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Haneefah Khaaliq
Haneefah Khaaliq (independent) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Indiana. She lost as a write-in in the general election on November 8, 2022. She was disqualified from the Democratic primary scheduled on May 3, 2022.
Khaaliq completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Haneefah Khaaliq was born in Chicago, Illinois. Khaaliq earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University-Purdue University in 2006 and a juris doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2017. Her career experience includes owning a virtual social services business, and working as the director and ADA/Title VI coordinator of a local civil rights agency and as an adjunct professor.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: United States Senate election in Indiana, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Indiana
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Indiana on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Todd C. Young (R) | 58.6 | 1,090,390 |
 | Thomas McDermott Jr. (D) | 37.9 | 704,480 | |
 | James Sceniak (L) | 3.4 | 63,823 | |
 | Danny Niederberger (Independent) (Write-in)  | 0.1 | 1,294 | |
 | Haneefah Khaaliq (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 148 | |
 | Phillip Beachy (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 7 | |
| David Storer (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 7 | ||
| Antonio Alvarez (Political Synergy Party) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 3 | ||
| Thomas Baer (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Total votes: 1,860,154 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jason Gabehart (Independent)
- Ellen Kizik (Independent)
- Mark J. Powell (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Indiana
Thomas McDermott Jr. advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Indiana on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas McDermott Jr. | 100.0 | 173,466 |
| Total votes: 173,466 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Valerie McCray (D)
- Haneefah Khaaliq (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Indiana
Incumbent Todd C. Young advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Indiana on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Todd C. Young | 100.0 | 372,738 |
| Total votes: 372,738 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Danny Niederberger (R)
- John Piper (R)
- Aleem Young (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Indiana
James Sceniak defeated William Henry in the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Indiana on March 5, 2022.
Candidate | ||
 | William Henry (L) | |
| ✔ | | James Sceniak (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Haneefah Khaaliq completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Khaaliq's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- I'm fighting for livable wages, a quality education for all, and an expansion of the civil rights law.
- I'm not a career politician. I'm a public servant.
- I'm a community volunteer with a strong background in Education and Law who wants to help people.
Additionally, I find the trust to be built and firmly established by senators highly sophisticated and equal to my caliber. Senators should be more disposed to handle tough issues and take the long view on important ones. Their ability to judge righteously should not be conformed or controlled by only what is written in the books, but also by their ability to discern what is right for the overall good of the American people.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Khaaliq's campaign website stated the following:
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Reproductive Rights I promise to defend and protect women's rights. I do not believe in the undue influence of government infringing on women's rights. My opponent, Todd Young has a 0% rating from several pro-choice groups. He’s also been endorsed by a former U.S. Senator (from Indiana) who once stated pregnancy from rape was something God intended. I wholeheartedly disagree. There was a time when abortions were simply a part of life in the U.S. It wasn’t until medical doctors faced fierce competition with midwives and other homeopathic providers that it became a political issue in the late 1800s. This was followed by the women’s liberation movement in the 1960’s. Before the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade decriminalized abortion nationwide in 1973, abortion was already legal in several states. So why are we still talking about this today? Because several states have enacted laws that continue to violate Roe vs. Wade plainly, claiming viability (or life) starts at conception. There are also remaining conflicts with the Fourteenth Amendment with regard to the fetus being deprived of “life” and the mother’s right of privacy. Most Americans (59% as of May 2021, Gallup) remain pro-choice and about 60% of Americans (May 2021, Gallup) believe Roe vs. Wade should not be overturned by any means. I believe congress should act in accordance with the will of the people. Any excessive restrictive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional and should be dealt with. Furthermore, there should be a clear path to deal with any violations. Here's what I believe:
Any law that functionally eliminates the ability of a pregnant person's access to abortion services should be halted by the federal government. Additionally, I do not believe in blocking patients from accessing care at health centers. Americans must understand that, as a nation, we may never be able to agree on what one’s moral obligations should be, but we can respect each other’s rights as already granted by the provisions in Roe vs. Wade. Roe vs. Wade protects a pregnant person's liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction or undue influence. Roe vs. Wade does not attempt to guarantee or propose to regulate how that choice is made or how it should be funded. Furthermore, it fails to address accessibility. It is a private medical procedure which should be handled as all others, with the utmost care and regard by medical professionals in their clinics.
I love animals. Period. I will work with experts in the field to produce legislation that strengthens the Endangered Species Act and helps protect all animals from abuse and cruelty. Most Americans say animals need legal protection (62%, 2015 Gallup) and I intend to work toward that. Education is also a big part of creating a greater group of individuals who care for animals and follow through with action. Upon my election to congress, I intend to make two things a top priority: taking a deep look at the endangered species list, enhancing it, and focusing on environmental decisions and factors that impact our animal friends. Every year, more and more animals are at risk of going extinct. In order to right this wrong we must acknowledge and closely examine the causes and the crisis our animals face on a daily basis. In my opponent’s (Senator Todd Young) entire tenure, despite being on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, (a committee that oversees oceans, fisheries and sciences) has made absolutely no advancements whatsoever in legislation for animals or the scientists whose information protects them. As hard as it is to believe, we must first recognize the fact that, of all the animals (and insects and organisms) living on the earth right now, most of them are extinct, which means most of the animals that we could have known, we will never get a chance to see. Why? We could say natural causes like catastrophic events, reduced food supply or competition from other animals but humans are the biggest cause of extinction today. With sport hunting, daily pollution and lack of responsibility for climate change along with the continued archaic use of fossil fuels, human pollution continues to plague our air, our water, and our land where animals live. We also contribute to extinction when we build habitats of our own with little to no regard for animals and theirs. I’m against irresponsible humans who refuse to care for the earth. I’m equally against zoos which remove animals from their natural habitats and against any kind of animal abuse and cruelty. Therefore, upon my election to congress expect to find me prioritizing the following:
Cryptocurrency is a newer form of currency exchange that should not go unexplored. However, we must ensure proper consumer protections, make sure companies are adequately capitalized so they don't collapse and ensure adequate security. In order to understand cryptocurrency and how much we need it, we must first understand a brief history of trade and money. Before money people simply exchanged and traded goods and services. In short, it became difficult to keep track of agreements and who was paid and what was owed. It was then that IOUs were created along with small representations of debt that came in various forms (ex. salt, wheat, shells). These various forms lacked intrinsic value so the world’s leaders eventually replaced them with metal. However, metal coins obviously became too heavy to carry around, especially for the rich who often had plenty. It was then that paper money was created and traded for the coins it represented. The problem was that paper money could be too easily copied and reproduced. This is when traders and lenders began linking the value of paper money (a.k.a, bank notes) with gold. This created a special standard between currencies: the gold standard. The gold standard continued for centuries, but the need for flexible exchange rates prevailed. Since the 1970’s the world has ceased trying to keep the gold standard. So, the only thing that now distinguishes bank notes from any other type of paper is faith. That’s right. Faith that the bank note is actually worth what it says. Before we trusted in some thing (salt, wheat, shells), now we trust in someone, which is probably worse. There is no actual commodity in paper money. This is where cryptocurrency comes in. It’s simply a newer, more secure form of exchange. Consider that a very small fraction of paper money and coins are used in any transaction. Credit cards and electronic banking have replaced physical money. And let’s face it, cryptocurrency is digital, making it safer, harder to forge, durable, divisible, and supply will never be an issue. Digital currency is undoubtedly the way of the future. The next stage is obtaining government clearance and security for this new form of currency and finding legislators who are willing to embrace it. My opponent, Senator Todd Young, is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Along with other senators, Mr. Young introduced the Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019, which fails at everything except to create a definition. We need more than just a definition and other empty proposals, as the rest of the world is quickly moving forward on blockchain technology. I promise to introduce cryptocurrency and blockchain legislation that goes beyond forming a single definition, but legislation which:
While Bitcoin, and other forms of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology may not be direct forms of investment in foreign trade, in the words of my opponent: “Being in the forefront of this revolutionary technology will not only provide humanitarian and social support in developing countries, but financial and economic benefits at home.”
