Michael Motschenbacher
Republican | North Dakota
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Motschenbacher
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 47
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Bismarck State College, Bismarck, Associate Degree, 1992
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Bismarck Diocese Pre-Marriage Program, Group Coordinator, Corpus Christi Church
FOCCUS facilitator, District 47 Republican Party, Volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Bismarck City Commission, 2006
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
North Dakota Republican Party
OTHER (1)
North Dakota District 47 Republicans
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
John Hoeven (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life should be protected from conception until natural death.
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.
Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I believe North Dakota would benefit from continued reduction of personal and corporate income tax, with the eventual goal of completely eliminating both. This would boost North Dakota's economy by giving individuals and businesses the opportunity to keep more of their hard earned money and invest it themselves rather than giving it to the government.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
North Dakota already has a balanced budget and a surplus. We just need to make sure we are not subsidizing industries that do not need it and we need to not pick winners and losers in our state. Let the free market determine that.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
North Dakota is required to fund K-12 education for it's citizens. Beyond that, each individual should be responsible for secondary education.
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. Each church should be able to make it's own determinations of how they want to promote and run itself.
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
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Public entities like schools and government should not be able to require vaccinations. Each person should determine what is best for them and their families and get vaccinations based on their own needs and beliefs. If they want to get vaccinated that is their choice. But they should not be able to force others to get vaccinated. Private employers should have the options to require vaccinations if they choose that it is best for their business. Each individual who works for that company can then decide if the convictions of their employer matches theirs and if that company is where they would like to continue to work.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We need to continue to promote "Peach through strength". We need to support a strong military which will deter terrorism.
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.
Disagree
The United States should not get involved in this. We should worry more about domestic issues. If actions in other countries directly affect United States safety and interests, then we can and should get involved diplomatically.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
We need a border wall to keep illegal immigrants out of our country. Immigrants should go through legal procedures to gain citizenship.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone should be allowed to immigrate as long as they have no criminal history, are not a threat to US democracy, and can pass the civil exam. They also should be required to get jobs and contribute to our society rather than immediately be put on assistance programs.
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
There are two genders, male and female. You cannot identify as another gender just because you don't "feel" like the gender which God assigned to you.
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 a pro-traditional family Catholic. I believe in God as our creator and promote charitable giving and overall good deeds to help others in need.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We need to protect our elections. This includes voters having to prove their identity and remove any doubt as to if a voter is a legal resident of the United States.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would support free state issued ID cards for lower income residents that cannot afford to get an identification card to vote
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe racism exists, but not to the extent that the media portrays it.
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
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?
Represent the majority but protect the minority. Provide basic services such as infrastructure and education. Protect the citizens by supplying a strong military and effective police force.
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?
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?
Protect life at all stages. Lower taxes. More personal responsibility. Promote industries important to our state.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
Police need to be cognitive of their actions and make sure they are responding morally and effectively. But they also should not be prosecuted individually if they are following departmental policies. The departments need to make sure their policies do not interfere with civil liberties but also need to be insure they promote a safe community.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
I don't think the funds should be redirected from police departments, but each community needs to decide what mental health and community programs will help their local communities and which are necessary. Those that are considered necessary should be funded separately.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The only restrictions that I can support would be for people with criminal or mental health issues that make them a threat to own a firearm.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
People kill people. Guns don't kill people.
