Mark Thompson is one of two Republicans seeking the GOP nomination in Iowa House District 56. Here are his answers to our legislative survey:
General Questions:
Describe your worldview and how that will influence you as a legislator: Having traveled to over 60 nations as a Marine and as a counterterrorism leader, I have seen first-hand the consequences of governments that are unresponsive to their constituents, at the local, state and federal level by centralizing power with a few individuals. The U.S. Constitution stipulates in the 10th Amendment that the Federal Government has limited authority specifically granted it, while the remaining (governmental) authority is with the States.
In your opinion, what are the three most pressing issues the legislature should address?
Election integrity, defending the unborn and enforcing our immigration laws (thereby fighting the scourge of human trafficking and drug smuggling).
Feel free to explain your ideal tax policy/policies for Iowa (included in this section in order to allow for as much flexibility as possible). The most recent reforms are a significant step in the right direction for Iowans to keep the money they’ve earned.
Have you or will you sign the Big Family Pledge? Yes
Free Market:
Do you believe the government should force consumers to buy a product? No
Do you believe the government should force retailers to sell a product? No
Do you support reforming or eliminating Iowa’s Certificate of Need laws? Yes
Do you support periodic reviews of all government licenses and boards to ensure they’re necessary? Yes
Life:
Do you support the Protect Life Amendment to the Iowa Constitution? Yes
When do you believe life begins and at what stage does it deserve protections under the law?
Life begins at conception.
Education:
Would you support Universal Education Savings Accounts for Iowa families? When parents choose alternative educational options, they should be compensated for the cost. The Governor’s plan is income-based. It calls for 70% of the over $7000.00 of per-pupil state funding to follow the student and the remaining 30% to be designated for small school districts. However, the debate over this topic should not devolve into parents against teachers. In those rare instances when children are not fed or nurtured at home, schools, often individual teachers, take up the slack. When a child comes to school without breakfast, they know there is nourishment at school and that a caring adult will help them. In predominantly rural areas, parents are much less likely to seek non-public schools for their children. Moreover, when school boards, administrators and parents work together for the common good of the child, issues involving local schools are normally settled locally. Consequently, the “demand” for non-public schools is minimized when the community works together for the good of the children. I’ve witnessed this firsthand as a substitute teacher in our local community.
Do you believe obscene materials belong in public school libraries? No
In what grade should schools begin providing instruction to students on sexual orientation and gender identity? Never
Would you support a bathroom bill in Iowa, which states biological males use the boys’ bathroom and biological females use the girls’ bathroom? Yes
LGBTQ:
Should gender identity be stripped out of the Iowa Civil Rights code? Yes
Should Iowa make it illegal for minors to undergo sex-change surgery and treatments? Yes
Should Iowa schools/teachers ask students for preferred pronouns? No
Should Iowa require schools/teachers to share a child’s preferred pronoun and/or gender identity with the child’s parent/guardians? Yes
Do you support banning conversion therapy (making it illegal for a parent to take a child to a health care professional to talk about confusion as it relates to sexual orientation or gender identity?) I support any counseling which affirms that children are of the same sex as they were at birth.
Covid Related:
Do you believe any institution – whether private or governmental – should be able to mandate a vaccination? No
How could the Iowa legislature have handled the COVID pandemic differently? Personal medical privacy deteriorated. Patient and doctor should have a private discussion on best treatments, unfettered by the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines.
Do you believe Iowa should reform the Governor’s emergency powers? Yes
Closing Questions:
Are there any issues of disagreement you have the Republican Party Platform from 2018? No
What improvements, if any, would you make to Iowa’s voting laws to ensure elections are fair and full of integrity? No machines which transmit vote tallies are connected to the internet. Outlaw any private entities from contributing money to counties to ostensively help fund elections. (in 2020 Mark Zuckerberg’s Center for Tech and Civic Life contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to auditors throughout the country, including Iowa). Overall, Iowa has a reputable election integrity record, but vigilance is essential. The first step in tyranny is when the one person, one vote principle is violated.
IOWA HOUSE DISTRICT 56:
James Nelson is also running for the nomination. He has not yet responded to the survey.
To follow Thompson’s campaign, follow his Facebook page.
