Richard Motta's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Richard Motta has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2018 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Montana State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.
| a) Abortions should always be illegal. | |||
| b) Abortions should always be legal. | |||
| c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy. | |||
| X | d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape. | ||
| X | e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered. | ||
| f) Abortions should be subject to a mandatory waiting period. | |||
| g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors. | |||
| Children are the responsibility of the parents. When a woman asks the government to pay for the abortion, she relinquishes her individual rights. Abortions totally ignore the rights of the innocent fetus, father, parents, medical personnel and a whole host of other people. Rather than solving a pregnancy issue by abortion, more consideration should be given to abstinence. The consequences of an unwanted pregnancy results in decisions which effects the immediate health of the woman and the fetus. A single parent is also subjecting herself and the child to a life-time of poverty and government welfare. | |||
State Budget: Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.State Taxes: Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.
| Maintain Status | a) Education (Higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Emergency preparedness | ||
| Greatly Decrease | d) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Health care | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Law enforcement | ||
| Maintain Status | g) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Maintain Status | h) Welfare | ||
| Eliminate | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Eliminate | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000) | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) Property taxes | ||
| Eliminate | h) Vehicle taxes | ||
| No | 1) Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget? | ||
| No | 2) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget? | ||
| State spending increases have far exceeded population growth and inflation. The surplus is a prime example of over-taxing and government's willingness to find ways to spend the money available. With the federal government essentially all but bankrupt, I anticipate that federal revenue sharing will be decreased and that they will attempt to pass on to the states more unfunded mandates. The country cannot afford any more inflation and fiscal irresponsibility on the part of our elected officials. | |||
| "Vices are not crimes" and the government should not benefit from imposing fines and penalties when there is no victim. Morality issues should be handled by the churches. Tax liens and subsequent tax deeds are a "taking" of private property without due process of law. The process is unconstitutional and should be repealed. The role of government needs to be curtailed. Based on a limited scope of government, I would reduce property taxes or at least eliminate market appraisals which artificially inflate value and act as basis for increased taxes. | |||
| Referring to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, the state has more than enough money for a rainy day. If anything, fees are excessive and largely unknown until they are imposed. Allowing government employees to impose more fees, especially to balance the state budget, will only result in "unintended consequences". From an individual's standpoint, the imposition of fees, fines, penalties and taxes are indistinguishable and we don't need any more. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?
| Yes | a) Do you support the current limit of terms for Montana governors? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the current limit of terms for Montana state senators and representatives? | ||
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) PAC | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Parties | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state-level political campaigns? | ||
| No | f) Should Montana participate in the federal REAL ID program? | ||
| The parties have made a shambles out of our right to vote. Selecting and nominating candidates has been transferred to the parties, media and large campaign contributors. If any limits should be imposed, it should be on out-of-state contributors. An incumbent, especially federal, has access to campaign contributions that are unavailable to an opponent. The Montana Constitution was amended to require term limits, but the US Supreme Court has exempted federally elected officials. Montanans' should not allow a dual standard of enforcement. State's Rights and the Montana Constitution should be defended. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.
| a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff. | |||
| b) Support the death penalty in Montana. | |||
| c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released. | |||
| X | d) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders. | ||
| X | e) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. | ||
| f) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults. | |||
| X | g) Support state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws. | ||
| h) Support hate crime legislation. | |||
| An interim legislative report indicated that it cost $79,800/year to incarcerate a prisoner. One has to ask who is being penalized, the prisoner or us?. In the case of victimless crimes, alternative penalties should be examined. There doesn't seem to be any corrective measures being taken in prison that decrease recidivism. If anything, the penalty is being imposed on the individual, their family and the community. More effective penalties can be imposed through restitution, counseling and medical treatment. In the case of drug laws, there should be challenges to the federal jurisdiction and mandatory sentencing requirements. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.
| a) Support state funding of universal pre-K programs. | |||
| b) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind). | |||
| c) Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students. | |||
| d) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams. | |||
| X | e) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school. | ||
| X | f) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school. | ||
| g) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries. | |||
| h) Support using a merit pay system for teachers. | |||
| i) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable. | |||
| j) Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of Montana to pay in-state tuition at public universities. | |||
| Enrollment has declined from 166,000 in 1996 to 144,000 in 2007 and state spending has increased from $550 million to over a billion dollars. It is time for the schools to look at a new paradigm which more effectively utilizes the computer, internet and distance learning opportunities. School facilities can be more effectively utilized by including provisions for day care, after school facilities to assist working parents and even year round schooling. Parents and local school districts need more control over the curriculum. Higher academic standards should be the primary goal of schools. No Federal government in local schools. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.
