Questions for Candidates for US Congress Offices from the Conservative Coalition of Harris County

Transcription

1 Questions for Candidates for US Congress Offices from the Conservative Coalition of Harris County Our questionnaire is designed to give the candidate space to indicate their reasons and opinions concerning issues surrounding their races. This questionnaire will be posted onto the Conservative Coalition of Harris County website for public voter viewing. Candidate Name Kathaleen Wall Position for which Candidate is Running Representative, 2 nd Congressional District of Texas Please give your answer to each of the following questions and please include your rationale with each answer. Please be concise and clear CCHC PAC US Congressman Questionnaire Page 1

2 1. Please describe the qualifications and experience that make you the best candidate for position for which you are running. Growing up on a small Centerville, TX ranch, I was blessed early in life with the opportunity to learn the importance of dedication and hard work. Struggles my family and I endured taught me the meaning of never giving up, and overcoming difficulties life often presents. Such experiences also provided a foundation and motivation to reach further and achieve a higher education through sacrifice, endurance, and persistence. After graduating from Texas A&M in 1990 in Engineering Technology-Industrial Distribution, I entered the professional work force and rose the ladder during about 20 years of dedicated service in semi-conductor and computer products for distribution and manufacturing companies, providing business expansion throughout the state of Texas, and working my hardest to ensure a fair workplace for all. Having transitioned to a role as an investor and mentor, I ve had the privilege of assisting those in a similar position from which I came, providing guidance & resources during the most critical points of their lives. I have experience and know how to work with others funding high tech research and development for medical breakthrough technology. Having experienced life through the winding path God provided, I understand the economic difficulties many find themselves. I know what it takes to overcome, to reach higher, and to succeed. I know how to form teams and support them to reach a goal. And I m eager to represent Houstonians in my district by fighting to enable them to do the same. Over the past several decades, I ve participated as a leader and member of dozens of Houston-based, Conservative organizations and contributed to a variety of Conservative charitable causes throughout the entire State of Texas. To me, Conservatism isn t a buzzword. It s a way a life I believe in, practice to the fullest extent, and have a complete experiential understanding of its importance to our entire Nation. I m eager to bring common sense Conservatism back to Washington, DC; and fight for the values, causes, and needs of Houstonians first CCHC PAC US Congressman Questionnaire Page 2

3 2. Please explain what you believe are the most significant issues in this race, why you are running for this position and what differentiates you from the other candidate(s). From my experience, it s clear our leadership has lost sight of our conservative foundation. When the House & Senate can t even repeal Obamacare, we have a severe problem that requires an urgent but comprehensive fix in 5 main areas: Keep taxes low and take the burden off small businesses so we can keep job creation. Repeal Obamacare and bring down the cost of Health Care with tort reform. Stop the growth of government and realign/revamp budget priorities. Rebuild our military and ensure safety for all Americans. Secure the border, enforce immigration laws on the books and ban sanctuary cities. What differentiates me from others in this race is that I have an established record as an advocate and champion of conservative causes for about a decade. I ve experienced what it means to work hard and to reach for the American Dream in my life. And I understand what it means to have nothing, sacrifice, and overcome circumstance. I m running for Congress to bring the Conservative foundation I ve practiced and fought for my entire life to the full House of Representatives; and in so doing, represent the concerns of Houstonians in District 2 with everything I am. I m not a career politician or bureaucrat that has any interest in maintaining the status quo. I have no alignment with any special interests, and bring no allegiance to any lobbyist or corporate donor. I simply want to represent Houstonians with everything I have, and provide you with the leadership you truly deserve. 3. What will be your top 2 or 3 priorities during this upcoming term? Downsize the Federal bureaucracy and stop the growth of government by realigning our priorities: enact term limits for elected officials, fight for a balanced budget amendment, and continue to eliminate wasteful programs, departments, legislation and spending. Rebuild the flood control infrastructure in the Harris County area. Establishing a reputation of trust, honesty, doing what I say I m going to do, push for twenty-first century infrastructure for a twenty-first century Houston, adherence to Conservative principles as provided in the Constitution. 4. Please describe what you believe is the proper role for the federal government in job creation and intervention in the economy. Our government s job is simply to ensure the conditions for capitalism and conservatism are in place, and achievable for those who are willing to work hard, sacrifice, and make something better for themselves and their families then just get out of the way CCHC PAC US Congressman Questionnaire Page 3

4 5. Please describe your plan for balancing the federal budget. What budget items need to be cut (i.e. social programs) and what taxes and fees need to be increased? The only way to balance the budget (and keep it there) is to ensure a Balanced Budget Amendment is passed and thoughtfully enacted. From that point, the process purely becomes about balancing resources with needs, priorities with desires, and real services for the American people. Once the Amendment is in place: Revamp the tax code entirely and make it simple for all. Reform entitlement spending and right-size budgets across all departments. Prioritize what we need, cut what we don t, and balance spending with REAL requirements. Social programs should be converted to exit-based support, rather than a never-ending extension of entitlements that needlessly burden taxpayers. Keep a safety net for that truly need help. Some budget items for agencies that need to be eliminated or downsized include that Dept. of Education, Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Justice and the IRS. 6. Should the federal government finance and build the border wall with Mexico? It s not my first choice, I d rather Mexico pay. But I d rather spend $10B to secure our border now then deal with the problems of not securing our border. 7. Do you support defunding Sanctuary Cities? Should immigration laws be reformed? In early 2017, nearly 300 municipalities were considered to be sanctuary cities to one degree or another, including several in the state of Texas. And 61% of roughly 11 million illegals in the US live in 20 major metropolitan areas, 17 of which are considered sanctuary cities. Actions taken by local law enforcement to prevent federal agencies from deporting criminal illegals are in and of themselves illegal actions, and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Without dispute, facts show violent crime, rape, and murder, are higher in each of these 17 sanctuary cities; in large part due to their continued denial of the most basic duty of any elected official: protection of US citizens. Defunding all sanctuary cities and immediate passage of Kate s Law are a first step. 8. Do you support defunding Planned Parenthood of all federal funds? Yes, fully and immediately. Efforts by the CA judicial system to charge David Daleiden & Sandra Merritt from The Center for Medical Progress with invasion of privacy criminal complaints is truly a travesty of justice, but typical of actions taken by CA in the guise of activism over and above the law. CMP s exposure of Planned Parenthood as an agency fostering abortion, harvesting and selling infant body parts, and continually convincing women to terminate pregnancies is shocking to its very core CCHC PAC US Congressman Questionnaire Page 4

