Elsie Arntzen's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Office:
- Superintendent of Public Instruction (MT), Republican
Key
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.
Elsie Arntzen has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.
Issue Positions
For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.
- "As we celebrate life today at the Capitol, please pray for life and wisdom for our leaders. Without the right to life, all other rights are irrelevant. #ProLife" (x.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "Democrats & Joe Biden have forgotten that the Government doesnât create jobs â the private sector does. The best thing the federal government can do to stimulate job growth is cut taxes, eliminate unnecessary regulations/red tape, and put Montana and America first. In congress I will fight for policies that drive down inflation, decrease taxes, encourage organic economic growth, and lower the cost of living so that all Montanans can enjoy the American dream." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "Democrats & Joe Biden have forgotten that the Government doesnât create jobs â the private sector does. The best thing the federal government can do to stimulate job growth is cut taxes, eliminate unnecessary regulations/red tape, and put Montana and America first. In congress I will fight for policies that drive down inflation, decrease taxes, encourage organic economic growth, and lower the cost of living so that all Montanans can enjoy the American dream." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "Montana's families have to meet the bottom line each month; they donât get to spend money they donât have. The federal government has been spending more money than we have for decades, resulting in trillions in national debt that will plague our country for decades. We must stop the Democrats' out of control spending and handouts to foreign nations. In congress I will fight to cut wasteful spending, to balance the budget, and to always put America First." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "Democrats & Joe Biden have forgotten that the Government doesnât create jobs â the private sector does. The best thing the federal government can do to stimulate job growth is cut taxes, eliminate unnecessary regulations/red tape, and put Montana and America first. In congress I will fight for policies that drive down inflation, decrease taxes, encourage organic economic growth, and lower the cost of living so that all Montanans can enjoy the American dream." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "I stand with the budget hawks in the Congress fighting against wasteful spending. We have sky high gas and inflation because Democrats canât spend fast enough." (x.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "Since 2020 there have been many questions about the results of the Presidential election. Instead of working to strengthen the public's trust in elections, Democrats have instead chosen to weaponize the federal government against their political opponents, criminalize free speech, and have pushed to federalize our elections. I could not be more against this. Elections must be free, fair, and controlled at the state level. We do things right here in Montana, and our results show it." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "The Biden administration has bent to the will of radical environmentalists, killing countless American jobs while making us beholden to foreign oil. Here in Montana we know that fossil fuels and renewable energy are both critical to our prosperity; whether the leftists like it or not, the US will need oil for decades to come. The United States has the capacity to not only satisfy our own oil needs, but to return to being a net exporter of energy. In Washington, I'll stand up to the radical environmentalists and will work to return the United States to the energy independence we enjoyed under President Trump." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "The Biden administration has bent to the will of radical environmentalists, killing countless American jobs while making us beholden to foreign oil. Here in Montana we know that fossil fuels and renewable energy are both critical to our prosperity; whether the leftists like it or not, the US will need oil for decades to come. The United States has the capacity to not only satisfy our own oil needs, but to return to being a net exporter of energy. In Washington, I'll stand up to the radical environmentalists and will work to return the United States to the energy independence we enjoyed under President Trump." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "As Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction, I've fought back against the Biden Administration to ensure that hunters safety courses remain in Montana's schools. Educating our children on the Second Amendment is crucial to its preservation; after all, the Second Amendment is what guarantees our Bill of Rights. The Constitution couldn't be more clear, "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Red flag laws, attempts to ban particular models of firearms, and gun-free zones are all unconstitutional." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "We have had more Illegals flow into our country than the population of the majority of American states. When I am in congress, America's largest export will be Illegal Aliens.We need to finish the wall, deport ALL of the illegals, and defend our way of life." (x.com)
- "While Joe Biden and his radical leftist friends continue to ignore the invasion at our southern border, crime and drugs are pouring in poisoning our citizens. As your next Congresswoman Iâll work tirelessly to end the flow of illegals and CLOSE THE BORDER. Joe Biden must be held to account for his reckless policies." (www.elsiearntzen.com)
- "We have had more Illegals flow into our country than the population of the majority of American states. When I am in congress, America's largest export will be Illegal Aliens.We need to finish the wall, deport ALL of the illegals, and defend our way of life." (x.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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.
| Pro-life | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| Yes | c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| i) Other or expanded principles: | |||
1) State Spending:Using the key, 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.2) State Taxes:Using the key,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.
| Maintain Status | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Health care | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Law enforcement/corrections | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Transportation/infrastructure | ||
| Maintain Status | g) Welfare | ||
| h) Other or expanded categories: | |||
| Maintain Status | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Gas/Oil taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | e) Property taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Income taxes (mid-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| i) Other or expanded categories: | |||
a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Party | ||
| Yes | b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| a valid identification is needed but not solely government issued. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| No | c) Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana? | ||
| Yes | d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| Yes | e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| No | b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| No | c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | ||
| we must enhance our skill training programs but not finacially. Unemployment issues must be clear for both worker and employer. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| No | c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers? | ||
| Yes | d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| Tenure is not the only method to retain and insure quality teachers. Effective teachers come from effective training. | |||
| No | a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| No | c) Do you support state funding for improvements to Montana's energy infrastructure? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support increasing the means by which hunters may take wolves in order to promote greater management? | ||
| No | f) Should Montana reintroduce bison on public lands? | ||
| No | g) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| At this point it is not "funding" for development that is the answer, it is the need to remove poor restrictions on business and replace with responsible committments to improve our energy resources. | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| No | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Should a license be required for gun possession? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| No | a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | ||
| No | d) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support increased restrictions on the production of medical marijuana in Montana? | ||
| h) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| Yes | a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | ||
| No | b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| As a policymaker, increasing access to jobs; good paying jobs and longterm employment are demanded. We must look at current hurdles; like tax structure and regulation first. Streamlining the tax reporting process will lessen the burden on business equipment taxes as well as individual Montanan's taxes. Economy first ! |
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