Debt is the amount of liabilities owned by the U.S. The deficit is the difference in the amount earned versus how much is spent. Our national debt is $24+ trillion and keeps rising beyond our income. Our national deficit is nearly $3+ trillion. While the debt is complex the most comforting part about it is that we mostly owe ourselves. To that end, the answer to a good, balanced budget is to keep working on closing the gap between what is earned and spent. The most serious threat to the United States is our own fiscal irresponsibility. Unless we act now it will only get worse. We are in desperate need of balanced budgets that lead to surplus. However, with each new presidency we seem to dig deeper and deeper into debt. In order to achieve fiscal responsibility we need a true partnership between the government and the American people. Let’s review a brief history. The national debt first began with the war for our independence. On the first day of our federal government we were already in millions of dollars worth of debt. In 1835, our founding fathers eliminated that debt by looking at debt not as a problem, but as an asset. I will see it the same way. By seeing debt as an asset our founding fathers created a pathway for a gradual schedule of dependable tax resources and eventually generated revenue via taxes on land, luxuries, and yes, booze. They also created more liabilities and an active economy through the institution of banking. Nevertheless, the U.S. repeatedly found itself in debt due to various reasons: mainly war and the institution of various social programs. We must understand that the politics of sound fiscal responsibility is very difficult because the natural inertia is towards spending for necessary federal and social programs on one hand versus providing tax cuts on the other. If we’re going to be successful we must constrain our spending and provide for adequate revenue which means making difficult trade off decisions that involve Americans on how they want their money spent. Now, here are a couple of comforting thoughts: first, our debt can never be called in on the day of our creditors’ choosing. There are too many circumstances that prevent this. Second, politicians often tout that America should be run like a business: it should never spend more than it takes in! Nothing could be further from the truth. Very rarely do successful businesses operate like this. Most businesses do not wait to bring in tons of revenue before they begin operating. They borrow the money first and then begin building, gradually reducing their debt and deficits over time. In fact, businesses spend more than what they bring in all the time and governments are similar. The problem comes in when we, as a country are not able to pay our debts off due to loss in revenue and the deficit becomes so large it’s out of our control. To that end, I intend on taking new bold steps to address some underlying problems in the economy by:
The United States must accurately count the cost of running a democracy successfully and wisely. Just as any builder who does not count the cost before laying a foundation faces the humiliation of a disgraceful failure, the United States must practice this type of foresight and reasonability.
As the director of a civil rights agency as well as the ADA and Title VI Coordinator for an entire city, it is my duty to ensure equitable treatment for all. It is my privilege to continue beyond any election. In order for civil rights laws to achieve their ultimate goal and purpose they must be expanded to ensure more protections for more people. I will start by stating that as it stands, an overwhelming number of Americans who find themselves in a majority class who may have once believed themselves safe in numbers are increasingly becoming subjects of racism, segregation and separation. So while the civil rights laws originated based on the minority experience, and, as a result, most complaints derived from this population, members of a majority class must understand that civil rights laws were meant for their protection also, and they should not feel afraid, intimidated, or guilty for taking advantage of a system that was designed to defend them as well. In 2017, as the director for the Gary Human Relations Commission, in conjunction with the City of Gary, I hosted a rally in solidarity with the march in Charlottesville against hate and bigotry. This is the type of energy I intend to take to Washington. In determining the next stage of civil rights, we must first understand that human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Treating each other with fairness and equality must be purposeful and affirmative. Each day we must rise, look at ourselves in the mirror and believe that just because someone is different from us we can choose to treat them equally and fairly and give them just as much opportunity as we would have given to someone who we believe is similar to us. As easy as it may sound it remains difficult for some to do, so for the sake of collective human progress and the nation’s peace, the civil rights law compels us to do what is right, especially for those who have controversial belief systems. After a long history of racism and segregation in the United States, President Lyndon B. Johnson effectively used appeals to Christian ethics to garner the support he needed to enact the civil rights law. He was one bold enough to ask where in the ethic was there justification for killing children in a church in Alabama or denying an equal education? Or barring fathers and mothers from competing for jobs that would feed and clothe their families? It just didn’t make sense. So, on July 2, 1964, President Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act which outlawed discrimination on every front. Nearly sixty years later, we cannot forget the blood, the many sacrifices, the sweat and tears that went into its enactment. We cannot forget the great strides and doors the law opened for minorities everywhere, but now we are in need of expansion. The next level of civil rights includes more protections and rights for the LGBTQ+ community (See LGBTQ), job seekers, and housing voucher holders. It also includes research and investigation into how funding and services are being distributed to low-income and minority neighborhoods. Every law, policy, rule, regulation, and agreement governing any parts of these United States and its territories should be thoroughly scrutinized for discrimination. LGBTQ+ In 2016, my opponent, Senator Todd Young received a 2% rating from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which supports gay rights. That’s because Mr. Young pretends not to hold a position on same-sex marriage meanwhile he has no problem voting against laws like the Maloney Amendment (2016) which would have protected same sex individuals from discrimination in the military. Now there are millions of future veterans serving in our military right now who identify as members of the LGBTQ community. One should wonder how Mr. Young, a veteran himself can possibly reconcile his decision to withhold discrimination protections from people who are currently serving in the armed forces who will some day become veterans themselves. It is still not clear if Mr. Young believes “sexual orientation and gender identity” should be protected classes. In 2019, as the Director of the Gary Human Relations Commission, I had the pleasure of assisting in the process of providing and enforcing protection for the LGBTQ+ community in the City of Gary. Religious organizations are already allowed to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community in the civil rights law. That said, the LGBTQ+ community should have civil rights in order to be able to simply live and work peacefully wherever they desire. Furthermore, I fail to see how providing members of the LGBTQ+ community with basic rights prevents anyone from practicing their religion. American Job Seekers Growing the American workforce is vital to our country’s prosperity and growth. We must advocate for policies and practices to ensure that Americans of all backgrounds are able to more fully develop and profit from their talents. Therefore, we must recognize our need for hiring process reform to aid in the elimination of discrimination and long waiting periods in the hiring process. Too many individuals are able to work and still cannot get jobs because they are being discriminated against in the beginning of the process due to name discrimination, where they live, word-of-mouth recruitment, and employers who use other application information to indicate one’s protected class or political view. Enough is enough. Upon my election to Congress I intend to work on a new hiring system which will prevent United States employers from accessing any information which may indicate an applicant’s race, sex, religion, age, etc., in the hiring process. Employees are generally protected from discrimination once they acquire a job thanks to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. My system goes deeper by preventing discrimination in the first place in the hiring process. The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of December 2017 (TCJA) promised better job opportunities for workers across America. Nothing could be further from the truth as this administration continues to boast of unreal progress. Even before the pandemic, the real unemployment rate was increasing because those who want full-time jobs can’t seem to get them and when they do the jobs are always low-wage and without insurance and benefits. In December 2019, the Brookings Institution, a non-partisan research foundation conducted a study that showed nearly half of U.S. workers (44%) were employed in low-wage jobs that made it impossible for them to get ahead. According to the Russell Sage Foundation, a foundation which dedicates itself to “strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences in order to better understand societal problems and develop informed responses,” employer’s choices have contributed largely to a declining labor-force in the United States over the past four decades. We must do everything we can to add to America’s workforce, and that means ensuring equality for all, especially for women. I am a strong advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Women deserve equal pay for equal work and the ability to be included in the draft if they so desire. I also promise to address accommodation requirements on a federal level for pregnant women. Additionally, the EEOC must be expanded to protect workers who work for employers with 10 or more employees and address youth discrimination. The ADA should require all cities to have a designated ADA Coordinator and a rule that allows all complaints to be enforced by the local government if necessary. Finally, Title VI should include protections for all the protected classes (not just for race, color, or national origin). Housing Voucher Recipients As a member of the U.S. Senate, I promise to create a team of experts that will help me introduce legislation that will redefine what it means to make it easier for all Americans to acquire a home wherever they want it. My opponent, Todd Young has only pretended to introduce this type of initiative in the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act. However, the act fails to address income-based discrimination which allows landlords to continually discriminate against housing voucher (Section 8) recipients and keep them out of real “opportunity zones” which are really affluent neighborhoods where there are good schools. Section 8 voucher recipients should be able to use their vouchers wherever they want. The myth that low-income individuals reduce property values and are irresponsible is a self-fulfilling prophecy propagated by individuals with ulterior motives. As it stands, Indiana is one of many states without income-based anti-discrimination laws making it possible for landlords to disparately impact many lives. I’m not interested in blanket policies that sound good but actually do very little to make things better for Americans. If Mr. Young can’t properly make a real effort to tackle income-based discrimination in housing then he should step aside and yield to the fully capable. This type of discrimination can only be handled by experts in the field and those equipped to tackle it. I promise to work closely with experts in the field to help me create legislation that makes it against the law to deny housing voucher recipients a home. Let’s get to work!
