Rick Becker in 2024 ND Governor's race


On Education: Education Empowerment Program: reimburse private schools

HB 1369 (Education Empowerment Program -- Family Policy Alliance recommends voting FOR; Becker voted FOR)

Established an Education Empowerment Program administered by the Department of Public Instruction that would reimburse parents of children attending public or private schools for instructional or therapeutic needs (e.g., assistance with dyslexia schooling, additional courses otherwise unavailable).

Source: Family Policy Alliance on 2024 North Dakota Governor race Jun 17, 2021

On Education: Displaying the Ten Commandments OK in schools

SB 2308 (Ten Commandments/Pledge of Allegiance in Schools- Family Policy Alliance recommends voting FOR; Becker voted FOR): Authorized schools within a district to display the Ten Commandments as part of a display of other historical documents and authorized the schools to permit students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Source: Family Policy Alliance on 2024 North Dakota Governor race Jun 17, 2021

On Families & Children: Bar biological boys from girl's school sports

HB 1298 (Girls' Fairness in Sports -- Family Policy Alliance recommends voting FOR; Becker voted FOR):

Prevented biological boys from competing against biological girls in public elementary or secondary school sporting events. The bill did not impose requirements on college sports competitions and contained a provision to allow girls to compete on boys' teams.

The bill passed the House multiple times in its original form, survived an effort by the Senate to turn it into solely a study, and eventually passed both chambers and was submitted to Governor Burgum. Governor Burgum vetoed the bill, and upon reconsideration for an override vote, the House of Representatives passed the override, but the bill failed the required 2/3rds majority override vote in the Senate.

Source: Family Policy Alliance on 2024 North Dakota Governor race Jun 17, 2021

On Health Care: MD & plastic surgeon

Biography: Becker earned his B.S., his M.H.S., and his M.D. from the University of North Dakota. His professional experience includes working as a plastic surgeon. He completed residencies at the University of North Dakota and Wayne State University.

Rick Becker (Republican Party) was a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 7. He assumed office on December 1, 2012. He left office on December 1, 2022.

Becker (independent) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent North Dakota. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on June 14, 2022.

Source: Ballotpedia on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jul 19, 2023

On Health Care: Voted against Physician Assisted Suicide

HB 1415 (Physician Assisted Suicide -- Family Policy Alliance recommends voting OPPOSED; Becker voted OPPOSED): Legalized physician-assisted suicide for alleged terminally ill individuals. The bill was defeated in the House of Representatives by a significant margin.

HB 1420 (Recreational Marijuana -- Family Policy Alliance recommends voting OPPOSED; Becker voted FOR): Legalized the sale and use of recreational marijuana in North Dakota, subject to various restrictions and requirements.

Source: Family Policy Alliance on 2024 North Dakota Governor race Jun 17, 2021

On Technology: No police drones, except for felonies with warrants

Law enforcement drones: On Jan. 21, 2013, Becker and [9 other legislators] introduced HB 1373 to restrict the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) by law enforcement agencies. This bill would have required agencies to receive a court warrant for any drone use, and such warrants would have only be obtainable for felony investigations. Exceptions would be made for drones used to patrol the Canadian border, aid law enforcement agencies where there is "reasonable suspicion" that quick action is necessary and evaluate damage during and after natural disasters. HB 1373 would have also allowed people injured by governmental violation of these restrictions to sue the offending law enforcement agencies. The bill would have expressly prohibited surveillance by drones with weapons, private surveillance of other private parties without informed consent, and surveillance of people exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly. The bill passed the House but died in the Senate.
Source: Ballotpedia on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jan 21, 2013

On Abortion: No federal funding for abortion, including abortion drugs

Q: RIGHT TO LIFE: Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants)?

A: Strongly Agree. I will oppose all federal funding for abortion.

Q: Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

A: Strongly Agree. Chemical abortions don't just end the life of an innocent preborn baby, the side effects of these dangerous pills are harmful to the mothers ingesting them as well. As such, I will support legislation that restores the FDA's previous risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) and seek to end chemical abortions in America.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Abortion: There's no such thing as a "medically required" abortion

Q: Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

A: Every child has a right to be born and every child must be protected. As a physician, I know there's no such thing as a "medically required" abortion. If the mother's life is in danger, every medical procedure and effort should be focused on saving the lives of the mother and the baby. If the baby dies as a result of the medical procedure, that is a tragic miscarriage, not an abortion.