| a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in todays job market. | |||
| X | b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector. | ||
| c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses. | |||
| d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families. | |||
| e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families. | |||
| f) Include gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws. | |||
| g) Increase the state minimum wage. | |||
| h) Support laws that prevent employers from dismissing employees at will. | |||
| X | i) Support financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants. | ||
| X | j) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients. | ||
| k) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients. | |||
| The addition of administrative rules and regulations has had the effect of making American businesses noncompetitive. Rather than stimulating individual entrepreneurs, the government has become the source of technology and investment. Rather than seeking business loans for economically feasible business ideas, the new investor or cooperative is looking to see what grants are available and how they can partner with the government in their venture. Partnerships are not the role of government, and grants are not the government's money. Rather than government involvement in business, more emphasis has to be placed on individual responsibility and financial independence. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.
| a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology. | |||
| X | b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc). | ||
| c) Support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops. | |||
| d) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned. | |||
| e) Support funding for improvements to Montana's power generating and transmission facilities. | |||
| f) Support funding for open space preservation. | |||
| g) Limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to global warming. | |||
| h) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law. | |||
| America has to become energy self-sufficient. More scientific evidence is being presented which refutes the blind faith mantra of man-made global warming. Estimated reserves for the Bakken field in NE Montana-North Dakota Williston zone have revealed huge reserves of oil. With new technologies, the oil reserves can be developed cost effectively. The addition of a refinery would stimulate the economy and provide solutions to our energy crisis. In reference to CO2 emissions, the country needs to renew construction of nuclear energy plants which are more cost effective, nonpolluting and technologically advanced. Biofuels and ethanol should be redirected to food. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.
| No | a) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | b) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | c) Should a license be required for gun possession? | ||
| No | d) Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| No | e) Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| Guns are a Constitutionally protected right. Per Article II, "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". That right has been infringed by more than 22,000 laws and we don't need any more. It is unconstitutional to impose any rules and regulations which limit the possession of a weapon. If a person uses a weapon in the commission of a crime, prosecute him for the crime. If an individual chooses not to possess a weapon, that's their prerogative and they shouldn't buy one. Restrict weapons possession to your own individual circumstances. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.
| a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary. | |||
| X | b) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government. | ||
| X | c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits. | ||
| d) Allow patients to sue their HMOs. | |||
| e) Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality. | |||
| f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Montana. | |||
| X | g) Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes. | ||
| All consideration for medical services seem to revolve around the level of government participation. Government involvement has only contributed to the problem and resulted in higher costs throughout the medical field. Rather than involving the government in the insurance, payment and administration of health issues, there should be more emphasis on cost controls and availability of services. In reference to drug laws, more consideration should be given to treating users as patients and not criminals. More people die from legal prescriptions than illegal drugs. Treat all drugs from a medical point of view and prosecute illegal dealers. | |||
['Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.', 'Legislative Priorities']
| No | a) Should Montana recognize civil unions between same-sex couples? | ||
| Undecided | b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry? | ||
| No | c) Should Montana provide state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples? | ||
| Undecided | d) Do you support a moment of silence in public schools? | ||
| Undecided | e) Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | ||
| No | g) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | ||
| No | h) Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions? | ||
| No | i) Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions? | ||
| No | j) Should Montana continue affirmative action programs? | ||
| Undecided | k) Do you support state funding of stem cell research? | ||
| Undecided | l) Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research? | ||
| No | m) Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it? | ||
| There doesn't seem to be any end to the moral-individual decisions to which we seek a government solution. It is not the role of government to provide rules and regulations for special interest groups, religious observance, morality or to enforce "politically correct" solutions. Social considerations are not within the role of government and their permissions are not required. Most of the above, should involve individual decisions and responsibilities. Unless we return to limited government and individual responsibility, future generations will be governed by the "communitarian rule of law" and not the Constitution of the United States. | |||
| I want a more limited government which respects the Constitution and individual rights. Administrative agencies have assumed a quasi-legislative, executive and judicial status which imposes excessive penalties, fines and regulations on the people. For all practical purposes, individuals are not aware of administrative laws.I want more transparency in government and I want to eliminate the double standard of accountability accorded to public officials. The courts have effectively eliminated due process for the average person through higher legal costs, civil procedures and incessant delays. Statutes relating to access and cost of litigation need review, amendment and implementation. | |||
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