If corporations are given lower taxes or end up paying none it should yield more stable jobs and livable wages. It's time we enforce this trade off and work together to achieve this. Additionally, we need to develop up-to-date tax treaties with foreign countries and agree on principles that better reflect today's multinational and digital world. I will start by stating this: not paying taxes is un-American. I’ll take it a step further by stating that anyone who introduces legislation that takes away from our tax base, grows our deficit, and makes it harder to fund public programs is also un-American. In some way, shape or form, from the very founding of this nation, as a country, we have always imposed a charge (ex. tariffs) on businesses and commerce for the good of the American people. The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. I operate by the same strong fundamental belief that we should render to the government what belongs to the government. Everyone, especially corporations, should pay their fair share in taxes and be required to pay some minimum amount of tax to help fund the government. Tax is essential to help the government provide protections to citizens, build better roads and bridges, institutions and create better infrastructure. Tax is a burden we must all live with, rather rich or poor, rather we like it or not, as it continues to play a crucial role toward the progress of humanity. Taxes are used to fund various social welfare packages, such as social security and homeless programs. Taxes are the life source of a nation. In order to keep the nation functioning, we should be patriotic to this life source. It’s been said that America’s corporate tax rate is the highest among developed countries. This is an argument often fueled by politicians who support cutting business taxes. However, what companies actually pay varies according to profit, exemptions and deductions, and credits. Now, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) corporations’ tax rate dropped from 35% to 21%. This gift was supposed to be in exchange for more jobs and better wages. However, many companies didn’t even pay the 21% due to loopholes, and those who did made no changes for their workforce at all. When we have multi-billion dollar companies paying little to no taxes on their income, while those with a single filing status are getting more than 25% taken from their earnings per paycheck with more money owed during tax season, this is a problem. I don’t think Americans should be paying more for running the federal government than huge American corporations that make billions. We need to fix our corporate tax code now. My opponent, Senator Todd Young supports legislation which has only led to a huge drop in the amount of taxes we collect from corporations. This is unpatriotic, irresponsible and downright dangerous to the public services we find most vital, which include our national security. On November 3, 2011, I was the first person to publish a detailed account of the cry from the “99%” protesting on Wall Street during the Occupy Movement for more corporate accountability. As a United States Senator, I promise to do the following:
Being tough on crime doesn't mean harsher laws or adding on more police. It means investing in the police we already have by providing them with the tools and resources they need to be stronger and better. It means greater transparency. It also means investing in crime prevention programs and providing our police with a multicultural education which includes education on the differently-abled and community policing. First, we must understand that statistically crime is not reduced by one or two things, but by a multitude of factors in society. Some may believe tougher laws or mass incarceration is responsible. Others may say it’s due to more police officers, better crime strategies, a greater economy, higher education and income, less exposure to lead, etc. What we do know for sure is that positive life experiences undoubtedly lead to greater social progress indexes throughout the world. Eliminating crime means focusing on all of the above with special attention to our police force because they are the ones on the ground every day, closest to our communities, standing between a community’s discord and its peace. As a nation, we must understand that there’s a reason we separate our military from our police force. The one stands to fight the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When these boundaries cross or these lines become blurred, it can create a state of confusion among the people. We don’t build trust between police and communities when we arm local law enforcement as if they’re going to war. Police must practice de-escalation techniques and use alternatives to lethal force. Furthermore, when our judges and courts confuse the purpose of our police force with that of the military, justice becomes obsolete. In 2017, shortly after my graduation from Valparaiso University School of Law, I authored a book entitled, “A Better Police Force” in support of police officers nationwide. The purpose of the book was to create a greater dialogue about what is needed in order to create harmony between the community and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. In it, I provide seven techniques that can be applied to the police force to create a better, stronger, and more harmonious form of policing. One of those techniques is community policing. The other technique is to provide them with a multicultural education, which will give our police first-hand knowledge on the marginalized and disenfranchised individuals living in the communities they are charged to protect. It also includes improving their access to mental health treatment and other forms of early intervention. As a future U.S. Senator, I promise to introduce and/or support any legislation that:
As a previous schoolteacher I've had the experience of teaching in public, private and charter schools. I know what it feels like to teach in all three settings and I can tell you the goal is the same: to give children the ultimate education experience. To that end, my conclusion is that public schools remain a fully funded guarantee, while school choice remains an option in communities who believe they are in need of an alternative. In 2006, I graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis with a degree in education. Shortly after, I started my teaching career in 2008, and have been teaching ever since. Throughout my tenure as an educator I can tell you that the goal has always been the same: to provide students with the ultimate education experience. Proverbs 22:6 states that we should “train up a child in the way he should go...and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” As a teacher, this has always been my creed: to set goals for my students...then, chart a clear path that provides the challenges and opportunities necessary to make the goals attainable; and to provide the education and experiences students need to be contributors of society holding fast to the things they learned from those experiences. When a society does not have a strong public education system, it leads to wide-spread unemployment, poor health, exploitation, and other forms of breaks in economic growth. My opponent, Senator Todd Young doesn’t know anything about public school education in America or how vital it is to properly fund it even though he’s a product of it. As a previous representative, he voted in favor of the Abstinence Education Reallocation Act (2013) which provided $110 million per year to teach abstinence in schools. Unbelievable. I can think of 110 million different ways that money could have been spent differently to benefit America’s children. Recently, he’s done nothing except for to blindly support every piece of legislation that diverts funds from public school education. This kind of blind salute is dangerous as it will only devastate America’s public school system. As a future U.S. Senator, I promise to work on the following in my first tenure:
Indiana, along with the rest of the country must invest more time and research into transitioning to cleaner energy. My personal conviction is that from the beginning of time our purpose has been to care for the earth (Genesis 2:15). Does it really matter if there's proof of global warming or not if we explore this idea? Although the evidence is there, we don’t necessarily need it to convince us to care for what we know is our only home in the universe. On clean energy and the environment, my opponent, Senator Todd Young is no friend. Years ago he promised he would vote against any type of global warming legislation when he voted for the Energy Tax Prevention Act (2011). The act prevented the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases that would have addressed climate change. Like his friends, Mr. Young needs evidence of climate change in order to do something about it. Real leaders don’t wait until they see danger on the horizon, but plan ahead and employ techniques of prevention. I believe our time for using fossil fuels is coming to an end and rather than be abruptly surprised by utter depletion, we need to plan ahead to ensure future generations can be comfortable and current energy suppliers are ready for the future. Now, I’m ready to proceed with introducing and supporting legislation that moves this country in the green direction no matter what because it’s just common sense. The decision of the administration (in 2017) to pull the U.S. from its participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement was disappointing. While the agreement wasn’t perfect it still represented a step in the right direction for most of the world. As a legislator, I will support the Paris Agreement and any other form of legislation that mirrors its purpose and goals because we cannot afford to continue looking away from the effects of pollution. Each country must be responsible and do their part. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that Indiana had released more toxic chemicals and pollution into the environment than 44 other states. Anyone who believes this has no impact on their health isn’t thinking at all. The city of Gary had the most released toxins in the entire state. This is a great tragedy because Gary is also predominantly African-American, low-income, and has a growing number of senior citizens in it. To ensure this does not continue happening we must elect wise and competent leaders; ones who pay attention and take action when necessary to protect vulnerable populations. While I would like to think we, as humans have advanced since the discovery of fire, I am disappointed to see that we still haven’t quite completely moved on from using dead dinosaurs as fuel. I’m equally disappointed that we find moving on from it difficult. I believe we could be much further than we are now in the transition to cleaner energy, but our progress continues to be stunted by a few world leaders in great supply of these old and dangerous forms of energy. This is why as a future member of the U.S. Senate I plan to work on the following:
The United States is home to 2+ million farms and farmers that feed Americans every day. Indiana is home to nearly 100,000 of those farmers and more than 60,000 farms covering 19 million acres. Farmers are how we survive. To that end, they need a greater voice in Washington, D.C. They also need greater access to healthcare, more say over the distribution of their own products and greater property rights. I will work hard to ensure they have these things along with greater access to technologies that allow them to exceed their goals. I will begin by stating that I, myself come from a family and ancestry with a great history in farming and keeping the land that dates back to the 15th century and beyond. Like many African-Americans, through the West African slave trade, my ancestors were forced to America’s shores, where the color of their skin made them outcasts. But like so many others they overcame the prejudices of their time and found a home in these United States. My great grandparents: Elijah and Beatrice Robinson were sharecroppers and their parents were slaves. As slaves, they tilled the ground and worked hard every day to feed their communities. My grandmother, Annie Mae Robinson along with her six siblings and my great grandparents eventually acquired their own farmland in Laurel, Mississippi. They were fortunate to grow their own food and sometimes sell it too. During the Great African-American Migration, my grandmother was one of more than 6 million who ambitiously arrived in the Midwest (Chicago, Illinois) in the 50’s, in search of a better life. She desired to escape the deep racism that existed in the South and to take advantage of the new opportunities she’d heard of in the North. Instead, she was met with low-paying jobs and even more segregation. For my grandmother this was the beginning of poverty. She was never able to fully recover and apply the skills she’d learned from the family tradition of farming, but as her granddaughter, I made several efforts to learn as much as I could about agriculture and farming with every chance I got. Here’s a few things I know about farming:
In my experience with farmers I can say they are the most kind, warm hearted, gentlest people on the earth, which is why it saddens me to see them taken advantage of each election year by party politicians who care very little about them. Farmers have a love for the outdoors, hunting, and an appreciation for tradition, which are typically things associated with Republicans. However, the problem is that the Republican party has shown very little interest in protecting the environment over the years, which without it, farmers wouldn’t be able to enjoy the outdoors or hunting. Republicans also continue to not support healthcare reform, which would provide healthcare to farmers. Finally, they continue to vote against social programs that would benefit farmers vastly. Under Republican control, we see one thing and one thing only: a reduction of taxes and regulation for the wealthy, which allows large corporations to continue to take advantage of small farmers. Farmers must wake up and realize the games Republicans play by using evangelicals and the “love of guns” as a way to keep their so-called “base” intact. Environmentalism and diversity are ideal for rural peoples and farmers because they can’t hunt or farm on degraded, polluted land. They can’t farm if they’re sick or can’t afford health care, and they can’t practice religion without the freedom of doing so. For the last few years (2017-2020), the Trump administration hurt farmers economically with tariffs and tax cuts for the wealthy with international blunders and bloated national debt. Now more than ever, it’s time for a shift in farmer thinking. I hope to provide the start of that shift. Give me a chance to work alongside my fellow Republican colleagues and friends to encourage them to make the best decisions for the American people. Being conservative doesn’t mean being unwilling to change or sow what’s best into the environment...it means conserving the values of the American spirit. As a future member of the U.S. Senate here’s what I plan to work on for farmers:
