State House 54
1. Abortion: Arkansas’ current law that prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Oppose
The law is too extreme. There are a number of fetal abnormalities that do not threaten the life of the mother but that will result in suffering and death for the newborn.
The law is too extreme. There are a number of fetal abnormalities that do not threaten the life of the mother but that will result in suffering and death for the newborn.
2. Abortion: Establishing a permanent funding stream to provide state-funded grants to charities that provide women with alternatives to abortion.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Oppose
I support the work of these charities, but I don't believe taxes should be going to religious institutions. When the state gets involved in religion, religion ultimately suffers.
I support the work of these charities, but I don't believe taxes should be going to religious institutions. When the state gets involved in religion, religion ultimately suffers.
3. Education: The Arkansas LEARNS Act Educational Freedom Accounts that lets families use public dollars to pay for an education at a private school or homeschool.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Oppose
There are many problems with the LEARNS Act. First, it gives tax money to institutions that do not have to meet the same standards public schools do. Second, it is tremendously expensive and is undercutting state support for public schools while eating up a larger and larger portion of the state's budget each year. Third, the salary bump for new teachers is a wonderful thing, but it is terribly unfair to teachers who have worked for twenty or thirty years to be only making $2000 or $3000 more than people just starting out.
There are many problems with the LEARNS Act. First, it gives tax money to institutions that do not have to meet the same standards public schools do. Second, it is tremendously expensive and is undercutting state support for public schools while eating up a larger and larger portion of the state's budget each year. Third, the salary bump for new teachers is a wonderful thing, but it is terribly unfair to teachers who have worked for twenty or thirty years to be only making $2000 or $3000 more than people just starting out.
4. Drugs: Legalizing recreational marijuana in Arkansas.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Support
Marijuana should be treated like alcohol. Permit its use, but penalize driving "under the influence."
Marijuana should be treated like alcohol. Permit its use, but penalize driving "under the influence."
5. Tech: Requiring major social media websites to verify all users’ ages in order to protect children on their platforms.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Undecided
The requirement sounds reasonable and serves a very good purpose, but it is completely unenforceable. And unenforceable laws just deminish respect for the law in general.
The requirement sounds reasonable and serves a very good purpose, but it is completely unenforceable. And unenforceable laws just deminish respect for the law in general.
6. Gambling: Letting casinos in Arkansas conduct gambling online.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Oppose
Gambling, in theory, is a person's choice, but it imposes heavy burdens on the poor and the desperate.
Gambling, in theory, is a person's choice, but it imposes heavy burdens on the poor and the desperate.
7. Elections: Current ballot initiative efforts to change the Arkansas Constitution to make it easier for private individuals or entities to place measures on the ballot for a statewide vote.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Support
Private individuals cannot place measures on the ballot unless they collect a large number of signatures and unless they collect a certain number of signatures from every county. Restricting citizens' rights to get measures on the ballot is NOT a good thing.
Private individuals cannot place measures on the ballot unless they collect a large number of signatures and unless they collect a certain number of signatures from every county. Restricting citizens' rights to get measures on the ballot is NOT a good thing.
8. Guns: Confiscation of firearms from citizens that the government deem a danger to themselves or others, otherwise known as red flag laws.
9. Marriage: The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
Doug Corbitt (Democrat)
Support
We must not create second class citizens. The rights we give to some we must extend to all.
We must not create second class citizens. The rights we give to some we must extend to all.