What do you believe is the number one issue facing Hoosiers today, and how will you work to address that in Washington?
My top priority in Congress will be to put aside partisan arguments and focus on job creation. I am convinced that if we send people to Washington who understand working peoples’ need for jobs we can refocus Congress on what matters most. As a working mom with a fresh perspective on politics, I decided to run for Congress because the partisanship in Washington wasn’t working for working families in Southern Indiana.
One of the first votes I hope to face is the Bring Jobs Home Act, which cuts taxes for companies that bring jobs back to America and eliminates the tax breaks that help companies ship jobs oversees. I look forward to supporting such legislation, as it’s the kind of commonsense, job-focused bill that is missing in Washington.
We must also build a strong economic foundation so that the prosperity we enjoyed is passed down to our children. Washington seems to have lost track of this commitment. As someone who benefited enormously from public education offered here in Indiana, I am committed to long-term investments in education to make sure our children are able to compete for the jobs of the future.
What are your views on job creation and economic development?
As a jobs-placement specialist, I know there is nothing more important than investing in our economy and ensuring that everyone has a decent job and hope for the future. We need new strategies to help grow good-paying jobs in the 9th District. That’s why I laid out my vision to accomplish that goal in my jobs plan.
First, I will work with business, labor, and communities to launch a new, regional job-creation strategy to bring sustainable, good-paying jobs to the 9th District, including biotechnology innovation, renewable and green-energy development, and infrastructure improvement. I will fight to make sure the 9th District gets its fair share of federal dollars that create new jobs. I will push for job training to help laid-off workers recover from the recession so they can remain competitive in the 21st Century economy. I will support funding for research and development so we can sell new products in the world market. I will fight for a level playing field by closing tax loopholes for big corporations so small businesses can compete. And, I will work to improve our public schools, universities, community colleges, and technical training programs to build a highly competitive workforce for the future.
I understand what people who have been victimized by downsizing or who have had their jobs shipped overseas are going through because my own family experienced economic hardship when I was growing up in rural Indiana. Most of us are just a job loss away from disaster, and I hear stories every day in the district about families who are hurt by current Congressional policies. I will listen then work to make the 9th District strong and vibrant economically—the way we know it can be if we just work together in the right direction.
How should Congress work to provide incentives to keep American jobs from going overseas?
I support offering tax cuts to companies that create jobs here at home and ending tax breaks for those that ship jobs overseas. I hope one of my first votes in Congress will be for the Bring Jobs Home Act, which will change our tax code to favor companies who create, not outsource, jobs. This commonsense bill protects taxpayers from paying for the outsourcing of huge corporations.
We also must get serious now about making sure we can compete for the jobs of the future. Re-training programs, public education, and Pell grants are some of the best investments we can make in our long-term economic security. Our children deserve to be left with as good a chance in the world as we were given, and I simply cannot understand why politicians in Washington keep trying to de-fund public education. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Indiana’s public schools, and I will fight to make sure they offer the same opportunities to all of our children.
In what ways would you promote and advertise what Indiana has to offer to leaders of other states?
Growing up as a part of my family’s gas station showed me the true meaning of being a Hoosier: hard work, cooperation, perseverance, commitment to family, and service to the community. My family worked together and taught me to appreciate the Hoosier values that are now so central to my understanding of the world, and these are the values I take with me wherever I go.
The lifetime I have spent in Indiana – serving as Miss Indiana, running a youth shelter, and working at Indiana University – has exposed me to an incredible cross-section of the state. I have seen the many assets we have to offer: from our incredible public university system to our strong communities. And I will bring this lifetime of experience to my work representing Indiana’s 9th District in Washington.
Representing Indiana and the friendly, hardworking, down-to-Earth people who call it home will be an honor and a privilege. I will do everything within my power to show the rest of the country how the Hoosier spirit of hard work, perseverance, and community can contribute to a 21st-century America. I hope to model Hoosier commonsense and values in Congress – bringing a practical approach to the problems facing our country and showing other representatives what it means to be a Hoosier.