We must strive to create and maintain good relationships with those who will respect our culture, our fundamentals and our ideologies. To that end, we must find ways to safeguard our interests while maintaining international relationships for the good of all humanity. Let's work with international governments and agencies to achieve better communication while spreading the democratic message worldwide. In accordance with the foreign policy of the United States, my goals as a future U.S. Senator are twofold: to properly budget for civilians and the military, and to regulate commerce between foreign nations. Additionally, my foreign policy aligns with that of the State: “to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.” Migration. The United States remains at the forefront of top destinations to live and raise children in the world. With unenumerated rights and freedoms granted to citizens, such as the freedom of speech and of religion, civil rights for all, and various other protections, it’s no wonder why we remain the envy of the world. Even with the past sins of slavery and racism, things like our standard of living and average earnings stand to keep us at the top of the most desired places to be on earth. This is why we continue to have millions attempt to reach our borders even at the expense of their own lives. I’m now reminded of the statement inscribed on our Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” This saying is indicative of the long held American tradition of a welcoming spirit towards immigrants. This same welcoming spirit is what met the founding fathers when they first arrived from Europe. They weren’t attacked or met with stringent criteria for gaining access to America. However, after gaining their own settlements, in order to maintain consensus, control and leadership; and in order to protect assets, resources and investments, they eventually created that stringent list of criteria for entry which has evolved today. With the combination of American tradition and the inscription from our Statue of Liberty, I am confident in my argument that it is both unpatriotic and un-American to not welcome immigrants in some way, shape, or form to our shores. I am additionally confident in my argument that we have an obligation to not only welcome immigrants, but to protect them from immediate deportation and provide them with a clear path to citizenship. My opponent, Senator Todd Young, believes in no such thing and has no intentions of ever voting for the likes of it. Despite the fact that immigrants seek U.S. citizenship from all over the world for various reasons: marriage, job or business opportunities, family reunification, education, escaping poverty or violence, to access a greater level of healthcare, or to escape persecution, Mr. Young is against any pathway to citizenship. With nearly 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country, what does he propose we do? These undocumented immigrants could add to our workforce, our tax base, and to our ability to provide social services and continue programs like social security. As a future member of the U.S. Senate, I intend to work on the following regarding immigration:
Middle East Conflict. The Middle East conflict which began with Saudi Arabia and Iran, has turned into a violent never-ending incalculable group of proxy wars in the region, which now include Israel (Gaza Strip), Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and several other states and territories in the area. Reviewing the conflict in the Middle East is reviewing years of insurgence, militant group uprisings, and generation after generation of leaders who shake hands in public, but defy agreements behind closed doors. What makes matters worse is that under the Trump Administration, the United States of America upped the ante in assuming sides when it removed the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (June 2019). As a U.S. Senator, I promise to work on the following with regard to the conflict in the Middle East:
Nuclear Power. As a future U.S. Senator, I intend to work on the following regarding nuclear power:
Trade, Americans Imprisoned Abroad, and Communism International trade predates history and will only continue. As a member of Congress it will be a great part of my duty to regulate commerce with foreign nations. I believe the United States’ goals and interests should be clearly and respectfully communicated with our foreign friends. With a combination of bilateral and multilateral negotiations between nations I am confident, as a country we will continue to perfect our trade position in the world. President Kennedy once stated regarding trade, that it was “no longer a matter of local economic interest but of high national policy.” The United States must remain a top advocate for new markets for our farmers, workers, and businesses. To that end, as a future U.S. Senator, I promise to oppose any legislation that extols the virtues of trade wars and uses tariffs solely to punish our trading partners. There are no winners in trade wars, only losers. They are inherently unhealthy and must be used very delicately for the preservation of world peace. As a future U.S. Senator, I promise to support and/or work on the following immediately upon my election to Congress:
In order to ensure a more democratic system we must work hard to accurately represent Americans and their ever-changing interests, desires and needs. We must find new, innovative ways to ensure the representation of all people through data collection, surveys and establishing an online center where we can find the results of this information and use it to make better decisions for all. Reform also includes basic things like requiring legislators to actually read bills and make them public before they vote on them, merging and consolidating federal agencies to save money, and greater transparency with regard to how legislators spend taxpayers’ dollars. As a future member of the U.S. Senate, I promise to work on the following:
It’s time we put an end to gun violence once and for all and stop pretending we can’t do anything about it. I am not against one's right to bear arms more than I am for the technological advancement thereof and the regulation of sales of guns and ammunition. It goes without saying, gun violence is ravishing our communities. Even the staunchest of gun supporters and 2nd Amendment advocates have extended their condolences and sympathies to gun victims and their families. From gang violence to school shootings across this country, I think we can all agree something must be done to curtail the loss of life. Unfortunately, my opponent, Senator Todd Young has done very little to help. Although he appears to be an advocate for preventing gun violence by signing into law and supporting various forms of gun legislation, from supporting red flag laws to the Fix NICS Act and the STOP School Violence Act, none of this has really helped. What he won’t share is that, as of 2017, Mr. Young received nearly $3 million in donations from the National Rifle Association, an organization which can become a partner in helping to end America’s gun violence. Mr. Young was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016. In 2016, there were 382 mass shootings in America. In 2017, there were 346 mass shootings. In 2018, there were 337 mass shootings. In 2019, there were 417 mass shootings. From 2016-2019, 1,482 mass shootings, claiming tens of thousands of Americans lives. The only question to be asked is how many lives could Mr. Young have helped save during his tenure had he voted in favor of simple things, such as universal background checks and other forms of assessment which would have helped keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people? Now, let’s talk about what will actually make a difference. As a future member of the U.S. Senate, I promise to work on the following:
I believe in government funded healthcare options for those on fixed incomes, the indigent, the elderly and those with disabilities, such as Medicare for All. I also believe in the privatization of healthcare as far as individuals being able to choose. I'm a strong advocate for new healthcare and hospital systems which use sliding fee scales to guarantee healthcare to individuals based on their income. There should be more transparency, regulation and control over rising costs (including prescription drugs) and providers should be required to submit an itemized list of all charges to patients. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a.k.a. Obamacare. Although not perfect, it was a step in the right direction towards making an effort to provide healthcare at an affordable rate to all Americans. The problem is it wasn’t entirely affordable for all. Obamacare created a health insurance exchange program that facilitates the sale of private health insurance plans directly to residents of the U.S. and offers subsidies to those who earn a certain amount with added assistance for those on Medicaid and to small businesses. The Trump Administration eliminated a problem with it: the individual mandate that everyone have health insurance with penalties, while ignoring another big problem: subsidy paybacks where individuals have to pay back the assistance they received. In conclusion, there remain several issues with our healthcare system. Here’s how I plan to tackle them as a future U.S. Senator. But first, let’s discuss my opponent, Senator Todd Young, and how far he’s gotten with healthcare legislation since his election in 2016. Since his 2016 election, Senator Todd Young hasn’t introduced any legislation with regard to healthcare insurance for Hoosiers (as of 5/13/20). However, he continues to support and co-sponsor legislation in support of an entire repeal of Obamacare without offering any replacement whatsoever. Upon visiting his website you’ll see language that Mr. Young is actively “working” to replace Obamacare with something that works for Hoosiers. How long does it take to author legislation that works? It’s obvious Mr. Young is sleeping on the job. The Senate isn’t a retirement home and it’s time for Hoosiers to send that message with my election in 2022. Hoosiers and Americans deserve better healthcare insurance. So, let’s get to work!
A poll taken some years ago stated that while Americans want some form of a public option: Medicare & Medicaid, most do not agree with entirely abolishing private health insurance companies. Let’s focus on perfecting what we already have by reviewing gaps in coverage, making it easier for patients to get affordable primary and specialized services, and giving patients the freedom to choose.
We must work together to redefine what it means to make it easier for Americans to acquire a home, afford rents and mortgages, and avoid unnecessary costs and fees. Additionally, Americans deserve less barriers with regard to acquiring good credit for goods and services which will require greater scrutiny and a review of credit bureaus, financial institutions and their processes and procedures. Americans deserve a place to live and access to good credit. They shouldn’t have to face unnecessary barriers and jump through hoops. As your future U.S. Senator here’s how I intend to help the housing market and contribute to the history of acquiring credit:
Human trafficking is real and representatives need to stop pretending as if it isn’t. An estimated 27 million people, including 1.2 million children, are held in slavery worldwide - despite the fact that in every single country slavery is outlawed. The underground network runs deep and is vastly hidden. To that end, more research is needed from experts in the field to create legislation that will directly shake up the market. There are a variety of ways to keep an open revolving door of human trafficking world-wide: mass discrimination, illegal immigration, migration, kidnapping, the institution of bonded labor by moneylenders, illegitimate adoptions, etc. In order to crack down on human trafficking in the United States we need leaders in Congress who are unafraid to bring its harsh realities to light. As a future United States Senator, here’s what I plan to work on to help eliminate human trafficking in the United States and bring awareness:
Work on a partnership between the Department of Child Services and anti-human trafficking organizations to make sure our children aren’t getting lost or displaced in human trafficking rings or other illegal systems. As the United States remains one of the top consumers of sex worldwide, leading in demand we must remember the tremendous number of children that are being sold as sex slaves right here in America. These are American-born children, 50-60 percent of them coming from our very own foster care industry. This is why as your future U.S. Senator, I promise to make this one of my top priorities: to provide a greater monitoring system for Child Protective Services which helps to address the agency’s vulnerability to human trafficking. We’ll start by introducing legislation that focuses on keeping families together. Permanently removing children from their parents and placing them in foster care should be the last resort. We must work hard to keep children and their families together.
We have an obligation to welcome all immigrants (strangers), but we must have complete order and control. Immigration reform should ensure a proper and safe transition from undocumented to documented. It should include such things as protections from immediate deportation and a means to acquire proper identification. Those immigrants who have served in one of our branches of military should receive priority options for a pathway to citizenship. Finally, legal immigrants whose taxpayer dollars have been used to ensure Americans' benefits should also be provided an option to receive a portion of the benefits they've paid into. We are all immigrants or come from immigrants! But I want to make it absolutely clear that I take a strong stand to support legal immigration in this country. Now, some of our ancestors were forced to migrate. As an African-American, my ancestors were forced to immigrate and they weren’t paid a single dime for the years of slave labor. But if God has granted you the slightest choice to stay or leave your country, and you don’t have someone with a weapon to the back of your head saying “go” then you should be responsible and follow the rules. I don’t believe in making it easy for those who blatantly defy our immigration laws nor am I comfortable living in a country where millions seem to sneak through our immigration process. I am equally opposed to open borders as they allow an uncontrolled amount of individuals in the country who may or may not have the country’s best interest at heart. Illegal immigration contributes to many other forms of crime: drug trafficking, human trafficking and let’s just be honest, it reduces a country’s resources for its law abiding citizens, and I can’t have it. Now, I believe in the inscription on our Statue of Liberty regarding immigration, but it must be done in a systematic, orderly way, so that no matter who you are or where you come from, for whatever reason, you can have an opportunity to become American without fear. I maintain the utmost respect for those who go through the proper channels to become citizens and I would argue it is the first indication of someone who is going to be a law-abiding patriot. That’s what America wants. We want responsible people, smart people, and ones who have integrity. There is nothing wrong with supporting national security and wanting the best, and there is also nothing wrong with being compassionate to people who are truly in need. To that end, as your future U.S. Senator, here’s what I plan to work on upon my election to office:
While many individuals seek lawful immigration into America there remain a significant number who seek to defy our rules by posing as families, asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals from countries other than the ones they are actually from. As much as it pains me to say it, these individuals may be terrorists, members of drug cartels or have some other ill-intent. This is why as a member of Congress, I promise to work harder than ever to provide our Border Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard with as many tools and as much training as possible to keep our nation safe.
Indiana is the "Crossroads of America." If we are to continue to live up to this name we must continue to ensure that Indiana's roads and highways along with the rest of the country's pathways provide drivers with the ultimate experience. Let’s build roads that don’t pollute our water and leave a significantly smaller carbon footprint than traditional road structures; roads that last three times as long and take less time to build. Here’s the bottom line: states cannot raise the tax revenue needed in order to fix nationwide infrastructure issues. The federal government must step in to assist state’s with planning, funding, and fixing America’s half century-old railroads, tunnels, and ports. When our infrastructure isn’t healthy...when ships and trucks can’t get to where they need to go because of inadequate ports and locks and dams and railways...when people can’t get to work because the railroad has shut down, our economy suffers. It’s very simple. This is why we must be several steps ahead of the weathering process and other forms of deterioration; and we need to invest in using better materials that don’t pollute our land, water, and air. Now, there are only two ways to grow an economy: an increase in employment or in productivity. With good infrastructure we will have both, bar none. In 2018, the American Society of Civil Engineers stated that 35% of the United States transit tracks were not in good condition. They also reported that 1 in every 5 miles of highway were not in good condition; that’s more than 32,000 miles of our national highway system. Now, I can attest to that because I’ve hit a few potholes in my life and had to pay for the repairs. In the same year, the ASCE rated our bridges structurally deficient. They provided an overall estimated price tag of $4.5 trillion over the next 10 years. While I may not know exactly how we’re going to provide that kind of relief, as a future member of Congress can work with my colleagues to create legislation that makes things like the permitting process less restrictive, so we can get more projects started. One thing is for sure: If we don’t do something right now, we not only risk our economy, but more importantly, we risk the lives of those who access these roads and bridges every day. As your future U.S. Senator here’s what I intend to work on with regard to infrastructure:
The industry is changing and so is the demand. We need to focus on the REAL unemployment rate and equip people with better training in technology. Employees shouldn't face immediate termination in the face of new technology, but should be given a chance to learn how to operate it. I will also work hard to make it difficult for employers to terminate employees at certain times of the year and under certain circumstances. It has been proclaimed since before the pandemic that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created jobs and significantly reduced the unemployment rate. For the purposes of this section, I will now address the unemployment rate, its impact and what it meant for American jobs. The unemployment rate dropped because the Trump administration was aggressive about making tax deals that would benefit corporations in exchange for hiring more workers who would also become tax paying individuals. The hope was that if corporations are taxed less they have more of an incentive to hire more workers. The problem with this model is that it places a band aid on a much bigger problem. The bigger problem is that we don’t focus enough attention on the REAL unemployment rate which includes millions of individuals who could be working but are not for various reasons. It doesn’t include people who have been discriminated against for whatever reason, ones who are in search of full-time work but can’t find it, discouraged workers, etc. The general unemployment rate only includes people that are “so-called” able to work and are actively searching for a job. It is absolutely ludicrous to continue focusing on this number when it doesn’t reflect the real situation. When we understand the REAL unemployment rate then we can begin putting together a plan that addresses the nation’s potential workforce in an efficient way; one that prepares a new generation of workers for an increasingly technologically advanced society. One of the things I promise to work with the President on is not only job creation, but new jobs creation. Which brings me to my next point: It should absolutely be against the law to immediately fire workers and leave them out in the cold solely because of new technology. Our workers who make up the middle class deserve better treatment. This is why upon my election to the U.S. Senate, I promise to work on legislation that protects workers whose companies use and abuse them, and then cast them off and replace them with robots. I understand companies are trying to save money and reduce tax expenditure, but I also understand greed, and that when it comes to it, there’s no satisfying anybody, only exploitation and control. Automation isn’t the enemy, greed is. Our country is absolutely dependent on the middle class because these are the ones who download music, take temporary vacations, buy goods and services, etc. The development and maintenance of a large middle class is what sets America aside from countries plagued by poverty. I don’t have any interest in supporting or providing compassion to companies, especially foreign ones, that come to the United States to exploit its workers only to fire them and leave them destitute. If foreign companies and businesses can’t value our culture and tradition, and how we treat our workers then they need to get the hell out of here right now and make-way for those who will. In America, we value our workers. We treat them with dignity and respect. They have freedoms and livelihoods that employers must take into consideration; and if they’re not going to do that willingly, then they will be forced to, which brings me to my next point in support of unions. Unions. To give up on the American dream would be un-American. All workers have it. As a member of Congress, I promise to support unions because they make it easier to acquire the dream. Unions are in the fight of the century and they are going to need someone strong and bold to lead them because the fight is about automation. Employers across this country believe they are going to get rid of human workers. Not on my watch. It will not be easy under my tenure because every machine they intend to replace you with will now be met with a list of criteria to meet, along with a list of rules and regulations. No other candidate has promised to do that. Now, it’s been estimated that up to 375 million people globally will need to find entirely new kinds of jobs by 2030 due to automation and being replaced by machines. Says who? Employers must be held accountable for keeping with automation so that workers can be prepared to take on new roles instead of being terminated. Now, I will demand they get started on this right now because if they think they’re going to just kick employees to the curb they’ve got another thing coming. It was the labor movement and working people that built this country. We must never forget. Non-union members just don’t understand and many don’t appreciate they have a blood right that’s been bought and paid for by people long before them, decades ago, who fought with their blood, sweat, and tears for fairness and safety in the workplace who aren’t thanked nearly enough for what they did! They wanted to make sure that the supervisors, the managers, and the owners of companies didn’t get to choose how to boss workers around. American companies and industries should already know better than to mess with American workers and their pensions, but I’m afraid greed continues to stand in the way and must be continually subdued. Nothing has changed as far as Americans working hard. What has changed is the diversity of the 1% rich rising to the occasion every time to take advantage of American workers so they have to put up with things like small wages, working in hazardous conditions without hazardous pay, and less time to spend with family and friends. Unions have attempted to do nothing more than to make a way for companies to make money and still be fair to their employees. I’m calling on all unions, especially those in Indiana to support my campaign. Because it’s time we work together and build fairer termination policies for all. I want to work with unions to create legislation that protects workers from being terminated at certain times of the year and those who are faced with certain life circumstances. My stepfather was a proud union member. As a worker for United States Steel for over 20 years, I witnessed as a child how the union came to his aid when he had troubles along the way. I remember hearing about it at the dinner table. I want those who read this policy to know that, as a future member of the U.S. Senate, unions have a friend in me. I will be there with them from beginning to end in this fight against automation replacement every step of the way and together, we will win! Quality of Jobs, Quality Pay and Paid Family and Medical Leave. Finally, I wish to address job-quality, quality of pay and paid family medical leave. The Brookings Institution, a non-partisan research foundation reported back in December 2019 that although America’s unemployment rate was at a half-century low, it had a job-quality problem affecting nearly half the population with a study finding that 44% of U.S. workers were employed in low-wage jobs. This makes it impossible for Americans to get ahead and improve their quality of life as members of the middle class. We must work with companies and employers across the nation to produce legislation that institutes mandatory increases in pay. My opponent, Senator Todd Young remains strongly opposed to minimum wage increases as he works to protect his friends on Wall Street. That’s easy for him to defend when he’s bringing in close to $200K a year as a member of Congress and millions in campaign contributions. I am beyond minimum wage, as I am a strong advocate for livable wages. I am a hard-working individual with two jobs: one full-time and one part-time. Additionally, I am a business owner and operator of my own social service. Upon my election to Congress, I have every intention of keeping my jobs and I hope my employers will agree, not just because I love my jobs, but because that way, I understand the everyday struggles of hard-working Americans and what they go through just to put food on their tables. Paid Family and Medical Leave. I am in full support of automatic paid family and medical leave. People shouldn’t have to choose between their job, their health, and their family. I support paid family medical leave when individuals are able to meet the existing legal requirements for up to four months. This can be paid through payroll taxes funded by the employee and the employer. Additionally, I am in support of states who have already implemented their own paid family and medical leave programs.
I believe in the federal legalization of marijuana and additionally, any further research and study into naturally occurring remedies. Additionally, Big Pharma and the FDA must invest more time, attention and energy into researching naturally occurring medicines with reduced side effects. In 2018, a statewide survey by Ball State University revealed that more than 80 percent of Hoosiers want marijuana legalized. The question then to ask is: where does it leave society when those who are elected to represent the public no longer have the motivation to do so? My opponent, Senator Todd Young is in no position to support the federal legalization of marijuana because he continually receives legal bribes (campaign contributions) from Big Pharma. In 2018, he received close to $50,000 from them and since 2007, over hundreds of thousands of dollars. How can he possibly help this cause? What Hoosiers and Americans need are politicians who believe the legalization of marijuana is a national issue, not a state one. Nearly 83+ years ago (from 2020) marijuana became prohibited in the U.S. and where has that prohibition gotten us? A patchwork quilt of legal, not legal, and an otherwise confusing and contradictory system. It’s also gotten us billions of dollars in illegal asset seizures, millions incarcerated in private prisons, less funding for our schools, more funding for prisons, a militarized police force, and thousands of unsolved murder mysteries because when police could be focused on solving real crimes their locking people up for petty drug offenses. Instead of building more prisons we need more treatment facilities, like the Fayette County Harm Reduction Alliance center in Connersville, IN. I promise to support these facilities (See Prison Reform). As a nation, when we have a so-called “war on drugs” and have instead developed a disproportionate criminal system that continues to lock people up and throw away the key for selling small amounts of marijuana while letting big time execs go free after they’ve been caught red-handed money laundering for drug cartels (HSBC, 2012), we owe it to the American people to reevaluate that system and correct it. As we continue to see a rise in death from much more dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, we must be willing to shift our focus. Alcohol remains the most dangerous drug in the world, even more dangerous than ecstasy and yet, it’s legal and purchasable everywhere you go. Every 19-20 minutes someone in the world dies from an overdose on a legal, FDA-approved, pharmaceutical drug as reported by Dr. Michael Botticelli, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (2014). Another 90,000 die from legally purchased alcohol per year and 443,000 die from legally purchased cigarettes (Centers for Disease Control). Are you kidding me? President Nixon was one of the first presidents who received a medical report on marijuana which stated marijuana was not harmful. I’m reminded of a true story about a seven-year-old boy who was succumbed by seizures. For years his father was provided with every type of pharmaceutical drug you could possibly imagine for treatment and none of it worked. At seven years old he was addicted to benzodiazepines. Anyone unfamiliar with this type of drug should know how dangerous and addictive it can be. His father decided to invest in CBD, an oil derived from the plant and in a very short amount of time he saw some amazing results. For the first time in that little boy's life he was able to get some relief. This is just one reason why we must demand legalization and not take no for an answer. It has so many other health benefits we can’t possibly count them all: relief from anxiety, emotional disorders, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, cataracts, down syndrome, muscle spasms, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, colitis, nausea, pain, migraines, arthritis, and so much more. Congress must quit playing and pass legislation that makes this substance legal in all 50 states. Now, we’ve managed to legalize hemp and CBD derived from it to a certain degree (via The Farm Bill), but there’s so much more work that needs to be done, which is why as your future U.S. Senator I intend to work on the following upon my immediate election to Congress:
I come from a family of veterans. I will work every day to ensure that our soldiers...past, present, and future, have everything they need. Period. On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, I laid my dear uncle to rest. Theotis Hubbard enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 1, 1968. He was wounded in battle and granted both a Purple Heart, the highest military honor available and the Medal of Honor, an award only given to those who put their lives at risk above and beyond the call of duty. Additionally, my mother, father, half-sister, cousin and a host of childhood friends all served in the United States Army proudly. This is why I can pause, respect and appreciate the efforts my opponent, Senator Todd Young, a veteran himself, has made to make veteran’s lives that much more comfortable. John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is what our soldiers do for Americans each day and night, even though they don’t know us all. The decision to give up one’s life for an entire population must be continually regarded and appreciated. I can tell you the day and the hour it dawned on me to appreciate soldiers so much more. When I was just 16, I accidentally enrolled myself in my high-school’s ROTC program (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). I’m not ashamed to say I didn’t last two weeks. Perhaps, too spoiled at the time, but I can say that by the end of that week, I learned more about self-discipline and self-sacrifice more than I ever would have in my entire adult life. So all I can say when I see a soldier is thank you. Thank you for the countless hours you spend training for our safety and the thousands of miles you walk each day for freedom. With nearly 3+ million employees, deployments around the world, and ongoing conflicts in foreign lands, not only must our military be prepared, but they must be equipped to respond to national security crises at any given time. In 2019, I held an event honoring Hoosier veterans in Northwest Indiana. All soldiers, past, present, and future can expect this same type of dedication and energy to come from me in Washington. Therefore, upon my election to the U.S. Senate, I promise to work on the following for them:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration team is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Combined, this research and space exploration program is vital for the maintenance of life on earth and the advancement of humans in the universe. As a child, the first thing I wanted to be when I grew up was an astronaut. Although my desire for what I wanted to be often changed my admiration and support for the team and space exploration have remained the same. The Trump Administration provided a 12% increase in funding for NASA bumping it up to $25 billion. As a future member of the United States Senate, I intend to support the program as well, however NASA must be a purpose driven agency guided by clear goals and expectations. It must also be held accountable for these same goals and expectations. We have come a long way since the first landing on the moon. I look forward to supporting NASA in their venture to land the first woman on the moon by 2024. As a future member of the U.S. Senate, here’s how I plan to support NASA:
Nuclear weapons do not discriminate between military personnel and civilians; they cause environmental devastation and genetic damage that affects future generations. I think we can all agree that a world free of nuclear weapons is a world free of the possibility of the annihilation of mankind. I promise to work toward building cooperation and trust amongst our allies and leaders of foreign nations to achieve safety and security worldwide. I will start by stating I believe in a world that’s free from nuclear weapons and threat, however, since that will most likely not occur because they already exist, I am a proponent for shifting the purpose of these weapons to be used towards a greater goal of preserving life on Earth. Pointing these weapons at each other is senseless and should be regarded as something only primitive and less civilized nations do because they don’t yet understand the extent of damage they cause. Take for example what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where in 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb. This is a painful memory in America’s history because even after the bomb killed hundreds of thousands on first impact, it killed countless more from the jaw-dropping radioactive fallout which was deposited all over the world. The lesson to take from Hiroshima and Nagasaki is that there is no way to cause nuclear destruction without it impacting the rest of the world. Instead of pointing nuclear weapons at each other, we should be working collectively and internationally with NASA, to repurpose them for interception of celestial bodies and extraterrestrial events which may unfortunately occur in our universe someday. Therefore, as a member of the United States Senate, I intend to work with my colleagues on the following:
I will work hard to ensure that social services remain for those truly in need and help create sustainable individuals and communities. When my grandmother relocated from Laurel, Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois during the Great Migration of African-Americans in the mid 1900s, she didn’t know it would be the beginning of her poverty. She was bright-eyed and bushy tailed along with more than 6 million other African-Americans who thought coming to the Midwest would give them relief from racism and provide job opportunities. Instead, she was met with greater hostilities in a much harsher environment. Little did she know, it would take another three decades before her children would finally grow up, get good jobs and move her to a better life away from the ghettos of Chicago into the Illinois suburbs. I highlight my grandmother’s experience because it’s proof to me that more than likely, when poverty hits, it does so unanticipated and unexpected. In 2018, MarketWatch reported that just 39% of Americans have enough savings to cover an unexpected bill, emergency room visit or car repair. As pay raises continue to stagnate and legislators neglect to prioritize minimum wage increases and the need for livable wages (See Jobs & Minimum Wage Section), millions of Americans remain 1-2 paychecks away from living on the street. Forty million Americans remain in poverty while millions remain homeless, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. About 8 million Americans live with others because of high housing costs. In Los Angeles, California, the homeless capital of the world, there are entire parking lots dedicated to people living in their cars. While the current administration (2020) touts the rate of homelessness and poverty is decreasing, more than 3.5 million Americans remain living on the streets or in a shelter, with 40,000 of them being veterans. This is unacceptable. When I was still in law school, I founded a charitable for-profit organization known as Midwest Center for Social Services, LLC. Its purpose is to provide legal assistance and mental health services at a reduced or discounted rate to low-income individuals, families, and small businesses. We have helped hundreds of low-income individuals across this country, from coast to coast find the help they need by simply reducing costs or making it free. As small as my business remains in comparison to the U.S. government and its resources, my question as a U.S. Senator would be this: How can we (the government) help reduce our poverty rate and homelessness so that people have a place to live and can afford the goods and services they so desperately need? Therefore, these are the things I promise to work on upon my election with regard to poverty and homelessness in America:
We must stop allowing our children to be sent to adult prisons. Additionally, we must put an end to the capitalization of mass incarceration. It starts with a close look at the level of offenses and sentences. The entire cash bail system needs overhauling. Our present offenders need more rehabilitation and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. Ex-offenders must be protected from offender discrimination and voting rights must be considered. 4,500...that’s the number of children housed in adult jails on any given day in America (Equal Justice Initiative, 2017). In my early 20’s I was fortunate to be a youth minister and with my church group I often visited juvenile detention centers and provided bible study and encouragement to several talented young people. My hope was that eventually they would mature and some day contribute back to society. Unfortunately, although all states have the ability to house children in juvenile detention centers, many of them choose not to. One of the things I promise to do as a senator is get to the bottom of this by creating and supporting legislation that keeps children separate from adults. It is a proven fact that the ability to make good choices lies in the frontal lobe of the brain which has not been given a chance to develop in our children. They must be given a second chance at life and the opportunity to expunge their records and succeed. As a law student, I got a chance to build a city-wide teen court from scratch that helped prevent recidivism in our teens. I’m here to tell you they have the ability to grow and be better. They are counting on us (as adults) to put them on the right track. The second thing we need to address is 18 U.S.C. 924 (c) which makes it possible for prosecutors to give the harshest sentences for the lowest offenses. This law allows federal prosecutors to massively increase sentencing for a crime of violence or for drugs. The Eighth Amendment protects us against cruel and unusual punishment. It’s time for legislators to get serious about reforming mandatory minimum sentences and how they needlessly lock people up for decades and decades. My plan is to meet with experts in the field and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to see what type of legislation can be introduced to attack this problem. The third thing we must address is the cash bail system. The cash bail system criminalizes poverty and disproportionately impacts communities of color. Three out of 5 people in U.S. jails have not been convicted of any crime but are kept in pre-trial detention because they can’t afford to get out. Spending even a few days in jail can result in people losing their houses, their jobs, and even custody of their children. Additionally, persons needing bail are already being treated as prisoners as they have most likely been deprived of their personal property (due process issue). I promise to support and create legislation where prosecutors must prove the need for continued detention (presumption of release) and limits qualifying offenses for detention to only the most serious ones. The fourth thing we must address is the status of private prisons in this country. While I am not inclined to support private prisons I do understand the need to house dangerous lawbreakers. However, I am against cutting costs at the expense of treating prisoners inhumanely. Additionally, I am opposed to tactics used secretly by private prisons to increase their prison population, such as lobbying congressmen and women to vote for harsher laws and penalties along with longer prison sentences. As a senator, I promise to support picks for the Office of the Inspector General who are neutral and remain independent; ones who can be good overseers of prisons. Upon my election to the senate, I also intend to work on the following items:
Reparations is the act of “repairing” something. In this case, we address repairing the African-American generational wealth gap created by the conditions and longevity of slavery and the Jim Crow Era. More research and advice from experts is needed in this area to address the following: type of legislation and if more groups should be added to the benefit and for what reasons. Finally, on the national level, these same experts must address the argument of how reparations may be ruinously expensive. Nearly 400,000...this is the amount of African slaves that arrived in North America between 1525 and 1866 in the slave trade. According to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, 12.5 million Africans were shipped and 10.7 million survived the treacherous journey. I am a descendant of enslaved Africans myself. My DNA proves the story as an African-American, African blood still runs healthily through my veins from various parts of Africa, mostly from Benin & Togo. I grew up in an interracial home after my mother remarried my stepfather who was a white Polish-American. I often joke about how my home cooked dinners were sometimes greens and cornbread, but many times pierogies and other Polish foods surrounded the table. Although I find it odd that reparations never came up during dinnertime, I believe my stepfather (at the time) may have been in much favor as he was extremely familiar with the African American struggle to achieve in society. There is an argument that exists which states because there are so many details to work out about who’s responsible for paying, how much is to be given, and who exactly gets it, and that this is somehow a reason to entirely dismiss the idea of reparations. I disagree. There are countless times in our American history, beginning with our forefathers, where we have painfully figured out the score; and it didn’t take years or decades, just a few sleepless nights and cups of coffee to figure out whatever it was that was needed. There is another argument that providing reparations to African-Americans would somehow cripple the U.S. economy. I also disagree. The largest bailout in U.S. history just happened this year (2020) in the largest-ever financial stimulus package worth $2 trillion for the coronavirus pandemic. But before that money was given, the American Automobile Industry, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, AIG, the airline industry, and Chrysler, all received compensation from our government which amounted to billions upon billions of dollars. There is another argument that because the Portuguese, the Dutch and other Europeans, along with Arabs, South Americans and even Africans were all included in the slave trade then it’s simply too many to hold accountable and therefore, again, we should just forget about it. I disagree for obvious reasons. Another argument is that reparations would simply provide too much power to those giving it and would simply reinforce the idea of dependency. I will not address this argument because it’s simply madness. Last but certainly not least, the most popular argument is that because slavery happened so long ago and no one who is currently living is responsible then it should not be addressed. I would argue there are several ethnic groups which have received some form of compensation and reparations in this country for things that happened long ago, such as reparations for the Native Americans, the Native Hawaiians, the individuals in the dreadful Tuskegee Experiments, and of course, the Japanese descendants. There is no other excuse not to give African-Americans reparations. Now, reparations will be given, it’s just a matter of when and how. They could have been provided to African-Americans quite some time ago if it weren’t for the monstrous acts of President Andrew Johnson who reversed the proclamation to provide family units and freed slaves with 40 acres and a mule after the Civil War, but Congress made no attempts to obstruct him. I conclude, it is not only irresponsible to disagree with reparations, but unpatriotic and un-American. There exists a foundation of racism in this country that has allowed segregation to reach into every aspect of American life creating inequities that make it impossible for African-Americans to financially advance collectively even when they have education. The evidence is overwhelming. The playing field must be leveled. The only thing that remains encouraging is how much African-Americans have accomplished in this country without very little advantage at all. Therefore, as the future U.S. Senator of Indiana, I intend to work with my colleagues in Congress and experts on the following:
I will work hard with the President and Congress to ensure that this legislation remains for as long as possible while we explore new options and ways and means to secure a more affordable retirement for everyone. For decades now, the social security system in this country has existed as an agreement between the generations to financially support one another. Before the social security program older people were either supported by their children or lived in what we called “poorhouses” for seniors. Now, I’ve traveled to developing nations and seen firsthand what it’s like for a country to be without a social security program; without a program to assist seniors and disabled persons. It’s not pretty. Social security remains the foundation of economic security for millions in this country. In 2019, 63+ million Americans collected social security. It’s hard to imagine what they would have done without it. With people living longer now more than ever it’s going to be important to make sure the social security program stays replenished and preserved. Unlike my opponent, Todd Young, I don’t see a need to reform the program, but to simply ensure that it fulfills its original purpose and that we’re ready for the surge of baby boomers which will be eligible for benefits between 2010 and 2030. We also need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to add to the labor force and create new sources of revenue so that we can be sure to meet the number of future beneficiaries without raising payroll taxes. We must not forget. It was after seeing the impact of the Great Depression on millions of Americans’ lives that President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted social security in 1935. It was for the elderly, the unemployed, and the disadvantaged based on a lifetime of work. It’s what allowed my grandmother, Annie Mae Robinson from Laurel, Mississippi, to have hope in raising her seven children alone after my grandfather died. President Roosevelt created what he believed would be a perfect, permanent financial net system for Americans. It’s not much, but it’s more than what Americans would have had if they chose to live in many parts of the world. As a future U.S. Senator, it would be my proud duty to:
This is the real crisis. Sexually transmitted diseases continue to rise due to drug use, poverty, unstable housing, and reduced access to sex education. Each year nearly 20 million more people are infected with some type of STD in the U.S. With the advice of experts in the field this epidemic should be targeted and greatly reduced through the development of medicines and new systems of monitoring. The first step is prevention. Although there is broad support for it, many young people are still not receiving the sex education they need in this country. For example, sex education is not mandated in Indiana. Lucky for me, I partially spent my high school years in Tucker, Georgia where it was. By the time I became an adult I knew how beneficial it would be for me to practice restraint and/or use protection. One of the things I hope to do as a legislator is to advocate for evidence-based education which will provide our youth with the tools they need in order to make informed decisions. A study recently published by the Guttmacher Institute found that fewer youth now more than ever are being provided with timely sex education and information. Why is that? Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect individuals of all ages, but particularly young people aged 15-24. These youth make up just over one quarter of the sexually active population, but account for half of the 20 million new infections in the U.S. per year. As a legislator, I hope to help advocate and provide funding for health centers and programs which take a proactive approach in providing testing and information to various communities in the United States, in addition to supporting the following:
