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Kelly Kortum's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for State Senate (MT) - District 32

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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.
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 2024 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
No c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds (e.g. Medicaid) for organizations that perform abortions?
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support limiting state government spending on social programs (e.g. SNAP, TANF)?
No b) Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to promote economic growth?
Yes c) Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs in your state?
a) Do you support capital punishment for violent crimes?
b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No d) Do you support the use of private prisons?
No e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders?
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
No b) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector (e.g. for business or the environment)?
Yes c) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Montana?
Yes d) Do you support government spending on affordable housing projects in Montana?
a) Do you support adopting federal education standards (e.g. Common Core) in Montana?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Montana?
Yes d) Should immigrants in the United States who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities, regardless of immigration status?
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No b) Do you support state governments allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
Yes a)Do you support limiting campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
Yes b) Do you support the use of an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting?
No c) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes d) Do you support automatic voter registration?
Yes e) Do you support the implementation of ranked choice voting in Montana?
Yes f) Do you support changing Montana's elections to a "Top-Four" primary system?
Yes a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, closing the boyfriend loophole)?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
c) Do you support the right to concealed carry in Montana?
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program such as Medicare-for-All?
Yes c) Should an individual have the right to choose to die (e.g. those with a terminal illness) through euthanasia?
Yes d) Do you support mandating vaccinations (e.g. for school or employment)?
Yes e) Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
Yes f) Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
No g) Do you support the 2023 ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors passed in Montana?
Yes a) Do you support inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Montana's state government in closing gender, racial, and other wage gaps?
Voting is an essential right of all American citizens and we must exercise and defend that right to remain a free and democratic nation. Voting for our leaders and government is fundamental to properly ensuring opportunity, justice, and human progress. Efforts to restrict any citizen's ability to vote directly threatens our freedom, liberty, and shared future. Providing all citizens a quality education is essential to having a successful and prosperous state and country � not to mention a right guaranteed to each person by our Montana Constitution. Public education is our best investment in American democracy and prosperity, so we must make sure its doors are open to all. We should ensure that continued education doesn�t bury our students in a lifetime of debt by supporting our universities and vocational schools. Montanans deserve to live in the community in which they work. Areas where housing is available and affordable have much better economic prospects than those with limited options. Our state must enact housing policy that fosters a vibrant community and strong economy. Healthcare is a human right. We have the means, as a country and state, to provide better health outcomes for our fellow Montanans. The health and happiness of our people are essential to the success of our state. Limiting access to a basic level of care is both cruel and unnecessary. Everyday Montanans should be able to keep their families healthy without worrying about crushing medical debt and bankruptcy.

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