Do you support the findings of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education? Are you committed to funding associated reforms, and if so, how?
Koerner: Yes. Use the revenue from the Marijuana legalization to fund education, school modernizing/construction
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Is Maryland’s transportation spending appropriately balanced between roads and transit? Does the state have the resources to meet its transportation needs? With the cancellation of the Red Line and the advent of BaltimoreLink, is the Baltimore region adequately served by transit?
Koerner: The state as a whole is not adequately served by transportion. The state needs high speed rail from Philly to DC thru Baltimore, then high speed rail from Annapolis, Baltimore to the W.VA border. I would have to get information and study the presnt budget to find where the wasted funds are in the budget,
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Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
Koerner: Yes, I also support a committee to look at past sentencing of people who went to prison for Marijuana use.
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At a time when the federal government’s commitment to Chesapeake Bay restoration is questionable, what new steps should Maryland take to protect this resource?
Koerner: Maryland needs to send a delegation to DC to push back on the plans of this administration. The programs of this admininistration are not environment friendly.
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What steps should Maryland take to ensure the broadest possible access to affordable health care?
Koerner: Since Medicaid is a federally funded program with dental, vision, hearing the state should look into having Medicaid as a standard. I feel Medicaid can be more easily implemented then Medicare for All, which is not a federally funded program.
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What role should the state play in helping Baltimore address violent crime?
Koerner: The state needs to have an advertising campaign much like when tobacco and nicotine were a health hazard. It is time to start asking people to think of just why a gun is the answer to their problem . Baltimores program to stop killing for a certain time period proved such an education program has merits. For ove 40 years we as a country have been brain washed into thinking a gun is the answer to an individuals problem.
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How would you characterize Maryland’s business climate? What can the state do to foster the creation of more family-supporting jobs?
Koerner: The state needs a tech school project. Right now in Harford County there are about 1,000 applications to attend the tech program, but only 300 are excepted. Every student who wants to get a tech education should be able to get it.
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Do you support the creation of a non-partisan, independent body to draw legislative and congressional district maps after each census?
Koerner: Yes.
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Does the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights adequately balance protections for police and the public? Should it be changed, and if so, how?
Koerner: No. It gives too much authority to police, with little or no accountability. Right now because someone puts on a police uniform they are suppose to be respected. I say respect is earned, not granted because of the clothes one wears.
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What strategy would you adopt to address the opioid addiction and overdose crisis?
Koerner: Start using Marijuana as a help for the people who need it. Everyone needs Healthcare as a right. Just being able to get healthcare and treatment is a large step. Then we need hospitals with treatment programs and self help programs.
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What if anything should the state do to address income inequality?
Koerner: The state should get rid of any right to work laws. Get out of the way of unions and allow negotiations between unions and employers. Right now the state is throwing all businesses into the same actegory. Large employers are under the same laws as the corner mom and pop stores. Large employers need to start paying higher wages. When that is done the cash flow starts and the mom and pop stores will see a larger cash flow, then they can pay higher wages. The teachers and state employees should have the right to strike.
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Do the state’s Public Information Act and open meetings laws adequately ensure Marylanders’ ability to exercise oversight of the government?
Koerner: Not in all areas of government. There are still too many back door deals without oversight.
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