Montana State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No Answer

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- Yes

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Eliminating block grants to public school districts?
- No

6. Decreasing funding to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- My affirmative answers to questions (c) and (f) are based upon my opposition to Medicaid expansion, which was approved by the Legislature in 2015 and is set to sunset if not renewed in 2019. Pension liability is a major issue for most states, including Montana. Vested rights for current employees cannot be altered, but a system like the one for federal employees and many private sector employees (defined contribution program as opposed to a defined benefit program) needs a hard look for new employees coming into state employment on a set future date.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- No

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- No

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- In many respects, these questions are not appropriate for Montana candidates. Recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court allow indirect campaign contributions, but also allow disclosure requirements. That is what we have in Montana. On redistricting, our statute allows legislative leaders of both parties to designate members of the redistricting commission. On (d), fewer and fewer people vote at the polls. Most vote by mail and verify there eligibility when registering and when submitting the ballot.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- On question (c), it depends on the violent crime at issue and the age of the defendant. Prosecutors should have the discretion to charge juveniles accused of certain crimes (e.g., homicides) as adults. On the other hand, burglary is a violent crime, but I would not favor charging any juvenile as an adult for a burglary.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Montana?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Montana?
- No

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- On (b), I do support SB 410 passed in the 2015 Legislature, which created a tax credit and related scholarship program for private school students.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- We have robust environmental protection laws, which do not need to have an expanded reach.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- No

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Montana's health care programs?
- No

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Do you support increasing state funding for tracking and reporting opioid usage and overdoses?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- On (a), expanded treatment needs to be explored, but the means of delivery is more complicated than phrased in the question.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

3. Do you support greater efforts by Montana state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No

4. Should individuals be required to use a bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, 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.
- Reverse bad provisions of criminal justice legislation passed in 2017. Insist upon evaluation of public programs and increase the utilization of strategic planning to reduce government spending where it is ineffectual. Ensure that legislation which will impede natural resource development is defeated while ensuring that reasonable environmental protection is maintained.