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You are one of the few libertarians to get elected in central PA. Why do you think there

havent been more libertarians and other 3rd party candidates elected in our area?

I think its because as a culture we have been, I guess we have been tricked into believing that

the two party system, Republicans and Democrats, is somehow part of our government, when

in fact its not. Its just two clubs that have gathered enough power to control our government.

People dont think that the 3rd party alternatives are in any way valuable or perhaps even legal,because the average citizen thinks Democrats and Republicans are part of how our government

functions, and its just not true. So, I think many citizens are democratic or republican the way

they are Polish or catholic, its just what they were brought up with and theyve never considered

the idea that a different voice, a different organization, a different way of doing things can

succeed in helping manage our government affairs.Why are you running for the state House of Representatives?

Because I think that the two party monopoly on our state government has been

counterproductive to the point of being damaging. The Democrats and Republicans are fighting

amongst themselves and the work of government, what little work government should be doing,

is just not getting done. It doesnt matter whether your Democrat or Republican, neither oneof them are making government smaller, less intrusive, less expensive. The only hope for our

government to do what its intended to do, which is citizens governing themselves, would be to

introduce a 3rd party to that process.What is your position on gun rights and the 2nd amendment?

I think that the most important thing to remember about firearms, the 2nd amendment, the

individual has a right to keep and bear arms for self defense and recreation. The supreme court

has made it very clear that the 2nd amendment includes not just some vague sense of militia,

but the individuals right. Owners should of course be responsible for the safe use and secure

storage of their firearms to protect each other. And those what penalties can be severe for

crimes involving gun violence, but the idea of restricting our use of firearms because of maybewhat might happen on an individual basis seems absurd to me.Do you support eliminating property taxes?

I would prefer to eliminate property taxes in favor of drastically reducing the cost of state

government and replacing property, or even income taxes, with a sales tax that actually does

collect the money we need to run what little government we should be having.In May, a poll conducted by Franklin & Marshall college showed that 80% of Pennsylvanians

support legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. What is your position on the

Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (H.B. 1393/S.B. 1350) thats currently being

considered in the General Assembly?When I compare the substance marijuana to the potential dangers of many substances that are

regulated by responsible doctors for health care purposes, marijuana seems to be very similar.

I dont understand why we would restrict the use of this herb, that grows out of the ground like

dandelions, if it could possibly help sick people feel better, and I support the legalization of

medical marijuana.Do you support the recent legalization of table games and will you defend the right for PA to

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keep table games so that PA stays competitive with Atlantic City?

Absolutely, absolutely. Because there is no reason why we should decide for adult citizens how

they spend their money recreationally. And if we dont provide it theyll just cross the border and

do it there. So we might as well take advantage of that legitimate interest that adults have to

assist with what revenues are appropriate. So absolutely, I think that table games are in no way

damaging to our rights and our society and should be allowed.Would you support using nullification, through the 9th and 10th amendments, to stop the new

federal Health Care Reform bill?

Nullification as a legal concept is still kind of on the fringe of the socio-political environment

in our country. And I suspect that it would be better to concentrate our efforts on electing

liberty-minded candidates, rather than get caught up in a series of Supreme Court level, or

federal court level, battles over what those amendments might, or might not, mean in terms of

nullification. I understand the argument has its merits, but I believe it might be a little bit of a

rabbit hole, when we could be putting our effort into advocating for liberty-minded candidates to

change the laws that are causing difficulty for citizens who care about liberty.Do you believe it is the governments proper role to regulate marriage?

No. I think that marriage should be left to religious institutions, to churches, synagogues,

whatever religious community would want to do it. I think the services that are available from

taxpayer funded government services should be provided to all pairs of citizens, regardless of

the shape of their bodies, their gender, their heritage, their race, any such thing that might be

discriminatory.Pennsylvania has raised taxes on tobacco to record new highs. This hurts the poor

more than any other class of Pennsylvanians. Do you support lowering tobacco taxes?

I support keeping sales taxes comparable regardless of what youre selling, and managing state

budgets accordingly. Instead of deciding, here's all the money we can raise, now how will wespend it? We should look back and say, heres what government should be doing, and fund

that instead.Virginia has recently decided to end their state monopoly on liquor stores in favor of

privatization. Pennsylvanias current monopoly on liquor keeps prices uniformly high, eliminates

competition, and limits choice. Would you support privatizing Pennsylvanias liquor stores?

Absolutely. I have no idea why the government is involved in the business of managing what

adults purchase for their own consumption. We should absolutely privatize liquor stores in

Pennsylvania. Free markets should rule.Do you support expanding the extraction of gas, oil, coal, and other minerals in Pennsylvania?Governor Rendells administration and the DEP have tried to prevent drilling in the Marcellus

Shale gas deposits. Whats your take on that?

I think that the people who own those properties should be permitted to mine them, and extract

what comes out of them, for their benefit and for purchase and transmission on the free market.

I do recognize that that industry can be very dangerous for other people, and I would only permit

or encourage regulation of that industry to the extent that it protects citizens from damaging

other peoples property and other peoples rights.

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Do you support repealing PAs Privelege/Penalty to Work Tax? Its the tax that requires people

to pay $50 to the state government before you can become employed in PA.

No I do not support that. That should be repealed and if we need to reduce how we spend

money as a result, so be it.Are you religious?

I am, but it should not effect how I work as a citizen or as a representative.The reason I ask is because PA pays for religious books when representatives and senators are

sworn in, when the individual representatives/senators could just bring their own. If you become

elected will you bring your own religious book to be sworn in on?

Oh for heavens sake, I can bring my own bible. Ive got 3 or 4 different versions. I can certainly

bring my own bible and think everyone should. I dont understand why Pennsylvania is

purchasing holy books for anybody, being compensated by such federal or state dollars.Do you support the legislation to prevent PA from enacting REAL ID?

I think the REAL ID initiative is a poor one and any step toward forcing people to carry

identification papers is I think a dangerous step. So I oppose the REAL ID act and anything to

keep that from happening would be fine by me.Whats the most important difference between you and your opponents?

I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I can represent the people of district 85 for their best

interests, not the interests of some entrenched political party. I can stand in the middle of the

General Assembly and say, Ladies and gentleman, arent you ashamed with yourselves? and

not worry about some party leader admonishing me or taking away my committee chairmanship.

I can represent my citizens with absolutely no other loyalty but that of my judgement and the will

of the citizens that sent me to Harrisburg.