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?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I have a friend who is one of the most wonderful people on this planet. She's now a grandmother with a wonderful family. I found out a few years after meeting her that she had been a product of a rape. When she found her birth mother, she thanked her birth mother for putting her up for adoption and giving her the chance of life. Every life is precious, and every individual has potential. Thinking on this story I believe in the situations where incest or rape results in a pregnancy, adoption services should be promoted as the first option.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

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

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

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No Answer

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?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- As a Government employee myself, whether I would support a furlough/layoff would depend entirely on the size, scope, details of the layoff. Public employees have families and financial needs and cannot be expected to absorb the brunt of a budget shortfall. However, as I government employee myself I understand that someday I may be expected to sacrifice some depending on the circumstances. Concerning Medicaid, where I would reduce Medicaid is in areas where able-bodied work-capable people absorb funding for services meant for individuals who cannot possibly take care of themselves. This would be in the Department of Health/Human/Services.

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 Answer

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- A) As a matter of principle I believe as an act of free speech individuals should be able to contribute what they want to candidates, but at the same time I personally appreciate Montana's campaign limits because it does equalizes the playing field so it is not only about "who you know".B) depends on the type of regulation whether it is fair or not.C) Yes if it is truly Bi-partisan

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 Answer

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

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- B) I believe that a person should have a freedom/right to privately consume what they wish into their own bodies, and I do understand and can appreciate phyto-components contained in marijuana, that act as health benefits to many people. However, I don't always support a public/street use of various substances that have the potential to negatively affect lives of other people. For instance legal limits for driving under the influence and would a complete legalization lead to more of those activities? At this point I would hesitate supporting.C) Potentially Yes, depending on the type of crime and age.

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?
- No Answer

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

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

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

7. Other or expanded principles
- C) Depends on the regulations, many regulations hamper private sector growth, while some regulations are absolutely needed . Just an example- interstate commerce laws.D) Depends on what the definition of "Expanding" is... Categorically? Length? Value?E) Generally I do, only because I do not approve of public dollars being used to pay for drugs.F) That completely depends on the amount of increase, but I agree that minimum wage increases often hurt small businesses and there by hamper employment opportunities, causing a negative effect for people needing employment.

Education

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

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

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
- B) That completely depends on the Charter School/legislation. I absolutely support school choice and having multiple educational options for parents/children, but in 2017 there was a charter school bill that I felt was not a good bill, so I did not support it.

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 Answer

4. Other or expanded principles
- C) Depends on what the initiative is. I believe tax revenue should go towards various infrastructure projects, including projects that may deal with improving drinking water.

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?
- No Answer

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- C) I am not a advocate for teachers carrying firearms into the classrooms, but based on the unfortunate events that occur in our society, I would never take away a teachers right to defend themselves in the classroom if they so chose to. With that said, there would have to be certain regulations, safeguards, and parameters in place to ensure safety. I would prefer more security officers in schools rather than teachers with fire arms.

Health

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

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
- A) Whether I support the use of state funding for opioid abuse will depend on what programs and the dollar amount of funding proposed. However, when considering the states budgetary needs I would consider prioritizing state funds for opioid abuse.

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 Answer

4. Should individuals be required to use a bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- C) I do not believe it is the responsibility of the government micro manage pay and contracts in the private sector, as individuals are free to accept or decline a job with a specified wage. In my experience there is no pay gap in public government work. Everyone is hired due to a standard wage for the job despite their gender.

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.
- My top priority is to address the out-of-control increasing property tax rates not only here in Gallatin County, but in the state as a whole. Many individuals are on fixed incomes and cannot afford the rates of increase we have experienced in the recent years. I would like to continue my work on public land access/recreation, and sportsmen/women related issues.I have also committed to carry the renewable energy legislation I carried last session as I believe this bill is a benefit to anyone who chooses to install renewable energy generation on their homes or on their property.