Andrew Straw in 2018 IN Senate race

On Abortion: A fetus has rights; treat abortion like euthanasia

A: Oppose "unrestricted" It should be illegal to have an abortion for a civil rights-suppressing purpose, such as solely on the basis of disability or race or sex of the fetus.

Q: So if a woman makes the decision herself, that's ok? As long as her reason is not about disability or race or gender? In other words, you'd agree with "Abortion is a woman's restricted right"?

A: Let me be clear. A fetus has rights and that is why they have civil rights. If a woman was not involved in the pregnancy, she would have˙NO RIGHT˙to kill her own child just like she has no right to do euthanasia against a disabled person or a senior or some adult who was a certain race or gender. Abortion is actually killing someone and if that makes the calculus difficult, that's too bad. Deal with it. A woman does not have an unrestricted total right to kill her fetus and no number of federal judges can change this.

On Abortion: Since 1973, courts allowed parents to kill their children

On Civil Rights: Same-sex marriage is none of state's business

A: Agreed, but uncomfortable with the Supreme Court making radical shifts in constitutional policy in one generation. Stare decisis.

Q: The Supreme Court has indeed made a radical shift in constitutional policy in one generation--20 years ago, same-sex marriage was illegal in all 50 states, and now it's legal. So do you disagree with that radical shift?

A: I feel that marriage should not involve a state license. Why should a state be involved with marriage licenses? Once you take the state out of it, marriage can be done by anyone and it's totally the conscience of the married couple. I just don't feel like my opinion should matter at all. None of my business. None of the state's business.

On Civil Rights: Gay marriage bans are like anti-miscegenation laws

A: If gay people want to marry and it makes them happy, they can find a celebrant and be married. Maybe they can announce it to the state when needed, but the state should not be choosing who can get married just like when states in the South had anti-miscegenation laws. Disabled people have been restricted also and even worse, sterilized. Indiana was the first place to sterilize disabled people. When I think of family matters, I think private and I wish the state and federal governments would move in the direction of protecting people's privacy. Civil rights laws should protect gay people like they do race and gender and disability, etc.

On Education: Students can pray in school, but not imposed by teachers

A: Only in a manner consistent with the Constitution and the First Amendment. All faiths are welcome in the˙USA.

Q: Is requiring teacher-led prayer in public schools consistent with the Constitution? Or student-led prayers?

A: As long as there are tests in school, there will be prayers. Students have the right to pray. Teachers and administrators should not impose any religious requirement on students unless it is a private school.

On Free Trade: Adjust NAFTA with 1% tariff to raise Mexican standards

A: Support, so long as it results in more American jobs at higher salaries and lower costs for imports.

Q: Does NAFTA result in more American jobs at higher salaries and lower costs for imports, in your opinion?

A: I don't believe NAFTA resulted in higher American salaries, but some low-wage jobs were certainly created. It's the WalMart effect. NAFTA is a sort of constitution for North America and should be adjusted to more closely match our values. Trade flows without impediment across the 50 states and the Founders felt that this would benefit all states. Perhaps the three NAFTA nations eventually will even out. We don't know how things will be in 100 years, but maybe we can adjust NAFTA so that education and the environment are better in Mexico as a result. I would like to see a 1% tariff that would be used on Mexican schools and environmental protection.

On Government Reform: Suing government for ballot access for disabled people

A: Yes, Indiana has defaulted in my federal lawsuit, Straw v. Indiana.

Q: Your issue is about the number of signatures for third parties to get on the ballot?

A: Disabled people in Indiana who wish to run under Disability Party would have to collect over 26,000 signatures due to Indiana's Election Law. My federal lawsuit is designed to get me on the ballot in Indiana for Secretary of State because that position is special. Any small party that gets 2% of the vote for that office thereafter does not need to collect signatures for most races in Indiana. Federal judges have been very conservative and even hostile to disability rights under the ADA. If Congress is dedicated to disability rights, it must oppose any judge who attacks those rights or attacks the people who assert them. I would make it illegal for any judge to attack a disabled lawyer or call their ADA work frivolous.

On Jobs: In recessions, increase money supply to create jobs

I support job creation programs for people with disabilities and more accommodation for disabled people in the federal workforce. Those with disabilities from being poisoned by the military should never, ever have live in poverty.

On Jobs: Visas for high-wage jobs; don't export jobs via trade

I believe Congress, the Senate, should penalize those who invest overseas and reward those who bring investment dollars back to the USA. The exact tax code changes for that can be negotiated.

On Principles & Values: Ten Commandments are public already; don't impose in court

A: Support, but only in a manner consistent with the Constitution and the First Amendment.˙

Q: Is posting the Ten Commandments in courtrooms consistent with the Constitution and the First Amendment?

