Montana State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of abortion and reproductive issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test. Perhaps you should replace "Courage" with "Openness" or "Willingness".

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

1. Alcohol taxes
- Slightly Increase

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Greatly Increase

5. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

6. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

7. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Maintain Status

8. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Slightly Increase

9. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

1. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of campaign finance and government reform issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- No

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of crime and public safety issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- No

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of economic issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No Answer

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- Yes

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- Yes

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of education issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to Montana's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

5. Do you support increasing the means by which hunters may take wolves in order to promote greater management?
- Yes

6. Should Montana reintroduce bison on public lands?
- Yes

7. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of environment and energy issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of gun issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

6. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

7. Do you support increased restrictions on the production of medical marijuana in Montana?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of health issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- Yes

2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Questions are too broadly phrased to be of much use to anyone familiar with the nuances of social issues. The broad phrasing makes me wonder about the wisdom of taking the test in the first place. Moreover, I think your use of the word "courage" is flippant. It seems ludricous to suggest that anything like actual courage is required to take your test.

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My top three priorities (not in order) are passage of a balanced budget, promotion of measures to improve legislative procedures to increase the likelihood that bills are judged on merits rather than excessive partisan politics, and passage of progressive energy policies that promote economic development and durability, national security, and environmental integrity.