How do you think our nation should tackle its national debt problem while continuing to provide essential services?
For much of my professional life, I have balanced budgets to make ends meet at the non-profit organizations for which I worked. Therefore, I know what it takes: a clear sense of priorities and a willingness to make tough choices.
My opponent and I agree that we absolutely must address our national debt so that we don’t leave our children and future generations worse off. However, we disagree on how to do it. My focus will be on preserving investments in our children and protections for the most vulnerable. I am concerned that my opponent’s priority will be tax cuts for the wealthy and giveaways to Wall Street and oil companies. Ultimately, how we balance our debt is a matter of priorities and must be a reflection of our values.
We have to balance our budget in a smart way, preserving investments in our future growth. The Ryan-Young plan to cut funding for education and student loans is not only a violation of our values, it simply doesn’t make economic sense as it calls to cut our budget in the short-run but undermines our long-term growth and ability to pay for our debt in the future.
With this in mind, we must find some cuts to make. We must maintain the most powerful army on Earth, but eliminate waste and abuse in the defense budget to ensure we have the resources we need for other programs. We must also increase revenue to continue our investments in education and infrastructure. I support letting tax cuts expire on couples making more than $250,000, ending tax breaks for oil companies, taxing financial speculation, and creating a new tax bracket for those earning more than $1 million.
As a part of the debt-ceiling deal last year, $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts will begin January 1, 2013, unless Congress acts. Should the automatic cuts from last year’s debt-ceiling deal take place?
The bipartisan deal struck last year to allow an increase in the debt limit called for automatic cuts only if Congress could not agree on another way to achieve the required amount of deficit reduction. While the deal postponed the debt-limit crisis until later this year, I predict Congress will agree to a plan to avoid the automatic cuts. The enforcement mechanism will trigger spending reductions beginning in 2013—split 50/50 between domestic and defense spending. Enforcement protects Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries, and low-income programs from any cuts. Some predict a budget meltdown. However, I am optimistic the enforcement mechanism is strong enough to bring all sides together to agree on a plan. If Congress fails to act, the deal would automatically add nearly $500 billion in defense cuts on top of cuts already made, and at the same time, would cut critical programs like infrastructure and education. That is an outcome that is unacceptable to those on both sides of the aisle and should create sufficient incentive for a bipartisan agreement. The best result, in my view, is an agreement that is balanced, bipartisan, and does not place the burden of deficit reduction disproportionately on working families.
Do you support raising the debt ceiling when it is deemed necessary?
Yes, I support raising the debt ceiling when necessary. The alternative is that the United States would default on its debt, a result that would be catastrophic. The U.S. would lose its perfect credit rating, adding billions to our deficit because creditors would charge more interest on loans. The stock market would plummet, and mortgage rates would skyrocket. And, millions of seniors and veterans who depend upon government benefits, including Social Security and Medicare, would be at risk. At the same time, we must put together a rational, humane plan to balance the federal budget, and to begin paying down the national debt. We must also remember that recovery must come first, before dramatic cuts. Otherwise, the cuts will further slow the economic recovery. But the time is near to put politics aside and become pragmatic to force real solutions that go beyond rhetoric.
How would you work to reach bipartisan accord on taxes?
Taxes are one area where exhaustive Congressional partisanship has clearly failed us as a country. I will focus on solutions and commonsense reforms that start with a simple idea: protect the middle class and small businesses while finding a way to maintain our investments in education and infrastructure and protect programs for seniors and the most vulnerable.
We should start with the kind of changes that the vast majority of Americans support, such as extending tax cuts for the poor and middle class while allowing those on couples making more than $250,000 to expire. I also support the creation of a new tax bracket on those earning more than $1 million. This simple proposal would allow us to increase revenue by focusing on those who can afford to pay more. Tax cuts that benefit big oil companies should also be eliminated given their record profits.
Pro-growth Republicans and Democrats also should be able to agree that making our taxes simpler and fairer will make our businesses more competitive. A central focus of our efforts to reform the tax code must be simplifying the code and getting rid of loopholes that benefit big corporations over small businesses. I will support these efforts.