Q: Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?

A: I support putting an end to every avenue of taxpayer funding for abortion and will support the passage of a Federal ban on abortion.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Environment: ESG is fascism: no environment-based investing

Q: Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?

A: No. Absolutely not. ESG is fascism and will eradicate individual freedom. It must be opposed in every aspect of government.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Families & Children: Traditional nuclear family is backbone of America's success

Q: VALUES: Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman?

A: Strongly Agree. The traditional nuclear family has been the backbone of America's success as a country. The traditional nuclear family offers stability, emotional support, and a strong foundation for children's development. It fosters values, teaches responsibility, and provides a sense of belonging and security.

Q: Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation?

A: Strongly Agree. We must protect our children from harmful transgender and anti-American ideology--plain and simple. Men do not belong in women's sports.

Q: Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.

A: Strongly Disagree. Absolutely not. As a physician, I took the Hippocratic oath to do no harm to patients and mutilating children is very harmful.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Foreign Policy: Protect farmland from Chinese Communist Party

Q: NATIONAL SECURITY: Which view most closely resembles yours: A) The US should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The US should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The US has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The US should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.

A: C) The US has become too involved in others' policies.

Q: The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

A: Strongly Agree. A great example of this is the farmland under attack in North Dakota. There is zero excuse for major corporations to be selling our great farmland to the Chinese Communist Party. It is in our national interest to keep nations that want to see us fail out of our most precious natural resources.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Government Reform: Oppose the Marxist effort to repeal the Electoral College

Q: People should be able to vote without photo identification?

A: Strongly Disagree. Requiring photo identification is a fundamental part of protecting the integrity of our elections and must be implemented if we want to ensure secure and transparent elections.

Q: The Electoral College should be abolished?

A: Strongly Disagree. I oppose the Marxist effort to repeal the Electoral College.

Q: JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY: The Supreme Court should be reformed to include more seats?

A: Strongly Disagree.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Homeland Security: End the "woke" agenda to encourage military recruitment

Q: What are the causes of decline in U.S. military recruitment and retention?

A: The "woke" agenda combined with a concentrated effort by Leftists to tell our nation's youth the lie that "America was never great" has caused the plummet in recruitment and retention. When a potential recruit is told "America was never great," what motivation would they have to defend their country with their life?

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Immigration: Declare an illegal invasion at the border

Q: IMMIGRATION: The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border?

A: Strongly Agree. The failure to declare an illegal invasion at the border and take immediate action is grounds for impeachment. Under the Biden administration--dangerous drugs, cartel thugs, and human trafficking have all created a humanitarian crisis along our southern border. We must secure our border immediately, and finish building President Trump's wall.

Q: Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

A: I am in favor of immigration for all persons who desire to come for opportunity, who believe in our system of government, and who want to be Americans. However, they must be vetted properly for the security of our nation.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Principles & Values: Stand against radical distortion of church-vs.-state

Q: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

A: Separation of church and state simply means ensuring the government doesn't establish and mandate an official religion for citizens to adhere to. Unfortunately, this term has been hijacked by the radical Left to pursue an agenda that uses the government to attack Christianity. I stand against this radical distortion.

Q: Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

A: Strongly Disagree. Absolutely not. This is fundamentally against the First Amendment rights of Americans. I will oppose every piece of legislation that requires such mandates.

Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. I hold same the Judeo-Christian values that our country's founders held.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On War & Peace: Stand with ally Israel, a beacon of stability in Middle East

Q: Is the US' relationship with Israel important? Why?

A: In one of the most volatile regions in the world, Israel remains a beacon of stability. Time and time again, America has stood with her ally Israel against our mutual adversaries in the Middle East to maintain this fragile peace. I support Israel in its legal, historical, moral, and God-given right of self-governance and self-defense upon the entirety of its own lands, recognizing that Israel is neither an attacking force nor an occupier.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

On Welfare & Poverty: Inflation is confiscation of wealth

Q: ECONOMY: What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?

A: I support abolishing the income tax and will vote for all tax cuts that come up for a vote. I will not support adding to our debt. Debt spending contributes significantly to inflation, which is a confiscation of wealth.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race Jun 11, 2024

The above quotations are from 2024 North Dakota Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Oct 31, 2024