Reforming the Federal Budget
My granddaughter Avery is only a year and a half old and she already owes the federal government more than $59,000, and that is one of the reasons I am running for office. I care about her future and I am unwilling to leave her with a debt that my generation should have taken care of. We should not be leaving this to our grandchildren.
I support keeping all options on the table when it comes to discussing how we can begin to pay down our national debt. That being said, for far too long, career politicians and DC insiders tell us they need more money every time they need to do something. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
Bringing Business Sense to Washington
If there is one thing people on both sides of the aisle can agree upon, it’s that Washington is broken. Career politicians have spent their entire life in DC and have forgotten what the real world is like. Most of them have never run a business – some of them have never even worked in a business outside of the government. They don’t know what it means to make payroll or balance a budget. That's why we need to bring some business sense to Washington. As a Maryland small business owner, I understand the tools business leaders and job creators need to get the people of Maryland back to work.
Small businesses account for a majority of the job creation in America, but between overregulation, intrusive government bureaucracy, and the complex tax code, small businesses are under assault. We need the federal government to repeal unnecessary regulations, simplify the tax code, and create an economic environment that is friendly to small businesses.
Prioritizing National Security
Ronald Reagan said it best, “When America is leading, the world is safer.” Unfortunately, because of broken promises to our allies and unfulfilled threats to our enemies, America’s word is no longer taken seriously on the global stage. That has made us an ineffective leader on the global stage. And to make matters worse, the current president has frequently disregarded the advice from his top generals and advisers.
We are currently facing multiple threats both at home and abroad. ISIS, North Korea, Iran, Russia, China – all of these actors pose a serious risk to our security and must be treated as such. The only way to truly keep America and American citizens safe both at home and abroad is to get America back in the leadership business again.
Providing the Best Education for Our Children
The federal government’s one-size-fits-all approach to education is failing our children and grandchildren. As a former teacher in Baltimore City, one of my top priorities is reforming our education system so that our children are prepared for the current job market. That is why I am hoping to serve on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee when I am elected to the Senate. We need plumbers, military personnel, and people in law enforcements just as much as we need doctors, lawyers, and accountants. We owe it to our children to truly prepare them for the future.
Keeping Our Promises to Our Veterans
As the daughter of a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, I strongly believe we must honor the promises we have made to our men and women in uniform. But right now, we are failing them. The VA is a redtape nightmare and needs immediate reform. That is why it is my hope to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee when I am elected to the Senate. These brave men and women have sacrificed so much to keep our country safe – it is the least we can do.
Reforming Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act isn’t affordable – in fact health care costs have risen since the law was passed. And small businesses are struggling to understand and comply with all the new regulations. It is the epitome of what is wrong with a big government approach to fixing problems.
It is clear that Obamacare is not working and I believe those portions of the law should be repealed, including the individual mandate and the Cadillac tax. However, there are some positive aspects of the law that people on both sides of the aisle can agree on, including coverage of pre-existing conditions, and I believe those aspects should be protected. Now that we are more than five years down the road from when the law was implemented, many health care professionals would tell you that repealing now would only make things worse. Not to mention the fact that it has become so intertwined in our system it would be impractical. And unlike professional politicians and DC insiders, I’m not going to make promises to you that I can’t keep.
Protecting Farmers and Ranchers
Agriculture is one of the largest industries both in Maryland and throughout the country. As a mom, food safety is important to me. It is because of hardworking farmers and ranchers that we have one of the safest and most diverse food sources in the world. That is why it is important that we protect agriculture. When elected to the US Senate, I will continue to fight for Maryland farmers.
Securing Our Borders and Fixing Immigration
Career politicians have failed people on both sides of this discussion for decades to the point that no one trusts the government when it comes to fixing both our legal and illegal immigration problems. Until we are able to secure our borders, the American people will not trust Congress to do anything else. That is why it must be our top priority. Once our borders are secure, then we must look at reforming our immigration laws, including our visa process.
Adopting an All of the Above Energy Strategy
Our nation is blessed with a variety of natural resources that can help to meet our energy needs, and I believe that we should explore all of those options and strive to become energy independent. That includes investing in renewable energy like solar, wind, and nuclear as well as developing traditional forms of energy like coal, oil, and natural gas. It is only by adopting an “all of the above” strategy that we can truly become energy independent.
Protecting Social Security and Medicare
We absolutely must keep the promises we have made to seniors, and we also must also work to preserve Social Security and Medicare for our children and grandchildren. As a mother and a grandmother, I want to make sure that future generations have the safety net of Social Security and Medicare available to them. If we don't adapt the way Social Security and Medicare are currently managed, we will leave future generations with nothing.
If you have questions about where Kathy stands on certain issues not on this page, please email info@kathyformaryland.com.
