Card image cap

Bill Sharer's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Bill Sharer did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

New Mexico State Legislative Election 2020 Political Courage Test

Pro-life a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
We all have the right to life. This is the most basic right. Once we accept that some people are not human enough to be allowed to live we have set the standard for destroying any life.
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No b) In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes c) Do you support eliminating the state tax on Social Security benefits?
No d) Do you support tax credits to promote the purchase of electric vehicles?
Our tax code needs major reform. We need a code that is simple enough for the average person to understand, raises enough money to run the legitimate needs of government and attracts new industries. Today our Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) has numerous exemptions, deductions and credits thus degrading the value of the GRT. While GRT has been labeled "regressive" it is our major tax and almost impossible to disassemble. Eliminating most other taxes as well as the holes in the GRT will dramatically lower the GRT burden and achieve the goals of Simple, Enough, and Attractive.
Yes a) Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates?
Yes b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
No e) Do you support automatic voter registration?
c. I do not believe such a commission will ever be independent or bipartisan. The same partisan problems will be moved from the legislature to the commission, nothing solved.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Yes d) Do you support the use of private prisons in New Mexico?
No e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
No f) Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
b. The circumstances make the difference, but the option should be available. c. it is not the primary mission of state/local police to enforce immigration laws, but when they encounter a violation they should contact the feds, just as they would with other federal crimes
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No b) Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
Yes d) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
No e) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of New Mexico?
No f) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
No g) Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
a. If state spending means building or improving basic infrastructure absolutely. If it means GIVING business money - NO. We can offer training incentives and other short term well defined incentives, but we must be careful. b. We do not need to give special tax breaks, we need a sane tax code that is an incentive for ALL to invest in NM and allow the economy to grow.
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in New Mexico?
Yes b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in New Mexico?
No d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from New Mexico high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
a. Everyone agrees we should have high standards for our children, but adding levels of bureaucracy accomplishes nothing but hindering local school boards from taking appropriate action. c. Good teachers and teachers willing to work in HARD schools deserve extra pay, but administration does not need expansion.
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
b. We have exaggerated the "greenhouse gas" regulations. Certainly states should look out for the welfare of the citizens, but our current situation has taken a frightening turn. If we acted in a reasonable manner accounting for pollution, as well as affordable, reliable energy and jobs in general, then I would be supportive. As long as we are myopic on greenhouse gas alone, then-no.
No a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
No b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom after passing gun safety training?
No d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
b. The "gun show" loop hole is a farce. Gun shows are almost exclusively run in accordance with federal law and have back ground checks on every sale. Private citizens can buy anything from each other anywhere, not just gun shows. The only people that will follow any such law are responsible gun owners. The criminal (the guy we don't want to have a gun) will get the gun with or without this law. Burdening the good guy is wrong.
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
No b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through New Mexico's health care programs?
No c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
No d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
No e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
No f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
g) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New Mexico's anti-discrimination laws?
No b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Mexico's anti-discrimination laws?
No c) Do you support greater efforts by New Mexico state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
No d) Do you support the inclusion of the phrase "In God We Trust" on all public buildings and license plates?
a/b. forcing a private citizen to choose between making a living and going to hell is just mean spirited. What is the difference between being forced to make a wedding cake or being forced to make a Hitler birthday cake. If the baker has a problem using her skills to violate her conscience then she should not be forced to do so. This leaves open a business opportunity for others to fill that gap. Win/win without punishment.
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, any additional priorities of your campaign that have not been covered in these questions.
Real tax reform. Make the code simple. I am not advocating cutting taxes, we still need enough money to run government but our code needs to be attractive to new industries, new jobs and a growing economy which will allow us to improve schools and infrastructure.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward