HEALD, ELIZABETH

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State House of Representatives
District:
52
Political Affiliation:
Democrat

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSStrongly Supports
  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • SOStrongly Opposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Public School Funding in Montana is at an inadequate level. SS
2. Parents should have greater freedom to choose how and where their children are educated, including options such as education savings accounts, tax credits, vouchers, or other school-choice mechanisms. O
3. Parents should be allowed to homeschool their children without additional state regulation O
4. Curricula based on Critical Race Theory (CRT) should be prohibited in Montana public schools O
5. Comprehensive sex education should be taught in public elementary schools, beginning as early as kindergarten. S* As the daughter of a school teacher, I feel like our schools haven't been properly funded for a while. I'd love to see our state do what Colorado did and use our cannabis revenue for schools. We could modernize our schools to be competitive with some of the best schools out there. Our kids deserve that and so do our teachers! I feel that if parents want to home school their children, they should 100% be able to do that. As long as those kids can receive the same quality of education as they would receive in our public schools. Teaching CRT is important due to the fact that if we forget our history we most certainly are doomed to repeat it. I believe that equality in education is important which is the reason why I'm not a proponent of education vouchers. In some instances vouchers can lead to children receiving different quality of education. I would like to see us better our public schools and in turn better all of our children's education. Sex education is important, but it must remain appropriate. For example in kindergarten I would support educating children on body parts, proper names and functions. As well as safety education in regard to inappropriate touching. In order to better protect our health and ourselves, an age appropriate level of sex education is important.
6. Montana’s income taxes are too high. S
7. Montana’s property taxes are too high S
8. Montana’s corporate taxes are too high O* My issue with taxes is primarily in relation to retirement benefits. Retirement benefits in our state are taxed as regular income. Most retirees have already paid a tax on their social security benefits, why are we taxing them twice?! What we pay in income taxes to the United States Government increased in 2022 by 20.8%, equaling 448.7 billion dollars. There has got to be a better way to prosper. I am not exactly sure how to do that. I look forward to speaking with our other representatives and figuring out, together, what will work the best for Montanans.
9. The Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms for self-defense. SS
10. Montanans should not be discriminated against or treated differently based on their vaccination status. S* I'm a veteran and a Montanan, I'm a firm believer in our second amendment rights. I do also believe in smart gun reform, which shouldn't affect the majority of us.Get vaccinated, don't get vaccinated, as a free citizen you should have that choice. When it comes to kids, I feel that if a child is in a public school, they should have basic vaccines. To protect themselves as well as the other kids. If you don't want to vaccinate your children, I don't think you should have to. However, if you choose not to, then they should probably be home schooled to better protect everyone.
11. Climate change is a serious problem that requires increased government regulation. SS
12. Environmental regulations in Montana are currently too restrictive. O* As a Navy veteran I've had the privilege of traveling the world and I can legitimately tell you that Montana is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. As such we should do whatever we can to protect our environment. I'd love to see more positive kickbacks for solar power. Better options for travel would be amazing too. In college my Mom traveled from Billings to Missoula, and back, by train. We have the tracks, whether we put regular trains on them or... perhaps high speed trains... I believe that they potentially could boost visitor trips (and revenue) all over, to include Glacier and Yellowstone.
13. Abortion should be illegal at all stages of pregnancy. SO
14. Abortion should be legal only in the early stages of pregnancy and restricted after a specific point, except when necessary to save the life of the mother. S
15. Abortion should remain legal at all stages of pregnancy, without restriction. O
16. Individuals and organizations should be allowed to opt out of abortion-related mandates, if those mandates violate their religious or moral convictions. SS
17. Physician-assisted suicide should be legal in Montana. SS* Why the health of women's reproductive systems got turned over to the government instead of doctors, I'll never understand. When it comes to abortion there are so many stipulations and circumstances that can occur. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an egg grows outside the uterus. A fetus in this situation will never grow into a baby and if not "aborted" it could end up killing the mother. If a fetus dies prematurely for whatever reason while inside the mother, it needs to be aborted for the health and safety of the mother. There are countless examples of situations that are uncommon, but deadly, where having an abortion can save the mother. There is also no such thing as having an abortion in the late stages of pregnancy. Most states won't allow an abortion after 24 weeks. I can only imagine this is a terrible decision to have to make and it should be made by an individual and their doctor. Physician-assisted suicide in states where it's allowed, is never approached lightly. When quality of life is non-existent and pain and or death is inevitable, a person should be able to make this decision with their doctor.
18. Biological males who identify as transgender should be allowed to compete in women’s and girl's athletic competitions. O
19. Medical procedures intended to change a minor’s sex or gender should be prohibited. S
20. Same-sex couples should be permitted to adopt children. SS
21. State and local nondiscrimination laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the same manner as race, religion, and national origin. SS
22. Montana’s marriage laws should be revised to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage. SS* If a person has to wait until they're 18 to get a tattoo, they should have to wait to change their sexual orientation until age 18. As of 2022, we had 2,600 children in foster care and 85 waiting to be adopted. In our country (as of 2022) there were 108,000 children waiting to be adopted. I would rather see these children cared for by a same sex or single parent then to not have one at all. Sexual orientation of one person is of no consequence to another person. We all deserve basic human rights. I wasn't aware Montana's same-sex marriage laws were different than the Supreme Court's same-sex marriage laws. However, if they are not the same I highly support revising them to national standards.
23. Objective moral truths exist and should inform laws and public policy, rather than shifting cultural preferences. S
24. Government should be limited in scope, with most decisions best made by individuals, families, and local communities rather than centralized authorities. S
25. Homosexuals and transgender people should be allowed to adopt children: S
26. Personal responsibility and self-governance are more effective at solving social problems than expanded government programs: O
27. Parents—not government institutions—are the primary authority responsible for the education and moral formation of their children: S* Whose moral truths, which cultural preferences?? This question is a little vaugue, I feel like it would differ per community and or question. Government is here to help us provide a strong, safe common ground that all citizens can live by. Individuals and local communities can work out the details as to what makes the most sense for that specific community. If a couple or individual can be vetted by the rigorous adoption process, then by all means I believe they should be able to adopt a child. People are very individualized, and in order to best solve social problems you need a compilation of minds. Government programs are that compilation of minds. Personal responsibility and self-governance are important, but when it comes to social problems society, in the form of government will be more effective with social problems. Parents are the most important authority when it comes to the education and formation of children. However, sometimes despite our best intentions, we lack in various areas. Schools are instrumental in rounding out what we as individuals lack in regard to shaping our children. To make sure our kids are as well rounded as possible, we as their parents must give them all the tools we possibly can.