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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • Attended, University of Montana, 1974

Professional Experience

  • Attended, University of Montana, 1974
  • Regional Organizer, Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2006-present
  • Former Executive Director, Montana Association of Churches
  • Director, Montana Office of Community Service, Governor's Office, 2005-2006
  • Staff Director, Northern Plains Resource Council, 1983-1986
  • Staff/Miscellaneous Positions, Northern Plains Resource Council, 1977-1983

Political Experience

  • Attended, University of Montana, 1974
  • Regional Organizer, Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2006-present
  • Former Executive Director, Montana Association of Churches
  • Director, Montana Office of Community Service, Governor's Office, 2005-2006
  • Staff Director, Northern Plains Resource Council, 1983-1986
  • Staff/Miscellaneous Positions, Northern Plains Resource Council, 1977-1983
  • Senator, Montana State Senate, District 26, 2017-present
  • Former Minority Whip, Montana State House of Representatives
  • Representative, Montana State House of Representatives, 2008-2016
  • Candidate, Montana State Senate, District 25, 2006

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Vice Chair, Agriculture Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Vice Chair, Ethics Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Member, Ethics Committee, Montana State Senate

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Member, Rules Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Former Member, Transportation Committee, Montana State House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee

Member, Joint Interim Committee on Local Government

Member, Judiciary Committee

Member, Legislative Council

Member, Local Government Committee

Member, Rules Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, University of Montana, 1974
  • Regional Organizer, Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2006-present
  • Former Executive Director, Montana Association of Churches
  • Director, Montana Office of Community Service, Governor's Office, 2005-2006
  • Staff Director, Northern Plains Resource Council, 1983-1986
  • Staff/Miscellaneous Positions, Northern Plains Resource Council, 1977-1983
  • Senator, Montana State Senate, District 26, 2017-present
  • Former Minority Whip, Montana State House of Representatives
  • Representative, Montana State House of Representatives, 2008-2016
  • Candidate, Montana State Senate, District 25, 2006
  • Member, Conservation Organization
  • Member, First Congregational Church
  • Former Member, Governor's Council on Economic Development, 1983-1987
  • Organizer, Warm Hearts for Warm Homes program
  • Member, Leadership Montana, 2005-2006
  • Chair, Billings Human Relations Commission, 2002-2004
  • Member, National Association of Ecumencial and Interreligous Staff, 1990-2004
  • Chair, Saint John's Lutheran Home Foundation, 2000-2002
  • Member, Saint John's Lutheran Home Foundation, 1996-2002
Policy Positions

Montana State Legislative Election 2016 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 Answer

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

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
- No Answer

Spending & Tax

Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Maintain Status

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Maintain Status

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- I support provider rates increases for workers who provide services to persons with disabilities, and elderly citizens.

State Taxes:

Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Small business taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Gas/Oil taxes
- Slightly Increase

6. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

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

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

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

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

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

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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 legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- No Answer

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

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

6. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- I support access to Marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Economic

1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

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

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

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

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

6. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

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

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

9. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- Yes

10. Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them?
- No

11. Do you support transferring the control over some federal land to the Montanan state government?
- No

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- Yes

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No Answer

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?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

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

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 government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

6. Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- I support landowners' rights to protect the water sources, and their homes when hydraulic fracturing is in close proximity. I also support adequate bonding for these wells.

Gun

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

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?
- No Answer

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Gun Safety and National Criminal Instant Background Check are priorities.

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?
- No Answer

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

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

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No Answer

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

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

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

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

4. 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.
- Criminal justice reformCommunity Based Mental Health servicesAccess to affordable addiction treatment for low and middle income families.

Events

2019

Nov. 14
Billings for Bennett: Meet + Greet

Thur 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM MST

Toucan Gallery Billings, MT