day should be counted, even if they arrive at the home municipality after election day.
2. Education/Student Finances: Michigan schools, K-12 as well as public higher education institutions, are under funded, and Michigan is ranked as the worst state for funding higher education in the country. How have you supported education in the past, in terms of state/federal funding, loans,scholarships and grants, and making higher education affordable and attainable for all students, and how will you do so if elected? Please be specific.
Funding education is not a constitutionally delegated power of Congress. Keep education dollars in the hands of the states and the people as the tenth amendment requires.
3. Diversity/Affirmative Action: In 2006, Proposal 2 banned the use of affirmative action by public institutions in Michigan. Diversity is a crucial part of the University of Michigan experience. How have you supported diversity in public institutions in the past, and if elected, what will you do to ensure continued diversity in the future?
The federal Constitution requires equal protection under the law. No government supported institution should be permitted to discriminate against people based on demographic categories.
4. Health Care: During college and just after graduation, health insurance becomes a major issue of concern for many young adults who are no longer covered by their parents' plans and may not be able to afford it themselves. As a result, 18-24 year-olds account for one-third of the uninsured U.S. population. What have you done to promote access to health care in the past, and how will you do so in the future, in general and especially for the student population?
The Democratic and Republican run Federal government currently interferes with citizens' access to healthcare. This includes restricting the informed sale of nutritional supplements, and jailing people for medical Marijuana in states where it is legal.
Their monetary policy has inflated the cost of everything, including health care.
The Federal government has no Constitutional authority to control or provide healthcare. Return authority to the people and the states, as the Constitution requires.
5. Cost of Contraceptives: As a result of the Deficit Reduction Act, costs of contraceptives have seen an enormous price hike. This significantly impacts the college-aged population, and deters them from being proactive in their reproductive health care. What are your concerns with regards to providing access to affordable contraceptives, and what do you support as a solution to make sure college-aged people are protected? (should we add in abortion? should this fall under health care?)
It is my understanding that physicians discourage people who wish to be sterilized from doing so becase courts allow them to be sued later. Courts should not sue physicians for providing this service when it is requested.
Inflation has made everything more expensive because of our monetary system. Return to the gold standard to stop inflated prices.
6. Miscellaneous: This could include anything to do with file sharing, drinking age/MIPs/drug policy (punishments), creating jobs in Michigan, abortion etc.
File sharing: It's between you and the one you share with. Just don't market someone elses work as your own or violate license agreements.
Drinking age: The Federal government used highway funds blackmail states into adopting the 21+ drinking age. The violates the equal protection clause, and the amendment that prohibits federal restrictions on alchohol. Allow states to set their own drinking ages, and stop federal discrimination against young adults.
End the federal war on drugs. It has no Constitutional authority to do this.
I believe current Federal regulatory requirements for new or expanding developments and projects are excessive. The constitution only allows the Federal government to regulate inter-state commerce not intra-state commerce. The current Congress, president and courts have almost completely ignored these Constitutional limits. All regulations that do not directly address interstate commerce should be immediately repealed. Furthermore, many constitutionally permitted regulations are still unnecessary and an impediment to the free market. Where this is the case, they should also be phased out.
Removing many restrictions will make it easier for economic development. With a virtual end to federal red tape, businesses may deal with remaining restrictions on the State and Federal level. One important move would be the elimination of the income tax. The burdensome roll of businesses having to act as tax collectors for employee payroll withholdings would be removed. Lower taxes would be good for business and improve the buying power of consumers.
Another aid to economic development would be a return to sound money. Since 1971, when the value of money was de-coupled from gold, our country has faced unprecedented inflation. As a result, savings lose value in the bank, and businesses have constantly had to re-adjust prices and wages to keep up with inflation. A return to the stabilizing effect of the gold standard would bring inflation to a halt and create a more stable business climate.
I believe the Federal government must stay within it's Constitutional limits. It should not fund or ban abortion. Abortion laws should be decided on a State level. The Federal roll in matters of criminal law is narrowly defined in the Constitution. As Senator, I would vote against any bill that called upon the Federal government to exceed it's authority. I would confirm the appointment of judges that adhere to a strict constructionist approach to Constitutional law.