Marco Battaglia in OnTheIssues interviews with 2018 candidates

On Abortion: Prefer fewer abortion, but not state prohibition

A: I support this idea. I would like to see fewer abortions but I do not believe that state prohibition is the most ethical solution.˙

On Budget & Economy: Market-led recovery better than stimulus

A: I disagree. I don't approve of too big to fail, the LIBOR scandal, market rigging in general, or bailouts in general. A freer market with no state or federal income tax will greatly improve the lots of all Americans.

On Civil Rights: Strongly supports same-sex marriage

On Crime: End mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes

A: I support stricter punishments for violent crimes like child abuse and rape. I support getting rid of mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes and reducing the number of nonviolent crimes on the books in general. I want to rein in the war on drugs.

On Drugs: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug

A: I strongly disagree with this sentiment. If marijuana is a gateway to anything it is a gateway to basic freedom and liberty and a gateway to a healthier and wealthier America.˙

On Education: Vouchers are wrong for paying for private schooling

A: Oppose. Vouchers are based on the government's taking of money from people in order to fund the costs of private schooling for a select number of people's children. This is wrong.˙

On Energy & Oil: Freer market will allow energy that is greener

A: I think that allowing for a freer market will allow us energy that is greener and that works more in concert with nature.

On Environment: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach

A: I support the fight against EPA over-reach.˙

On Foreign Policy: Exceptional people all over the planet, not just America

A: I think that there are exceptional people all over the planet. I think the freest countries in the world are the best countries in the world. I would like to see more countries rival us in that regard.˙

On Free Trade: Support free trade & freer trade

A: I strongly support free trade. I would like to see a movement to freer trade.˙

On Government Reform: Make election days national holidays

A: I think that voter registration should be as easy as possible, that primaries and caucuses should be open to independents, and that we should make election days national holidays.˙

On Gun Control: Absolute right to gun ownership

A: I support absolute right to gun ownership.

On Health Care: Oppose ObamaCare; move to a freer market in medicine

A: Oppose. I want to move to a freer market in medicine. I think that we can do this while still providing a safety net for vulnerable Iowans and those Iowans that have fell through the cracks in state insurance markets.˙

On Homeland Security: Rein in the military-industrial complex

A: I think that we need to rein in the military industrial complex, audit the fed and the pentagon, and reevaluate all of our three letter agencies. I believe in transparency and am against hidden budgets.

On Immigration: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens

A: No one is illegal. I support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented peoples. I think that we reform immigration, encourage and show the incentives for documented immigration, while securing our borders.˙

On Jobs: Oppose affirmative action

A: People who are best suited for a job should be chosen to matter who they are as an individual. Companies with diverse workforces succeed. The incentive is there.

On Principles & Values: Freely practice beliefs so long as not hurting others

A: I want everyone to be able to feel comfortable to freely practice their beliefs so long as they are not hurting anyone else.˙

On Social Security: Individual private accounts to replace Social Security

A: Under the current system politicians take Iowans money from them and spend it as they please.˙In place of Social Security, I want Iowans to have their own individual accounts with private companies that can guarantee to deliver a lifetime income to them without fail˙--an income equal to what Social Security has promised.

On Tax Reform: Phase out the income tax

A: I want to phase out the income tax for all Iowans and move to getting more of our funding from˙previously prohibited markets, via occupational licensing reform, and by allowing for sports betting and online poker.˙

On War & Peace: Avoid foreign entanglements

A: I would like to move away from foreign entanglements and work towards friendship, peace, and free trade with all of the other countries of the world.˙