Is the U.S. tax system fair? What loopholes or tax breaks would you end? What taxes would you increase?
The case for tax reform begins with the reality that our current tax system is both fundamentally unfair and unacceptably complicated. In short, it’s broken. Our tax laws are rigged in favor of corporate interests, lobbyists, and rich individuals. The share of taxes paid by the middle class has increased while the ultra-wealthy and big corporations are benefitting most from available tax breaks. Billionaire Warren Buffett pays taxes at a lower rate than his secretary. Oil companies rake in billions in tax breaks while posting record profits. And, the system is so complicated that its degree of unfairness is often disguised. I favor sweeping tax reform similar to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, sponsored by Senator Bill Bradley and Congressman Richard Gephardt. The Bradley-Gephardt tax reform that was signed into law by President Reagan lowered individual tax rates and eliminated loopholes while increasing corporate taxes. Unfortunately, much of what that reform accomplished has been unwound over the years by lawmakers rewarding lobbyists with tax preferences. Specifically, I support closing corporate loopholes and tax breaks that reward companies for sending jobs overseas and cracking down on tax avoidance by shell corporations that set up offshore in places like the Cayman Islands. I would also back requiring that the ultra-wealthy—those who make $1 million or more a year—pay their fair share with increased taxes.
What defense spending should be cut and to what level?
In this era of national belt tightening, the United States needs to move toward a policy of “smart defense spending,” a term used by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates who argues we can eliminate national security risks without adding to the huge defense budgets of recent times. I believe the richest nation in the world need not choose between our children’s future and defending our country. Rather, we need to make choices, sometimes difficult ones, in how we accomplish those goals.
The Pentagon’s budget has increased for an unprecedented 14 straight years, and more than 50% over the past 10 years. In fact, the Department of Defense cannot give a complete accounting of how it spends billions of dollars. This is no longer acceptable. Including the supplementary spending on Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. spent $250 billion more than average expenditures during the Cold War. In a time when we have no serious national adversaries, and Al-Qaeda has been marginalized, we still spend more than the rest of the countries in the world combined. We can reduce defense spending not only by bringing our troops home, but also by reducing unnecessary Pentagon spending. I agree with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who proposes reducing the defense budget by cutting spending that was once off limits. Among Panetta’s proposed cuts are reducing nuclear weapons, the number of troops in Europe, the size of ground forces, and the number of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. With the end of both wars, we can begin to cut the size of our ground troops to pre-9/11 levels. The number of carriers and Air Force fighters can also be reduced. It is time to bring our brave troops home, and bring the budget home to rebuild America. And, it is time to step up our positive diplomacy so we can continue to be an important world leader.
Do you think we should invest more or less money on our national defense? What should the priorities be?
I believe that by making smarter choices about our investments in national defense, we can save money while maintaining the strongest armed forces on Earth.
Without a doubt, current and emerging threats from rogue regimes, terrorist groups, and such factors as cyber-security, indicate that new investments are needed in America’s long-term security. However, simple mathematics require us to scale back on outdated weapons systems and Congressional pork-barrel projects that don’t match the threats we face. As the Secretary of Defense has identified, cuts can be made without negatively impacting our security.
In the long run, we can only maintain a strong national defense if we grow our economy. Investments in education and infrastructure are critical to maintaining America’s place in the world and ensuring our long-term security.
What should the priorities be in U.S. foreign policy?
The top priority of our foreign policy must be ensuring the security of the American people.
I believe in the use of smart power through the engagement of a strong military and all forms of diplomacy; and, I will support a foreign policy that marshals economic, cultural, and political resources to advocate for American interests in the world. As we manage the end of our combat roles in Afghanistan and Iraq, confront rogue regimes and continue to support our allies around the world, we must pursue our interests in a way that brings all strengths to bear on important issues.
I also will support a foreign policy that puts emphasis on the needs and potential of women around the world. I will be an unfailing advocate for the rights of women and girls and for partnerships that the United States can establish to support advances in their rights.