Student loan debt includes nearly $1.5+ trillion dollars borrowed from over 43 million Americans. Cancelling this debt means someone else picking up the tab: (US) taxpayers. This is not the answer. Let’s start by creating legislation that brings special attention to this type of debt by making it special from all others. Let’s change the law allowing students to discharge this type of debt in bankruptcy, expand the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and get colleges and universities in on bearing some of the risk when students default on their loans or can’t find a job that aligns with their field of study. Decades ago, a man by the name of Dwight Eisenhower had a desire to go to college and get a higher education, but like so many of us, he was unable to afford it. Him and his brother made a pact to take alternate years at college while the other one worked to earn the tuitions. I think that’s why in 1958, in Dwight’s second term of office as President of the United States he signed into law the National Defense Education Act of 1958, making it possible for millions to borrow money from the federal government to achieve their educational goals. Now, since then the program has evolved multiple times, but the goal remains the same: to provide a higher education to millions of Americans who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford it. The problem is that demand drives up costs, and unfortunately that’s what happened with college expenses. Each year, college costs continue to rise and students take out more and more loans to meet their needs while they complete class requirements. In 2019, it was reported that altogether students owe a whopping $1.6 trillion. There’s no doubt, we are facing a national student loan debt crisis. Here’s some things that will help solve this problem:
Now, my opponent, Todd Young, believes income-share agreements are the solution to the rise in student loan debt. An income-share agreement is where a student’s education program is funded entirely by a private entity with the hope that when the student graduates, the student will then work and generate revenue and pay back, in some cases, 2.5 times the amount of their coursework over a period of time that may last longer than the entire education program itself. Sounds more like an indentured-servant program to me and one that forces students to bet against themselves. The bottom line is this: people should never be punished for wanting to get or acquire a higher education in America. Why? Because we want the most bright, the most educated, and the most talented individuals for the purposes of innovation, progress, and to maintain our worldwide leadership. So, while my standard for taking responsibility will simply not allow me to side with completely canceling student loan debt for everyone, I can promise to hold colleges accountable for their promises and their tuitions, support income-driven repayment plans, work to ensure student loan debt can be discharged in bankruptcy, and fight day and night with my colleagues for livable wages, because that’s how we solve this problem.
Everyone wants the benefits of paying taxes without paying them. The bottom line is this: If you want a better life you must pay your taxes! I believe in a proportional tax system with exemptions for low-income families and qualifying credits for those who may qualify. America was founded on a tax revolt. Colonists, led by Thomas Jefferson penned a letter to the King of England which became the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, describing the reason for the revolt: “imposing taxes without consent.” Fast forward nearly 250 years and here the government lies imposing its own taxes on its own citizens without their consent. Benjamin Franklin is known for his quote: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” Now, Americans are paying a lot of taxes: income tax, payroll tax (local, state and federal), taxes on their vehicles and other forms of property, sales tax, estate tax (on death), excise tax, travel tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and the list goes on and on, and then someone had the nerve to try and impose a healthcare tax penalty. With each new presidency, taxes seem to evolve into a more complex system and network making it almost impossible for the average American to understand. Now, some will argue we need to work towards simplicity. I say, it’s too late for that. We’ve come a long way from simplicity, since 1776. We have social welfare programs now that people are dependent on, NASA, national defense, and many other things we must continue to fund. Therefore, a better solution for a future Congress would be to do everything in their power to prevent the tax code from becoming any more complicated. As a future U.S. Senator, I promise to do this, along with supporting broadened tax brackets with lowered individual income tax rates as it stands (2020). Additionally, I agree to support the following:
It is equally as important to protect ourselves from both international and domestic terrorism. We eliminate one terrorist leader only for them to be replaced by a greater one. Creating a martyr is not my idea of victory. We must do more. To that end, we must not only rid these groups of their terrorist leaders but we must prevent the rise of new ones. We do that by preventing the spread of their message, eliminating their resources as much as possible and developing new, strategic ways of stopping them from acquiring followers. The events of September 11, 2001 ensured that terrorism would continue to dominate discussions in the opening decades of the 21st century. Almost 3,000 people died that day from acts of terror including hundreds of police officers and firefighters. Shortly after, it was President George W. Bush who initiated a “war on terror” that’s been with us even until today. Since then, the United States has been engaged in a campaign to eliminate terror right where it begins. However, in doing so, we must not forget other forms of terrorism which take place right here at home on American soil. I believe both international and domestic terrorism should be prioritized. To that end, as a U.S. Senator I intend to support the following:
Election fraud is a matter of national security. In the words of Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, "We fight, get beat, rise and fight again." We cannot give up addressing it, but we should stop relying on those who depend on it to win to advocate for change. If we spend millions of dollars on space exploration then we can spend millions exploring how to better our democracy! I am not against the electoral college more than I am for the efforts to innovate it and move towards establishing a national popular vote interstate agreement. Gerrymandering should be against the law and HAVA (The Help America Vote Act) should be amended to include standards and better security. While we develop greater research into online voting, paper ballots should be used in conjunction with electronic records followed by post-election audits. The Electoral College. The electoral college was established in Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution. The way a state’s electors vote in a presidential election is dependent on who wins most of the votes in that elector’s state. The problem with this system is that while some may argue it works well to represent states with smaller populations, it does very little to represent America as a whole. As a U.S. Senator, I promise to support legislation in favor of popular vote interstate agreements because only these will ensure that a voter in Gary, IN, for example, is just as relevant as a voter in Los Angeles, CA. The electoral college is a system that must not be entirely eliminated, but innovated and updated by and through constitutionally appropriate state-based actions. National popular vote compacts would ensure that winners of presidential elections would at least be individuals most Americans favored. Gerrymandering. Now, ideally we want representatives to “represent” the political views of people across a geographic location or area. I believe in perfectly proportional representation as was intended by our founding fathers. However, some believe that if they are in control that gives them the ability to unfairly create districts and/or draw up district maps that would be neither compact nor fair, giving advantage to themselves. As a future U.S. Senator I intend to work diligently with experts in the field and my colleagues to create and introduce legislation which would provide that partisan gerrymandering is unacceptable and must be countered with national standards. Finally, I intend to support greater research and development into new online voting systems which would be safer and more secure, allowing Americans to vote from their homes since it appears many states continue on in their negligence in the upkeep of voting equipment and remain unprepared for natural disasters, such as pandemics. Until then, I am a strong proponent of paper ballots used in conjunction with electronic records followed by post-election audits. Campaign Financing & Unlimited Spending. It is my deeply held belief that political campaigns are nothing more than organizations for individuals who want to lead in some capacity, and as long as they can raise as much funds as they need to, they should be able to have the liberty to spend it. May the best candidate win.
The United States has formally declared war against foreign nations five separate times, each upon prior request by the President of the United States. To that end, I believe the President must seek the advice and approval of congress members before initiating war or any act relative to war. Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution provides: “The Congress shall have the power to...declare war.” As a future member of the U.S. Congress, I can appreciate the fact that the United States has engaged in multiple battles and wars over time from 1775 to the present day which I believe have played a significant role in creating what we now know as the fabric of our country today. Now, only about eight wars have commenced without the President seeking Congressional approval (Truman: Korea, Eisenhower: Lebanon, Johnson: North Vietnam, Reagan: Grenada, Clinton: Serbia, Bush: Panama, Obama: Libya, Trump: ISIS, Syria). Nevertheless, I am a proponent of strengthening congressional oversight and transparency when it comes to declaring war. I’ll take it a step further by co-sponsoring and otherwise supporting legislation that demands the approval of congress for any acts relative to or likely to result in war. The purpose of providing congress with this type of power is obvious: to ensure that a great body of wisdom stands as a barrier to any U.S. president who thinks he/she can arrive in the White House with their finger on the trigger. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over authorizations for use of military force, and I believe they had intentions on replacing the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs), particularly against al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other Islamic states. With that said, I intend to support that effort along with the doing following:
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| —Haneefah Khaaliq's campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 24, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Haneefah Khaaliq for U.S. Senate, “On the Issues,” accessed March 11, 2022
