Survey Response:   2012 State Questionnaire  MEDICAL CONSCIENCE CLAUSES 7. "The trend toward accepting the termination of some human lives as a normal part of medicine is accelerating ... Courts, policymakers, media leaders - even the elites of organized medicine - increasingly assert that patient rights and respect for patients’ choices should trump the consciences of medical professionals. Indeed, the time may soon arrive when doctors, nurses, and pharmacists will be compelled to take, or be complicit in the taking of, human life, regardless of their strong religious or moral objections thereto." (Westlie J. Smith, 2009). Should doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals be granted the right to refuse participation in the provision of medical services that violate the person's moral, ethical or religious beliefs? ABSOLUTELY PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE 8. Washington State Initiative 1000 which was passed in 2008, legalized Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) by allowing doctors to prescribe lethal doses of barbiturates to certain patients. One objection to this sanctioning of suicide is that some vulnerable persons, such as those who are feeble, depressed, mentally ill, or handicapped, will likely experience coercion to end their lives. For them a right to die, already protected in the Natural Death Act, (RCW 70.122), may become a duty to die. The American Medical Association (policy H-140.952) as well as the Washington State Medical Association (2007 Resolution A-7) oppose PAS. The AMA states that "physician assisted suicide is fundamentally inconsistent with the physician's professional role." The initiative uses vague language that enable doctors "acting in good faith" to assist mentally ill or depressed patients to commit suicide, while protecting doctors from civil and criminal lawsuits. Health care insurers can cut costs by providing prescriptions for suicide. Will society's sanction of suicide have unintended consequences? Sponsor and former governor Booth Gardner says that this is only a “first step” in legalizing assisted suicide for anyone who wants it. When society fails to protect vulnerable people in their troubles, but instead offers them the violence of suicide, has not society abandoned them? Do you oppose the availability of physician assisted suicide in Washington State? YES MARRIAGE PRESERVATION 9. Children develop best within the context of a biologically related family. This is a scientifically proven fact which the Washington State Supreme Court referenced when in 2006, it ruled on the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The court determined that the state's limitation of marriage to heterosexual couples "is constitutional because the legislature was entitled to believe that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers ... the well-being of children by encouraging families where children are reared in homes headed by the children’s biological parents." In concurrence, Justice James Johnson wrote "The unique and binary biological nature of marriage and its exclusive link with procreation and responsible child rearing has defined the institution [of marriage in law]." In order to affirm and protect children’s rights and the primacy of those rights over adults’ aspirations for novel family forms, do you oppose laws that change the definition of marriage to include homosexual and polygamous relationships? YES PUBLIC SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION 10. The Washington State Legislature in 2007 passed ESSB 5297 requiring school districts to teach "scientifically accurate" (aka comprehensive) sex education, if they teach sex ed at all. The typical comprehensive sex education program spends as little as 5% of the time teaching abstinence principles (Zogby 3/27/07), instead spending significantly more time teaching students how to put condoms on models of male genitalia and promoting alternative forms of sexual activity called outercourse, which may include showering together and mutual masturbation as effective ways to avoid pregnancy and disease. In contrast, an emphasis on abstinence means teaching students about building healthy relationships and bolstering self worth and self-control. Given that ESSB 5297 allows school districts a wide range in how the law is applied, will you work to maximize sex education that is wholesome, not dehumanizing and truly safe? YES DEATH PENALTY 11. The death penalty in the United States should: _____ not be used __X___ be used about the same _____ be used less __ __ be used more GAMING 12. A proposed casino off I-5 near Ridgefield is projected to be one of the largest in the nation. What is your position on the building of this casino? OPPOSE QUALIFICATIONS AND COMMENTS 13. Please state your qualifications for office such as professional, educational, family and community accomplishments. You may also add any any further comments regarding the relationship of your candidacy to respect life issues. Peter Silliman has been married for 22 years to Lorinda. They are a pro-life family with 12 children. They spend a lot of time encouraging young mothers and families directly. They support home births, home schooling, and nursing mothers. Their oldest daughter volunteers at Life Hope in Woodland WA. Peter and several of the children volunteer at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. They are also active in sharing their faith. Peter is the current president of Professionally Speaking Toastmasters in Vancouver. Peter has risen to his current position at CenturyLink through hard work and dedication to doing his job well. He is currently a Senior Engineer. 14. Do you have a campaign website? What is the address? www.petersilliman.com   and  www.facebook.com/electpetersilliman   WEBSITE POSTING PERMISSION 15. May Life Pac post your survey response on its website? YES