WELLE, LUCA

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State House of Representatives
District:
5
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* I am a product of public education in Montana, and one of my priorities is to support our public schools. I want to increase the ways that schools can provide opportunities for all students, setting them up for success in life.
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. O
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* I see many of my neighbors being affected by rising tax rates, while huge corporations are raking in cash without giving enough back to our state. We can provide relief for everyday Montanans and our small businesses by making sure that ultra-wealthy individuals and companies that often aren't based in our state are paying their fair share.
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* The question of differential treatment based on vaccination status is a complicated one, as a balance must be struck between public health concerns and the freedom of choice for individuals. It is my current understanding that there may be some instances in which public health ought to be prioritized, such as in a healthcare setting, but that there are also situations where mandates may not be necessary.
11. Climate change is a serious problem that requires increased government regulation. SS
12. Environmental regulations in Montana are currently too restrictive. SO* Climate change and related environmental issues threaten Montana's public lands and our livelihoods. The culprits of these crises are often multinational corporations that only care about their own profits, not the well being of us Montanans. Regulations are a tool that can be used in this instance to protect our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. Clean energy sources foster incredible opportunities to make electricity more affordable, create jobs, and expand our energy independence. As we are facing obvious changes in our weather patterns and frequent drought conditions that affect our farmers and ranchers and increase wildfire risk, it is imperative that we take action for the benefit of our great state.
13. Abortion should be illegal at all stages of pregnancy. O
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. S
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. S* I believe that everyone should have the freedom to choose what they do with their own bodies in an informed way. I especially find this true in the case of a government (often made up mostly of men) regulating a woman's body, which is gross overreach. That being said, I wish we lived in a world in which abortion never occurs. I wish that mothers never had to worry about medical complications, about their ability to financially support children, or about being raped. These are just some of the reasons why an abortion may be pursued, but they do not have to be guarantees. Providing education to mothers on their options, sexual education in general, as well as opportunities for adoption and other forms of care that adequately support children are some of the first steps in bringing us closer to that future. This seems to me to be the best path forward, as both life and liberty are essential to who we are as Americans.
18. Biological males who identify as transgender should be allowed to compete in women’s and girl's athletic competitions. S
19. Medical procedures intended to change a minor’s sex or gender should be prohibited. O
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* For me, this topic come down to two things, freedom and distractionFirst, people should be able to make their own choices about how they identify and structure their families. It is not my place, your place, and certainly not the government's place to regulate or discriminate based on how people identify. If you disagree with the actions of an individual on moral grounds, that is your right. However, that does not provide a license to violate their liberties. I will note that any medical procedures do not occur before the age of 16, and that these decisions are made after intense self-discovery, conversations with loved ones and psychological professionals. Second, these issues are being pushed by politicians in Washington D.C. who want nothing more than to divide us, as citizens of the United States, against each other so that they can maintain wealth and power. It is not transgender folks who are raising property taxes or the price of gas. The legalization of gay marriage does not threaten our access to public lands. These questions are distractions from the real issues affecting our quality of life. It is those concerns around affordability and livelihood that I will be prioritizing in the legislature.
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: SS
26. Personal responsibility and self-governance are more effective at solving social problems than expanded government programs: S
27. Parents—not government institutions—are the primary authority responsible for the education and moral formation of their children: S* My family instilled in my many values throughout my upbringing: integrity, respect, love of life and liberty, curiosity, compassion, appreciation for the natural world, determination, and more. I am lucky to have had this upbringing, as these are concepts that I wish were more universally held. Many members of my family have worked in public education, as I now do as well. This gives me some window into other people's families, and unfortunately, I see some falling short. This is not to blame parents for how they raise their children, but rather that we live in social and economic systems that place obstacles between family members providing children with moral and emotional support. For example, as a member of Gen Z, I myself am put off when I see children glued to an iPad or phone screen provided by their parents without limit. Public education and government programs do have an ability to fill some of the gap as parents become increasingly stressed and busy, but perhaps there is a root problem there that can be addressed, and families can be better enabled to be positive, responsible influences for our youth. There are many aspects of life that these issues touch, and I recognize that I cannot resolve them all myself, but I intend to work with my community and the legislature to find the best path forward for Montana.