Do you believe the US military is over-committed overseas? What role should American allies play in guaranteeing their national security?
The United States is, as President Clinton used to say, “the world’s indispensable nation.” In other words, nothing happens in world affairs unless the U.S. is involved. But the Bush Doctrine that made it U.S. policy to turn other nations into democracies led to vast over-extension of American military. We cannot continue to send our troops all around the world on nation-building missions. America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, yet we must insist that our allies play a greater role in guaranteeing their own national security. We need to re-examine all of our domestic and international commitments and re-prioritize our spending, so we have maximum influence for minimum financial outlay.
Does Medicare or Social Security need to be changed? If yes, how?
Social Security and Medicare play an indispensable role in ensuring America’s seniors, who worked hard their entire lives, have access to affordable care and the dignified retirement they deserve.
I will fight the Ryan-Young proposal that turns Medicare into a voucher program and cuts Social Security benefits. This is a clear question of priorities and Washington insiders who are out-of-touch with Hoosier values aren’t reflecting the priorities that I was brought up with. Making cuts that hurt our seniors while protecting tax cuts for the wealthy is exactly the kind of out-of-touch Washington proposal that I am running to fight against.
I also will work across the aisle to find consensus on programs that ensure the long-term fiscal stability of the programs. Given Social Security’s importance to seniors around the country, I know that a Congress willing to set aside partisan bickering will be able to come up with a plan to ensure that it is in place for future generations.
What are your plans to help students cover the cost of higher education?
I understand the difficulties students and families face in paying for higher education, as one of my central reasons for entering the Miss Indiana competition was to earn scholarship money to help pay my way through school. I also worked a full-time job. I know that middle class families are working tirelessly to afford a college education. Therefore, I will be an aggressive advocate for college affordability because college graduation is an issue of fairness and economic competitiveness.
We must work with our public institutions to address the soaring cost of college and secure an affordable education for every family. Once they graduate, Indiana students desperately need help managing their debt, and I support plans to defer payments for those who take public service jobs and cap payments at a certain percentage of a student’s income.
Additionally, expanding Pell grants to cover more students and offer more aid to those most in need is an investment in our future. With college costs soaring, Pell grants must keep up with the rate of inflation. Some estimates indicate that more than two million academically qualified students did not attend college in the last decade because they simply couldn’t afford it. If we’re going to compete for the jobs of the future, we cannot afford to waste our talent.
Unfortunately, my opponent and others in Congress have lost track of the importance of a college education. They have proposed cutting students off from Pell grants and doubling the interest rate on student loans. I’m running for Congress because voters in the 9th District deserve a representative who is in touch with the real needs of Hoosier students.
How will you promote other options to students and families such as technical and vocational programs?
A diverse set of skills will be needed to succeed in the 21st century marketplace, and obtaining these skills will require a variety of training and backgrounds. The work of institutions like Ivy Tech and other vocational schools and adult learning centers is vital for the Hoosier economy and creation of future opportunity. These technical and vocational programs play an important role in preparing students for the jobs of the future. I believe it is important to inform and empower high school students and adult workers so that they can capitalize on these opportunities for training and re-training at our many outstanding Indiana institutions.
In partnership with our public schools, I will utilize the incredible resources of Indiana’s 9th District communities to help make every student (youth and adult) aware of all available educational options and to encourage every Hoosier to reach his or her full potential.
What about unemployed workers who lack the necessary skills to find jobs?
Re-training programs are an absolutely essential factor in helping all Hoosier workers find good-paying jobs. I support readjusting eligibility requirements to make sure that re-training is available to all workers who need and want it. Moreover, the federal government should continue to provide support to those who pursue re-training and unemployment support to those who are looking for work.
After the Supreme Court decision to uphold much of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would you work to support or repeal the act, and why?
I believe it’s time to move forward to continue working towards affordable and accessible healthcare for all Americans rather than re-hashing debates of the past.
