Ashley Meredith

Election Information:

Party: 
Libertarian
District: 
84
Office: 
State House or Assembly

Contact Information:

ashleymeredith4iowahouse.wordpress.com

Survey Responses:

S = Support
O = Oppose
NR = No Response
Life
S O NR
1.
Prohibiting Abortion: Prohibiting abortion after a baby’s heartbeat is detected, with limited exceptions such as to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest.
X
2.
Taxpayer Funded Abortion: Allowing taxpayer dollars to fund organizations that provide abortion.
X
3.
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Allowing voluntary physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
X
Candidate's Comments:
The long-term costs of unplanned pregnancy, both individually and societally, will be far greater if organizations such as Planned Parenthood are not properly funded to help cover the cost of birth control options. And until we are able to properly address the societal factors and concerns that lead someone to choose abortion, funding options should be available for Planned Parenthood to provide those services. As a health care provider with direct experience in hospice, I realize there may be some cases where this option would be desirable, over a slow, painful death. I don't know that it is something I would choose for myself, but I would not deny it to someone that did want that for themselves as the symptoms of their terminal illness became unbearable.
First Amendment
S O NR
4.
Conscience Rights for Professionals: Prohibiting the government from denying required licensure or certification to individuals because of their religious or political beliefs.
X
5.
Conscience Rights for Faith-Based Organizations: Exempting faith-based organizations (e.g. adoption/foster care providers, private schools) from regulations that cause them to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.
X
6.
Transparency in Banking: Allowing consumers to obtain a written explanation when a financial institution shuts down the consumer’s account to protect against ideologically driven cancellations.
X
7.
Privacy in Financial Giving: Protecting confidential donor information so individuals are able to privately support charities and causes of their choice without fear of being doxed.
X
Candidate's Comments:
I oppose protecting donor privacy because political candidates and politically motivated campaigns should be held to higher standards, including total transparency and accountability for every donation.
Family
S O NR
8.
Parental Rights in Gender Identity Counseling: Allowing parents to obtain professional counseling for a child struggling with gender confusion to help the child find comfort with his or her biological sex.
X
9(a).
Protected Class for Sexual Orientation: Elevating “sexual orientation” to a protected class alongside race, religion, sex, age, and disability in nondiscrimination law.
X
9(b).
Protected Class for Gender Identity: Elevating “gender identity” to a protected class alongside race, religion, sex, age, and disability in nondiscrimination law.
X
Candidate's Comments:
I support parents obtaining professional counseling for their children regardless of the reason. Our society has created this mess by allowing legislators to insist on introducing this concept to our young people, so we should be prepared to help them navigate their thoughts and feelings about gender confusion. If someone truly feels that they were born in the wrong body, then they would not need to be told- he or she would come to this conclusion on their own. I strongly oppose all forms of discrimination.
Education and Public Safety
S O NR
10.
School Choice: Allowing the use of tax credits, vouchers, and/or education savings accounts to cover the cost of children attending the school of their parents’ choice, including private religious schools.
X
11.
Free Speech at School: Protecting teachers and students from being forced to refer to a person by inaccurate pronouns that do not align with the person’s sex.
X
12.
Parental Rights in School Healthcare Disclosure: Directing schools to inform parents of any mental, physical, or emotional health information and treatment that a child is receiving at school.
X
13.
Transparency in School Curriculum & Activities: Giving parents access to the curriculum, presentations, and activities that their children are learning in school and allowing them to opt their children out of school extra-curricular activities, presentations, or specific lessons to which the parents object.
X
Candidate's Comments:
I am strongly in favor of protecting the rights and dignity of all persons. I also advocate for the rights of a parent to make decisions for their children, including education and health care decisions.
Health and Welfare
S O NR
14.
Medical Rights of Conscience: Protecting health care workers from losing their jobs if they decline to participate in a procedure or treatment that violates their personal beliefs and conscience.
X
15.
Women’s Privacy: Preventing males who identify as female from entering sex-separated spaces intended for females, such as showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, dormitories, women’s shelters, prisons, etc.
X
16.
Protecting Pregnancy Centers: Ensuring pregnancy centers that provide life-affirming support to women and their families are not targeted or penalized by government officials.
X
Candidate's Comments:
Healthcare workers are educated adults and their right to make their own healthcare decisions should be respected without question. No one should be forced to participate in a procedure or treatment that they do not agree with. I want to ensure the health, safety, and privacy of all individuals.