Ronalee Skees
Republican | Montana
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ronalee Skees
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Representative, Dist. 11
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Immanuel Lutheran Communities, Foundation Director, Hope Pregnancy Ministries
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
To search the candidate’s state campaign finance reports, please click "source".
OTHER INFORMATION
New information from https://www.montanafamily.org
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
never
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Running for a position in the state legislature - the property tax issue is a concern for many constituents. There needs to be a valuation based on the property alone, not based on the location of the property and takes into consideration long held properties. Under the current property tax valuation, many families are being forced to move because of the increase due. Montana should only allow 2 forms of tax at any given time. There is a push to pass a sales tax and not eliminate one of the other two tax forms. Montana has taxed the citizens to the tune of a huge surplus. I support returning the excess surplus funds to the tax payers in the form of tax relief and tax refund.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Running for a position in the state legislature - I would support departments to go to a zero based budget review. Also look at reducing the duplication of department and services in those departments. Any ancillary service that can be better provided by private sector should be contracted to private and not by creating a department in government.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Education for k-12 is a protected in the Montana Constitution. Advanced education, degrees, or trades are the responsibility of the individual student and must be repaid.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. I also support an audit of the current Medicaid enrollment that has grown through the period of expansion and under the covid work restrictions. I also support an asset test of the enrolled participants. Medicaid should only be used for the most vulnerable in our community and not allowed to be misused or cheated. Under expansion that accepted able bodied enrollees, the program became constricted and the seniors and disabled lost service level.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. You should determine if and when you are vaccinated. Vaccination is personal and you should never have to reveal medical information that you want to keep protected.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Defeating radical Islamic terrorism requires the US to show strength in destroying the hubs of these networks and hold radical terrorist accountable. Investigating the terror networks and stopping them before they can harm citizens. Most of all we need to defeat the radical Islamist ideology. ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their supporters are manifestations of a broader radical Islamist movement. Winning the ideological battle of ideas against this radical movement is just as important as military victories on the battlefield.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
I support merit based, LEGAL immigration. In a system in which if someone plays by the rules, has something to offer America, follows the laws of the country and the state where they gain residency, and prove they want to be here they have a legal path to gain citizenship. Coming to this country to gain access to public assistance, break the laws, harm citizens or otherwise are not contributing to the community good should not be able to gain entry or stay in the US. Those who break the law should be denied entry and or returned to the border where they crossed illegally or with the intention to commit fraud or illegal action in America.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am woman of faith. I believe that my Christian values are a foundation to all that I am and do. It is my whole desire to live a life that is grace filled so that I can lead the lost to Christ and life everlasting.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
To provide for integrity of the election: I would introduce or support legislation that increases accountability of election officials (and machines), transparency in the process for everyone, access of observers to verify compliance, 100% train of custody verifiability, and video access to every stage of the ballot process for folks to see. Very stiff penalties and jail time for anyone who is found guilty of election fraud, tampering, or attempts to subvert the simple principle of one man one vote. To provide for securing the election process: I would introduce or support legislation that would strengthen proof of residency requirement, close registration to 1 week before Election Day, and require annual voter registration list maintenance. I would also support legislation the provided penalties for college students that vote in Montana and vote by mail in ballot to their home state.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Victor Frankl wrote there were only two “races” of people: the decent and the indecent, and both are found in every group. The more we try to divide our country and communities on race the more we find ourselves divided on how we define racism.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Securing fundamental individual rights, as well as the rights of the people as a whole to govern themselves through consent.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I have been honored to have had the opportunity to work for 2 sessions as a member of the Montana House of Representatives staff. This has prepared me to understand the process, rules, and to build the relationships in Helena to get work done. After graduating the Leadership Flathead class in 2016, I took that leadership experience and put it in action by stepping up to serve on the Kalispell Planning and Zoning Commission, the Flathead City-County Board of Health, and to work with our congressional delegation in DC to make advances in policy for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Having held several community leadership roles, I have grown a deep understanding of this state and the community that I am running to represent in Helena. In the role of the congressional ambassador for the Montana Alzheimer’s Association, I was an advocate in DC and in Helena for Montanans with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis as well as for the caregivers. I helped to bring awareness across the state through fundraising, advocating, and as a member of the Montana Alzheimer’s/Dementia Work Group contributed significantly to the creation and development of the Montana Alzheimer’s and Dementia State Plan. Having worked in nonprofit development, as the director for crisis pregnancy centers, and foundation director for a senior healthcare and life plan community, I believe that community solutions are the best solutions. I have been an advocate for personal freedom in healthcare decisions.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
It balances the interests of those who hold public office accountable when they are irresponsible with their responsibility and shields officials from harassment and liability they perform their duties reasonably.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. Shall not be infringed.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
The person who fires the gun is responsible for their actions.