I support many provisions in the Affordable Care Act, such as laws that ensure coverage for Hoosiers with pre-existing coverage and allow students to remain on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26. The new laws that just make sense, such as those that: protect women from gender discrimination, give tax breaks to small businesses that provide healthcare to their employees, ban lifetime caps on coverage and require rebates when premiums aren’t used for medical care are important reforms that will help all Americans. Certain other provisions of the Act should be reconsidered, including the tax on medical devices that I am concerned will adversely impact Hoosier businesses like Indiana’s Cook Group Incorporated.
I believe it is time for Congress to re-focus on creating jobs and investing in our future. The partisan bickering of the last four years on this issue isn’t working for Hoosiers and won’t help create the jobs we need in Southern Indiana. Unlike my opponent, who would immediately turn the country’s attention back to the same old talking points about the bill, I’m ready to move forward and work across the aisle on job creation and investment in education and infrastructure.
What policies would you work towards to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to affordable care?
I firmly believe in an economy that works for all Hoosiers, including a healthcare system that is affordable and accessible.
I support the creation of one-stop insurance exchanges where insurers must compete in a transparent and easily comparable way, which will help give Hoosiers the information they need to make the right choices for their families. The current market is far too convoluted and uncompetitive. Hoosier families deserve to have the information they need to make smart healthcare decisions.
Access to affordable care also involves making sure insurance is available when someone gets sick, which is why I support keeping regulations that end abusive practices like denying coverage to those who have pre-existing conditions or capping lifetime costs.
Furthermore, Medicare is and will remain an unbreakable promise to America’s seniors. It plays an indispensable role in ensuring that seniors, who worked hard their entire lives, have access to affordable care in their retirement. I will work to preserve and protect Medicare for this and future generations.
What types of energy do you think our nation should invest in for the future, and how could we use this as an opportunity for job creation?
America is at risk of being left behind as other countries develop clean energy. If we begin investing now in clean-energy programs, America can lead the way toward a new 21st century that will offer good-paying jobs and a cleaner environment for our children.
Clean energy will help to create jobs that can’t be outsourced and revitalize opportunities for our middle class. Construction of solar panels, windmills, and geo-thermal energy production require highly-skilled jobs that pay well and can help to re-build a 21st century middle class. Having worked in job placement, I am deeply sympathetic to people who need re-training and will work to make sure we offer the right training programs to workers who need new jobs.
All of this will require investments from Congress. We can start by leveling the playing field for clean energy by ending subsidies for big oil companies who ship jobs overseas and by investing in clean energy research – these investments will power new jobs and growth.
As the price of gas has increased, and likely will continue to increase, what are the reasons and what steps can the federal government take, both in the short term and long term, to ensure that fuel costs are manageable for working families and businesses? (less than 150 words)
Oil production in the United States is at the highest levels we’ve seen in over eight years, and yet gas prices continue to rise. These increases are driven by a variety of complex factors, including unrest in Syria and the Middle East, fluctuating global demand – especially in China and India, the actions of commodity traders and financial speculators on Wall Street, and obscene profit-taking by the big five oil companies.
Lowering fuel costs – not protecting oil company profiteering – and stimulating research and development of more fuel-efficient technologies must be a priority for our leaders in Washington. If elected, I will take action to end the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to the oil industry, I will hold Wall Street speculators accountable, and I will address the long-term issue of our national dependency on oil by advocating for more fuel-efficient (and affordable) cars and trucks.
What role does the federal government have in combating poverty?
In the richest nation on earth, it is unacceptable that over one-fifth of America’s children are ill-fed, ill-housed, and ill-educated. Nearly 15 million of our children are being robbed of what should be their birthright. To bring these children out of poverty, we must start by helping parents give their children the necessities of life. For example, we can increase the income of poor families by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing the minimum wage, and permitting mothers receiving assistance to keep a portion of their child support payments. We also need to increase the availability and affordability of child-care, and enroll more children in Head Start, a program nearly everyone agrees works well. Finally, we must do more to combat teen pregnancy, which is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. America has the wealth and know-how to eliminate child poverty – we need to find the will. And this is not an academic issue in Southern Indiana. I pledge to be an advocate for children who deserve our help to reach adulthood.
