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

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

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?
- No

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

7. Other or expanded principles
- Our first focus should be to cut wasteful spending, eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. Far too often our government is funded based on activity levels rather than positive outcomes. There is a tendency for bureaucracies to become self preserving rather than creative and innovative to serving citizens better. Reducing unnecessary regulations that stifle job growth will assist in a more attractive business climate which will make our communities more stable and enhance government revenues.

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?
- Yes

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?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- We need to assure our voting system has high integrity, but I don't believe we need 'government' issued photo identification at the polls as most people have alternative identification. Should a voter NOT have photo ID, then for the government to be able to provide them a photo ID for voting purposes would be appropriate.

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?
- No

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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
- Generally speaking, free market principals combined with limited government will foster economic growth. I'm proud that we are a people and government that desires to help those in need. Work eligible recipients should be expected to seek employment and pursue a life of self sufficiency so they are not dependent on government assistance for their entire life.

Education

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

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- There are no charter schools in Montana, so this is at best a hypothetical question. Having educational standards is appropriate, but Federal mandates become restrictive, bureaucratic and limit flexibility by the State to do what is best for our children.

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
- I'm all for a clean environment. But at this point, we have a Federal government that has established strict standards for greenhouse gas emissions and our state already has some of the toughest state standards for drinking water, so further restrictions do not appear to be necessary at this point in time.

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?
- Yes

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
- Drug addictions, including opiod, are not just costing our state huge amounts of money, but they are breaking up families, including increasing the number of foster kids. We need to provide funding to address these issues. Medicaid expansion is okay to the extent it serves the disabled or work eligible recipients on a short term basis (waivers needed of the Federal program).

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?
- Yes

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
- Sexual orientation does not need to be elevated to be a special protected class, although there should not be discrimination towards gender identity (laws already exist to protect citizens from gender discrimination). I don't support state funding to further address pay gaps between men and women but agree that there should NOT be gaps. There are existing laws that need to be enforced to address pay gap issues.

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.
- There are a host of issues that will arise. It's time to set politics aside, quit mud slinging, and work together. I desire to use my leadership skills to bring us together to focus on a (1) stronger, stable economy, (2) smaller, more efficient, accountable government, (3) respecting freedoms and rule of law, and (4) policies that strengthen families.