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Kent Johnson

Running for State Representative

2 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Libertarian Party

CEP Status:

Website: www.simplifyandrepeal.com

Age: 62

Marital Status: SINGLE

Current Residence: Torrington

Current Job: SELF EMPLOYED

Previous Job: STATE OF CT

Previous Job:

Education: MASTER

Would you vote for a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana? Why or why not?
Of course. I am Libertarian.
How should the state balance the needs of vulnerable populations with the reality of another large budget deficit?
Lay off government employees who do not provide a direct service to the taxpayer.
A recent report found 40 percent of Connecticut residents can't afford basic needs such as housing, food, health care, or child care. What would you do to improve their situation?
Lay off State employees who make 20% more than equivalent private sector employees.
Will you support top-down efforts to regionalize local services with an eye toward more efficiency and reducing the state's obligations regarding ECS and/or other funding for towns? How would you go about it?
I support localized services of all types, both government and business. Centralize services only to benefit the taxpayer.
Where and how should state government focus its efforts in order to grow jobs?
Simplify and repeal all laws, make regulations understandable and those that are not understandable need to be repealed.
Would you support legislation to "ban the box," prohibiting employers from asking the question about criminal convictions on a job application?
Total transparency in business and government, but all citizens have a right to withhold information or lie.
Based on estimates that out-of-state drivers would contribute 30-40% of overall revenue if highway tolls are implemented in Connecticut, would you support tolls with or without offsetting cuts in the state's gas taxes?
I doubt any new tax or toll would offset any other tax or toll. New taxes are added as new income to spend. I support cutting state jobs and services to simplify government and give residents more freedom.
Eversource and some out-of-state entities appear to be attempting to buy control of Connecticut's water resources, and some of our quasi-public water agencies have signed away large amounts of water to commercial interests with little regard to future water shortages. What can you do to ensure that Connecticut residents maintain control of public water supplies in perpetuity?
All government made monopolies should cease to be monopolies. Competition for all utilities, water, electric and gas. Oversight is not enough, these companies abuse Connecticut.
Much of Connecticut is economically and racially segregated because many towns lack affordable housing and local zoning regulations prohibit multi-family dwellings. How would you propose incentivizing municipalities to start allowing multi-family units and other affordable housing options?
Zoning and other housing regulations cause unfair housing practices, are costly, and only result in unfair housing practices. Housing discrimination happens due to government zoning, not racial discrimination. Discrimination is already illegal and can be dealt with by the courts.
How should the state address disparities in the Education Cost Sharing formula? What specific modifications would you suggest, if any?
Break government monopoly on education. Allow fair competition for all schooling. School boards need earmarked local tax income, generally from property tax, in accord with Connecticut averages.
Should the government's response to the opioid crisis be to focus on law enforcement to stop drug dealers, or improving access to treatment for addiction and reducing the overprescription of painkillers?
We have an addiction problem, not a drug problem. Drug war enforcement is the problem.
In 2016 the Connecticut Retirement Security Program was created. It will give over 600,000 residents in our state a way to save for retirement at work. Knowing that employees are 15 times more likely to save merely by having access to payroll deduction, how will you continue the implementation of this important program?
Taxpayers should never be liable for future pension liabilities. We all have a way to save for retirement without relying on money from the taxpayer. We all have access ot payroll deduction. Incentives for payroll deduction? So long as it doesn't cost the taxpayer.
The 459,000 family caregivers in Connecticut provide an estimated 427 million hours of care each year. Nationwide, nearly seven in ten caregivers report making work accommodations because of caregiving, including arriving late/leaving early, cutting back their hours, changing jobs, or stopping work entirely. Would you support a family leave law that provides paid leave to employees who have to take time off for family caregiving purposes?
The state should not be involved in matters between employers and employees unless it is a matter of fairness or discrimination.
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