5 9. What further federal actions are needed on the War on terror? Should federal gun laws and restrictions be tightened? It s important to understand the War on terror is both an international and domestic priority, requiring decisive action on both fronts to ensure the safety of all Americans. Federally, we must also conduct intelligence gathering in a manner respectful of personal privacy, but without sacrificing the protection and safety we all deserve. Stopping terroristic acts in the planning stage, and preventing such people from entering this country in the first place should be our domestic priority. Internationally, we must continue to support and enforce the no entry ban begun by the Trump administration. If identity verification of individuals seeking immigration status is not possible, then neither should be entry. Many immigrants wait years and work very hard to achieve citizen status. Their efforts should not be diminished by equating their dreams with the motivations of those who choose to sidestep the process. Additionally, continue to enable our military leaders to conduct warfighting actions that are decisive, overwhelming, and targeted to the sources of international terrorism. Allies and coalition partners are certainly preferred. But in the case of US sovereignty and citizen safety, we may have to go it alone. When left with no other option than war itself, and diplomacy has failed, the safety of the American people must come first. Federal gun laws should not be tightened. 10. Do you believe the budget can/should be adjusted to increase military/defense spending? I think our budget should be adjusted to increase military/defense spending. We need to provide our heros the training and equipment needed to keep us safe. Through a combination of tax reform, elimination of wasteful spending, downsizing numerous components of our bloated federal bureaucracy, and elimination of non-priority departments and programs; ample resources can be reprogrammed to boost desperately needed military defense spending. When our Air Force is over 2000 pilots short of requirements, and less than 40% of service-wide aircraft are operational, we have a severe problem that must be addressed immediately. Additionally, there are many processes inside the DOD that deserve equal scrutiny, to ensure American taxpayer dollars are being used as efficiently as possible. Procurement system reform, and emphasis on realistic cost control and process efficiency must mirror efforts on the budgetary side CCHC PAC US Congressman Questionnaire Page 5

6 11. What changes should be made to the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare)? Of major importance is an understanding that Repeal and Replace are two distinctly different things. Voters elected Trump primarily on the basis of Repeal alone, and their desires need to be respected prior to any reform being considered. Facts are facts: premiums and deductibles have at least doubled, competition is gone, enrollment is less than ½ of estimates, you can t keep your doctor, you can t keep your plan, almost 20M Americans either pay penalties or have an exemption from Obamacare entirely, and billions have been spent on websites that don t work. Upon repeal, $1.8T is returned to the American taxpayer over 10 years. Further 75% of those noted by Democrats as having health care callously ripped away from them if Obamacare were repealed, would stop using it on their own anyway if given the choice; as their primary motivation for using Obamacare coverage are mandates and penalties they d face if they did not. Once repeal is enacted, then fellow House Members can together find a conservative solution that addresses the real problem, and enables free market health care reform work for us all. Focus should be on lowering the cost of healthcare by tort reform and reforming the FDA. 12. Should Congress appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Uranium One sale? Truth be told, I can t believe a special prosecutor hasn t already been convened, for Uranium One, Hilary s scandal, and a variety of other related issues. It s clear that 9 separate Uranium One investors funneled $145M to the Clinton Foundation. Further, a Russian investment bank paid $500K to Bill Clinton for a speech shortly after Russians announced their intentions to join the deal. The FBI also uncovered evidence that several Russian officials were engaged in bribery and extortion, including contributions to the Clinton Foundation while Hilary was Secretary of State. If the facts already revealed don t motivate a special prosecutor, I don t know what does. However more at stake here is the reputation continued inaction gives to the American judicial system, and that there is a double standard in place for people in power, as compared to everyone else. From the direct to the indirect, all facets of this issue remain something Americans demand resolution to via a special prosecutor. BY RETURNING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE, THE CANDIDATE ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBLITY FOR ALL ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THE ANSWERS ON THE FOREGOING REFLECT THE CANDIDATE S BEST EFFORTS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTIONNAIRE HONESTLY AND DIRECTLY. PLEASE SAVE YOUR COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE TO YOUR LOCAL MACHINE IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE ANY TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO IT BACK. Once this questionnaire has been completed, please it to: alex@cchc-pac.org * Please note: You must return your questionnaire from the address to which it was sent. Questionnaires returned from any other address will be considered fraudulent and will not be recorded and no answers will be published in the voter s guide. CCHC-PAC deems a return from the proper address as authentication of the correct respondent CCHC PAC US Congressman Questionnaire Page 6