John Coghill: When it comes to helping advance conservative, pro-family values in the Legislature, Senator Coghill is a workhorse who just never quits. When he was in the State House, he sponsored a bill to require parental notification before a minor's abortion. The bill successfully passed the House - but died in the Senate at the hands of the liberal majority that controls that body.
The reapportionment process has placed Senator Coghill in the same district as Senator Joe Thomas - a member of the liberal majority in the State Senate that has killed all pro-life and pro-family legislation, such as the parental notification bill that John Coghill worked so hard to pass in the House. Let all your friends who live in this area know that John Coghill is the right choice for State Senate.
Visit John Coghill's Website
Values Voterguide Responses Senate District A
1) LEGAL STATUS OF ABORTION
Please indicate which of the following statements most closely reflects your belief as to when the law should permit and/or prohibit abortion:
- Abortion should be legal for any reason, at any time during a pregnancy.
- Abortion should be legal for any reason, but not after the first six months of pregnancy.
- Abortion should be legal for any reason, but not after the first three months of pregnancy.
- Abortion should be illegal except when necessary to save the life of the mother, or when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
- Abortion should be illegal except when necessary to save the life of the mother.
- Abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
- Other (please explain):
A: (R) John Coghill: 6 (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
2) DENALI KIDCARE - ABORTION FUNDING
Would you vote to oppose additional funding for Denali KidCare due to the program’s funding of abortion?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
3) POLICY CONCERNING “MEDICALLY NECESSARY” ABORTIONS
Would you vote to support legislation establishing objective medical criteria for determining what is a “medically necessary” abortion, and further stipulating that any application for state funding of a medically necessary abortion requires a physician performing the abortion to certify the pregnancy meets the established criteria, and that the application will be reviewed for accuracy by independent medical advisors with the Department of Health and Social Services before state reimbursement of the abortion is approved?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
4) GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Would you vote to oppose any allocations of government funds to Planned Parenthood, as well as other groups that either perform or pay for abortions?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
5) ABORTION AND THE ALASKA STATE CONSTITUTION
Would you vote to support a constitutional amendment that would clarify that Alaska’s state constitution does not provide a more liberal or expansive right to abortion than what is provided for in the federal constitution, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
6) PROTECTION OF ALASKA’S MARRIAGE AMENDMENT
Would you vote to oppose any attempt to repeal or weaken Article 1, Section 25 of the Alaska Constitution, which states: “To be valid or recognized in this State, a marriage may exist only between one man and one woman.”
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
7) EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR SAME-SEX PARTNERS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Would you vote to support placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would let voters decide if taxpayer-funded employment benefits should be reserved for the spouses of married public employees, and not extended to the same-sex partners of public employees and retirees?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
8) STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW WITH RESPECT TO “SEXUAL ORIENTATION” AND “GENDER IDENTITY”
Will you vote to oppose legislation such as HB 165 that would amend Alaska’s civil rights law to create special protected classes based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
9) PARENTAL CHOICE IN EDUCATION
Would you support legislation such as HB 145, to create a “parental choice scholarship program” that would empower parents to choose the best school for their children, whether public or private?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
10) FUNDING OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Would you support legislation such as HJR 16, which would place before voters a constitutional amendment removing the current prohibition on allocating government funds to private educational institutions?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
11) CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHY
Would you support legislation similar to HB 353 (25th Alaska Legislature) that would require libraries receiving state funds to install Internet filters on public computers?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer
12) JUDICIAL SELECTION PROCESS
Would you vote to support a state constitutional amendment that would allow the Governor the same leeway for appointing state judges as the U.S. President has for appointing federal judges, i.e., the Governor could nominate any candidate of his or her choosing for a judicial vacancy, and such nominee would have to be confirmed by the Alaska Senate?
A: (R) John Coghill: Yes (D) Joe Thomas: No Answer