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Walter McNutt's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Walter McNutt refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

What is the Political Courage Test?
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 1996 National Political Awareness 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.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
c) Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape or when the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should always be illegal.
X f) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
No g) Should Montana government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action in Montana.

X a) The Montana government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
b) The Montana government should provide no affirmative action programs.
No c) Do you believe that the Montana government should recognize same-sex marriages?
Undecided d) Do you believe that sexual orientation should be added to Montana's anti-discrimination laws?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding children & family issues in Montana.

X a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
c) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in Montana.

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
c) Support "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences with no chance of parole.
d) Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
e) Oppose the death penalty.
f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
g) Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
X h) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
i) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentence.
X j) Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
k) Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
l) Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
X m) Limit the number of appeals allowed for inmates on death row.
X n) Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in Montana.

X a) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
b) Provide state funding for military-style "boot camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
c) Increase state funding for local community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X d) Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
e) Allow courts to hold parents accountable for a minor child who commits a crime.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Montana's economic development.

X a) Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
b) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up or relocating businesses.
c) Expand legalized gambling (e.g., slot machines, video gambling).
X d) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
e) Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production and interest rates.
X f) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
g) Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
h) Decrease workers' compensation premiums paid by Montana employers.
X i) Implement right-to-work legislation that allows employees to work without joining a union and paying union dues.
j) Support payment of local prevailing wages for state-funded projects.
k) Eliminate price controls in the milk industry at the level of the producer.
l) Appropriate additional funds from general revenues for the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund to offset corporate downsizing.
No m) Do you support providing alternative sources of funding from state revenues to Montana farmers who cannot receive new loans from the Department of Agriculture because they have a prior default?
Undecided n) Do you support the privatization of Montana's state-owned liquor stores?
No o) Do you support raising the minimum wage in Montana over the next four years from $4.25 to $6.25 an hour?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Montana's education system.

a) Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
b) Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
c) Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
d) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
e) Implement charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
f) Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
X g) Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
X h) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
i) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
X j) Increase state funds for vocational education in public high schools.
k) Provide state funding for programs which increase Montana's students' access to the Internet and other telecommunications networks.
X l) Fund public school education in Montana by increases in state income taxes rather than local property taxes.
No m) Do you support restricting schools to one mill levy per year (rather than the current system that allows additional levies if the first one fails)?
Undecided n) Do you support replacing the Board of Education, Board of Regents and Commissioner of Higher Education with a Department of Education and advisory commission?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Montana's environment and natural resources.

a) Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Montana.
X b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
X c) Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
X d) Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
X e) Provide funding for recycling programs in Montana.
X f) Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend Montana's participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
h) Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
i) Urge the U.S. Congress to amend the 1973 Federal Endangered Species Act, to limit the number of habitats eligible to be designated endangered.
No j) Do you support the re-establishment of wolves in Montana?
Undecided k) Do you support toughening Montana's water-treatment standards for in-state metal mines?

a) Do you support the current laws which limit terms of the following Montana officials?

Undecided 1) State Senators (6 out of every 12 years)
Undecided 2) State Representatives (8 out of every 16 years)
Undecided 3) Governors (8 out of every 16 years)
Yes b) Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
No c) Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes d) Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes e) Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes f) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Undecided g) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
No h) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
Undecided i) Do you support an amendment to the Montana Constitution prohibiting state government from imposing unfunded mandates on local governments?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

a) Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
c) Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
d) Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of firearms.
e) Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
f) Continue to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Montana's health care system.

a) Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
X b) Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
c) Ensure that Montana citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
X d) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X e) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X f) Support legislation that allows citizens and small employers to pool their health insurance purchasing power.
X g) Support legislation which assures that Montana workers will have portable health insurance if they lose their jobs.
h) Support legislation requiring health insurance providers to provide certain medical services (e.g., full mental health coverage).
i) Support a "managed competition" health care plan that does not include mandated health alliances, government cost control powers, or employer/employee mandates.
X j) Allow citizens to set up tax-free medical savings accounts which would be taxed if used for other than medical purposes.
k) Create incentives that increase the supply and retention of health professionals in rural areas.
l) Require automobile insurance companies to pay damages to claimants within a specified length of time.

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one option only.

Maintain Status a) Abortion
Maintain Status b) Affirmative Action
Slightly Increase c) Agriculture
Maintain Status d) AIDS Programs
Slightly Increase e) Education
Maintain Status f) Environment
Maintain Status g) Health Care
Maintain Status h) Law Enforcement
Maintain Status i) Welfare

Please indicate the changes you support (if any) concerning Montana's tax levels. Select one option only.

Maintain Status a) Alcohol Taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Business Taxes
Eliminate c) Capital Gains Taxes
Maintain Status d) Gambling Taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline Taxes
Maintain Status f) Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
Maintain Status g) Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
Maintain Status h) Payroll Taxes
Eliminate i) Property Taxes
Eliminate j) State Fees
Undecided k) Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
Yes l) Do you support the implementation of a state sales tax with the proceeds to go towards a reduction in property taxes?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Montana's relations with Native American residents of Montana.

a) Encourage legislation that would give the state of Montana more power in dealing with Native American tribal governments.
b) Support the current sovereign status that Montana tribal governments have over their members and their lands.
c) Do you support the EPA's approval of the "treatment-as-state" status (i.e., that of a sovereign nation) of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes with respect to all surface waters within the Flathead Indian reservation?

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Montana's welfare system.

X a) Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
X b) Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
X c) Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
X d) Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
X e) Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
f) Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
g) Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
X h) Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Montana State Legislature. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.

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