McChesney, 67, served in the state House from 2007 to 2015. He lost a 2014 election for state Senate to Republican Eric Moore.
McChesney donated $50 this year to Bullock's re-election campaign, according to records from the state Commissioner of Political Practice's office. He also donated $150 to Bullock's 2012 campaign.
Analysis by Rewire.News: HB 239 would have required a school district to obtain written consent from a parent before instructing students in human sexuality education. HB 239 would have also prohibited school districts from allowing any abortion services provider from offering any materials at schools.
Veto message:The Montana Constitution vests supervision and control of our public schools in locally elected school boards. HB 239 would improvidently intrude upon the constitutional authority of the Board of Public Education and local boards. If parents are concerned about matters relating to the education of their children, they can and should address those concerns with their local school board.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 28-22-0 on Apr/8/13; Passed House 56-41-3 on Apr/13/13; State Rep. Bill McChesney voted NO; Vetoed by Governor Steve Bullock on Apr/25/13
Analysis by The Atlantic: Under Montana's state legislation, gay sex, [before this bill, was] a felony punishable with up to 10 years in jail and a $50,000 fine. SB 107 would change the definition of "deviate sexual relations" in the state--a full 16 years after the state Supreme Court ruled that the language criminalizing gay sex as unconstitutional--and no longer lump in gay sex as the same kind of crime as having sex with an animal.
The bloc of 36 Republicans want to keep the law in place: "Sex that doesn't produce people is deviant," says Rep. Dave Hagstrom. Rep. Jerry O'Neil, who also voted against the bill, said. "If some 2nd-grade teacher wants to introduce her lover to the kids, there isn't anything that the school board can do to stop that."
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 38-11-1 on Feb/20/13; Passed House 64-35-1 on Apr/10/13; State Rep. Bill McChesney voted YES; Signed by Governor Steve Bullock on
Summary by The Montana Post, May 25, 2018: Under SB181, reproductive health care options can be refused in the same manner Hobby Lobby refuses to cover birth control for their employees. The Democratic State Auditor's office noted the measure would strip consumers of health insurance protections under state insurance law and prevent the agency from investigating complaints.
Governor's Veto Message, Apr/5/13 : SB 181 creates a loophole in the insurance code for any entity calling itself a "health care sharing ministry." By exempting these ministries from the same regulations governing other insurers, SB 181 opens the door to fraud and abuse. It would distort the charitable purpose of health care sharing ministries and leave Montanans vulnerable.
Legislative outcome: on 2/22/13: Passed Senate 31-18-1; on 3/20/13: Passed House 58-39-3; Rep. Bill McChesney voted NO; Vetoed 4/5/13.
Analysis by Associated Press in The Missoulian, March 28, 2013: House Bill 302 was backed by gun advocates who argued the state should be ready in case Congress enacts a gun ban. But Bullock said in his veto message that it does not appear Congress will ban assault weapons, calling the bill "unnecessary political theater."
Veto Message : HB302 puts law enforcement in the position of violating laws they have sworn to uphold. Public safety officers take an oath to "enforce or apply all laws and regulations" and also to "work in unison with all legally authorized agencies" [including federal laws and agencies]. HB 302 would subject our peace officers to criminal sanctions for upholding their oath.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 28-21-1 on Mar/13/13; Passed House 62-35-3 on Mar/20/13; State Rep. Bill McChesney voted NO; Vetoed by Gov. Bullock on Mar/28/13.
A: Yes.
Q: Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
A: Yes.
Q: Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
A: The pro-choice / pro-life choice misnomers imply that if one is pro-choice they are not pro-life ..Nothing could be further from the truth. Although I believe that a woman should be able to make that difficult choice without fear. Concurrently, we need to do EVERYTHING we possibly can to make that choice the "very last option". I am strongly pro-life/pro-QUALITY life.
A: Yes.
A: Yes.
Q: Should Montana allow same-sex couples to form civil unions?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
A: Yes.
A: Yes.
A: No.
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling?
A: Yes.
Q: Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
A: Yes. This is complex and I don't want to overreact. In some instances criminal charges are very likely warranted. So in some instances YES.
A: Yes. We need to bring the use of medical marijuana back to the original intent of the initiative.
Q: Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized?
A: I need a lot more information before addressing this...
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
A: Yes.
A: No.
Q: Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?
A: I'd need to see that actual proposal...there are good points and some that concern me.
Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?
A: No.
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for improvements to Montana's energy infrastructure?
A: Yes.
McChesney adds, "Energy development and export, both alternative and non-renewable, are key to Montana's future economic vitality and I will do all I can to support the responsible development of both as well as improving our transmission capacities."
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
A: Yes.
A: Yes.
Q: Political Action Committee?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Political Party?
A: Yes.
Q: Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
A: No.
Q: Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring a license for gun possession?
A: No.
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
A: Yes.
Q: Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance?
A: Yes.
A: No.. I'm not as supportive of limits on monetary awards as I am of insuring that there are monetary penalties for frivolous and/or fraudulent lawsuits.
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The above quotations are from State of Montana Politicians: Archives.
Click here for other excerpts from State of Montana Politicians: Archives. Click here for other excerpts by Bill McChesney. Click here for a profile of Bill McChesney.
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