A: The Ten Commandments is a religious statement and is connected to the Hebrew religion. If the Court makes it seem like it is imposing the Ten Commandments as law, this shows bias in favor of one religion and whoever put it there should recuse when someone before the court as a litigant does not share that faith. It is better not to have it there. Most communities have so many churches, there are plenty of opportunities to see the Ten Commandments in public. It can be a display on every church grounds, and at the gates of cemeteries.

On Tax Reform: Tax cuts for rich don't help economy if tied up in stocks

A: I support higher taxes on˙certain activities˙and lower taxes on others. The goal is to increase employment by motivating the wealthy to use their money to create jobs This is a very old topic that goes back to the Great Depression. Hoarding money does not grow the economy or create jobs. If money gets wrapped up in the stock market, this does not necessarily create jobs. The economy should not be like a casino, with no values but chance, and the house always winning. I would like to see the US Treasury provide low or no-interest business loans to people with disabilities. Congress used to have such a program, but it expired.

On Budget & Economy: Stimulus plus market-led recovery

A: Both are important, but when the economy has a greater money supply through fiscal (deficit spending) and monetary (lower interest rates) policies, it has always led out of recession.

On Civil Rights: Incentives to hire qualified women into management

A: Oppose discriminating against men, who are a minority, to benefit women, who are the majority. Support financial incentives for businesses to hire more qualified women and advance them to top management when they are qualified.

On Crime: In some cases, punishment can reduce crime

A: In some cases, it can reduce crime. Some "crimes" should not be crimes, however, such as marijuana possession or CBD oil possession or growing hemp.

On Drugs: Marijuana is a medicine and nutritious

A: Strongly oppose this idea. Support marijuana. Marijuana is a medicine and nutritious. It should be legal for all purposes and sold behind the counter in grocery stores, next to the tobacco.

On Education: Supports vouchers and more school choices

A: Support. Especially given the school shooting disaster in Florida, parents should have more school choices.

On Energy & Oil: Support green energy storage technology

A: Strongly support. We need radical improvements in energy storage technology and electrical lines so the entire country can be one gigantic grid, driving down the costs of energy everywhere. Green energy reduces reliance on dirty energy and we should also make electric vehicles more usable. There should be "pitstops" along our highways that allow electric cars and semis to recharge within a few minutes. If a car runs out of juice, robotic recharge stations should be able to reach anywhere with a full charge available. These recharge stations would recharge themselves with solar. Some of the reduced military savings can be used to place batteries in strategic places and improve the grid.

On Environment: EPA should have more power to clean up, not less

A: Strongly oppose. The EPA has done wonders in cleaning up our environment and NW Indiana is a great example. The EPA should have more power to clean up, not less. The success of the EPA will mean fewer people dying of cancer and other awful diseases, including on military bases, many of which are Superfund sites.

On Foreign Policy: USA should encourage our values in UN programs

A: America should be an exceptional place to live and should support democracy and freedoms such as our Bill of Rights overseas. The USA should encourage our values in UN programs.

On Government Reform: Expand voting rights for disabled people

A: Strongly support. Gathering signatures for ballot access should also be much easier to help disabled candidates and voters. Examples include getting permission to sign for a voter over the phone, by email, or using social media such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Disabled people need accommodations to participate and they should usually get whatever accommodation makes their participation easier.

On Gun Control: I support the 2nd Amendment

A: I support the 2nd Amendment, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.

On Health Care: Expand Medicare incrementally, not via ObamaCare

A: Oppose. I support expanding Medicare to cover everyone. If it must be done incrementally, Medicare should first cover all veterans and their spouses, ex-spouses, and children. Anyone who is on SSDI or SSI should immediately get Medicare coverage, instead of having to wait 24 months.

On Homeland Security: We spend too much on the military now

A: Oppose. We spend too much on the military now. This money should be shifted to scientific and medical research. Family of veterans should be compensated and given full health coverage when they are poisoned by bases, such as happened with Camp LeJeune, NC, and other military bases.

On Immigration: Pathway to citizenship, except for felons

A: Support, but there should be costs and anyone who has committed a felony should be excluded.

On Social Security: Too many people rely on SSA to risk losses

A: Strongly oppose. Too many people rely on this for their sole income to risk losses. SSA should have the ability to invest the trust funds in very safe investments, such as certain government bonds that pay a certain amount of interest.

On War & Peace: Treaties with allies instead of empire-building attitudes

A: Support. Instead of expensive wars and belligerent empire-building attitudes, we need treaties with strong allies that reduce conflict around the world, while also increasing democracy and rights/freedoms of regular people everywhere.