How do you believe the U.S. should secure its borders?
Like any sovereign country, the United States has a right and duty to secure its borders and protect its citizens from external threats. The federal government must not back away from its responsibility to secure our borders.
In an era of ever-tighter budgets, we must make sure that we are securing our borders in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Therefore, I support efforts to increase the use of technology to secure borders and value the work of law enforcement officers who spend every day doing their very best to keep us safe. Additionally, collaboration with our neighbor countries is, as always, invaluable and U.S. efforts should be made in conjunction with those of other governments to ensure maximum efficiency and impact.
In the long run, secure borders require a comprehensive solution to our immigration system. I will bring a commonsense, bipartisan approach to this – and all – important issues that have too deeply divided our country in recent years.
Should undocumented workers be allowed a “path to citizenship?”
In light of the fact that there are more than ten million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, it is simply impractical to consider any immigration strategy focused solely on rounding-up and shipping-out people. A path to citizenship may be appropriate in some cases. I would also support a temporary worker program for undocumented workers, coupled with strict and swift enforcement of laws against those who have committed serious crimes or are engaged in criminal activities.
Keeping undocumented workers in the dark also hurts American workers, as corporate abuse of the undocumented drives down wages for all.
I think all Hoosiers would agree that our federal resources are better spent creating jobs than focusing on non-violent, hardworking undocumented immigrants.
Do you agree with President Obama’s decision to defer deporting children who are undocumented?
We are nation of immigrants and my faith teaches me that all people are worthy of our respect and compassion regardless of their parents’ actions. I support the President’s decision because every child deserves the opportunity to create their own life, and those who are already members of communities in America should be allowed to stay. A law-abiding young immigrant who has known nothing but a life in America and wants to go to school and serve this country should be allowed to stay.
Additionally, deporting students also makes no economic sense. We as a country have already invested in the education and skills of these young people. Allowing them to stay will give them an opportunity to contribute their talents and skills to the American economy.
In light of the Supreme Court striking down parts of Arizona’s law, what policies would you pursue, if any, to combat illegal immigration, and how would you fund those efforts?
The failure of the Arizona law only serves to highlight the need for federal action to fix our broken immigration system.
The most effective strategy to combat illegal immigration is comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens our legal systems while securing our borders. Helping immigrants integrate into American life – through education and community involvement – will ensure that everyone who comes to this country becomes a full part of the American community.
While we wait for Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform, enforcement efforts must continue. We must continue to crackdown on businesses that undercut American workers and take advantage of undocumented workers. And undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes should be deported without delay.
What policies would you pursue in order to safeguard Indiana’s air, water and land?
America’s natural beauty and environment are some of our most valuable resources. Many of my most treasured memories are camping in Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County with my family. Therefore, protecting Indiana’s air, water and land will be one of my top priorities in Congress.
I believe Washington’s recent war on the environment is misguided. The Environmental Protection Agency, though imperfect, has an important role to play in keeping us safe. Their protections help to prevent illnesses like asthma, dangerous pollution, and environmental destruction. I will support the most important work carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency. And I also will be an unfailing advocate for our public parks. They are a great resource for Hoosiers, and I will be a voice in Washington for the protection of these national treasures.
What are your views on lowering the standards in regard to air and water quality?
Affordable electricity is a key to America’s economic recovery and coal is an integral part of Indiana’s economy. But, we must protect those working in the coal burning industries, as well as the quality of our air and water in those communities and throughout Indiana. It is well established that burning coal releases carbon dioxide and dangerous pollutants that can lead to heart and respiratory illness. In fact, the U.S. spends $167 billion in health costs related to US power plant pollution each year. Yet, Congress’s record of inaction on energy policy is blocking our ability to address either these environmental problems or our country’s long-term energy challenges. It is time to move beyond the politics of climate change to real progress. We should not lower EPA air and water quality standards because those standards will help us reduce greenhouse emissions and protect the public. Lowering the standards of air and water quality de-incentivizes the coal and utility industry from investing in green energy alternatives, and Hoosiers pay the price in increased healthcare costs and poorer air and water quality.
