The Star asked Dave Lay

Candidate for: U.S. House of Representatives - MO

What is your position on abortion: supporter of abortion rights or opponent?	Opponent of abortion rights Not only am I an opponent, but I view abortion as premeditated murder of God's defenseless innocent creation, and will never view it as a right. To those who believe differently I can only say vote for the other guy, because my position on this is one of principle. By principle I mean a belief of heart felt conviction that will neither seek, nor accept compromise.
Has Israel lately gone too far in defending itself from its enemies?	✘ No I keep expecting an honest assessment of Israel's position. They are the only democratic nation in a sea of barbarians who believe in violence, hatred and the destruction of all human rights. Barbarians who have stated clearly that the only "solution" they will accept is the death of all Jews. I would say that under the circumstances Israel has shown remarkable restraint.
Do you believe global climate change is a real phenomenon?	✘ No The government cannot provide stimulus because job creation requires investment, risk and growth. The government can only take and spend which is not stimulus, but economic destruction. Money invested grows, money spent disappears.
Do you support repeal of the Dodd-Frank banking regulatory measure?	✘ No Every time the government forgets that this is a capitalist system the results are disastrous. Businesses that do ridiculous things are supposed to fail and make way for more responsible businesses.
What changes, if any, should be made to the nation’s health care law?	✘ No I wouldn't have supported any version because it is Unconstitutional. If you look at what was written in that bill it violates Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution which limits Congressional power, it violates Article 1 Section 9 in that it treats States differently and it violates Article 4 in that it treats citizens of the States differently. In addition provisions of the bill violate Amendment 1 by denying the right to seek redress of government grievance. It violates amendments 4,5.6 & 7, all of which revolve around the rights of unwarranted seizure, and the requirements for due process in determining criminality. It violates Amendment 10 by ordering the governors of the fifty States to force their citizens into a program which violates 60% of the Bill of Rights.
Name one well-known politician who is your model public servant.	In recent years Ronald Reagan. while I don't agree with all that he did, the man believed absolutely in this nation and at least for a time had the rest of us believing too. His accomplishments vis a vis the economy, and the collapse of the Soviet Union have very few historic antecedents. I would place his presidency on a par with that of Abraham Lincoln in what he accomplished, and I am fairly certain future historians will as well.
Should the federal gasoline tax be raised?	✘ No Since the entire fiasco is due to a collaboration of foolish policies and an unwillingness to turn to a fuel that DC knows would answer all of our needs, the government must foot the majority of the cost and at some point maybe the citizenry will wake up and fire both of the major parties.
Do you support expanded oil drilling in environmentally sensitive areas, including in the Gulf of Mexico, off the shores of Florida and California, and in the Alaskan wildlife preserve?	✘ No The truth is that oil is not the answer for our transportation fuel needs. We have known since the seventies that every internal combustion engine ever built will burn hydrogen. It is 25% more efficient than gasoline, safer in an accident,produces only water vapor as a combustion emission and is the only fuel we can produce 100% domestically. Until we get government out of the pocket of the oil companies, there is no need for them to be hypocritical and limit drilling.
Do you favor increasing troop levels in Afghanistan, reducing levels, maintaining the current force or pulling out altogether?	pull out altogether,
Do you support cuts in federal nutrition programs like food stamps?	The reform is painful, but simple. None of these programs is Constitutional and should never have been put in place. Any programs needed should always have been at the State level per Amendment Ten of the Constitution. The question itself shows how far we have come from the founding principles of this nation by considering wealth redistribution an entitlement.
Would you favor removing the Social Security wage cap that halts contributions to the retirement system after a wage earner makes more than $106,800?	✔ Yes As I have already said we must do what is necessary in the short term, but only if the long term plan is to get the government out of the retirement business that it has proven itself incapable of managing.
Would you support means-testing for Social Security and Medicare, meaning that Americans earning more than a certain amount would receive reduced benefits — or none at all?	✔ Yes Since one of the planks of my party is to end Social Security certainly any means necessary to get us there must be used. We recognize that since the Federal Government coerced citizens into putting money into Social Security, that it has a contractual obligation to those citizens, and that obligation must be met. However the entire boondoggle is a violation of the Constitution and completely unsustainable.
Do you support the so-called “Buffett rule” imposing higher tax rates on certain high earners?	✘ No Throughout this nation's history low taxes and Government out of the economy and the lives of the citizenry have proven to provide the greatest growth and stability. All of the attempted rewrites of fact don't change the numbers. Every intrusion of the Federal Government into economy and lives has proven either counter productive or disastrous. That is why DC is so desperate to cover up the fact that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are not only bankrupt, but impossible to sustain. Any one running for office needs to understand that their job is going to be damage control and not repair.
Do you support the federal budget proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin?	Environmental Protection Agency Health and Human Services Department of Education All three of these agencies are outside the scope of the Constitution and at best duplicate what is already done at the State level. At worst they completely usurp powers not theirs, and in statements made by officials of these agencies, feel themselves above the Constitution.
Using a letter grade, evaluate President Obama’s performance in office.	D,