What is the biggest environmental problem facing the world today, and how would you work to protect the country’s economy from the impact of environmental crises?
I believe climate change is the most serious environmental challenge currently facing us as a country. Our ability to address it will impact our economic future and determine whether we fulfill our obligation to leave our children with a better future than the one we were given.
Congress must take actions to reduce our emissions and invest in a clean energy future. We must also hold our friends around the world to the same level of responsibility, as this issue is global and demands global solutions.
The best way to mitigate the economic impact of environmental crises is to prevent them. In the case of climate change, this means investing in clean energy technology that can reduce our emissions while making America a leader in the energy that will drive the 21st-century economy. If we work to ensure that our environmental regulations are smart, they can be job creators. The inevitable transition to renewable energy can create jobs if we act now and let America lead the way.
Do you believe the planet is warming and that the government should play a role in addressing the problem?
The overwhelming majority of climate scientists (98%) agree that human activity is a significant factor in global climate change. The global warming observed by lead scientists over the past 50 years is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases—mainly from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) but also from the clearing of forests. Consensus as strong as the one that has developed around global warming is rare in science. Government must play a role in addressing global climate change, although regulated, market-based solutions are likely the most effective approach. The challenge is how to effectively convince policymakers and polluting nations to act upon what is scientific consensus. Fierce political opposition from those who are unconvinced by the science of climate change has made it difficult to address the problem. We must move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions soon before the planet’s climate system enters into runaway global warming. And we must look to government and non-government solutions to this potentially devastating problem.
What experience qualifies you?
I am running for Congress because working families are being left out of the conversation in Washington. My background and experience provide me with unique skills, temperament, and understanding of what struggling folks face today.
I was born and raised in rural Indiana. I learned about hard work at an early age helping out with our second generation family-owned gas station. The recession of the early 1980’s forced my family to close its doors, and I watched my parents work hard to find other ways to make ends meet. We all pitched in. I worked several jobs during my high school years and, to earn scholarships for college, I competed in the Miss Indiana pageant.
As Miss Indiana 1992, I traveled to all 92 counties advocating for improvements in health and education opportunities for Hoosier families and those in need. In the mid-1990s I worked in economic and downtown development in the city of South Bend during the days when Joe Kernan, who would later become Governor, was the Mayor. At that time, I was pursuing my Masters degree in Counseling and Human Services from IUSB and would eventually take a job directing a home for pregnant and homeless teens.
I later attended Vanderbilt University and earned my Masters of Divinity degree and would go on to lead a statewide coalition addressing the full spectrum of issues and needs related to eating disorders. In this position as Executive Director, I had full responsibility over all aspects of running the organization: managing the budget, recruiting employees and volunteers, networking with government and private partnerships, and achieving results. I was recognized in 2008 by the Nashville (TN) Business Journal with their “Women of Influence” Award.
Most recently, as Associate Director of Professional Development at IU’s Kelley School of Business, I helped leaders of tomorrow find jobs today. As a working mom of three young children, I know first-hand the day-to-day challenges facing working families. From the hardships my family experienced growing up, I know how difficult it is for folks who have been thrown out of work by recession and outsourcing to find a new way to make a living. In Congress, I will work overtime to secure federal dollars to bring new, sustainable, good-paying jobs to the 9th District, and I will fight for re-training so Hoosier workers can remain competitive in the 21st century economy.
If and when a constituent asks, “Why should I vote for you over another candidate?” what is your response?
I have the professional training and a proven track record of turning people’s lives around for the better, building community, and approaching conflict and seemingly “dead ends” with informed sensitivity, direct and assertive communication, and empowering leadership. I have spent the last twenty years working to make a difference in the lives of those who needed a little extra help to get back on their feet and keep moving forward. I would bring that life experience and training, as well as a deeply held personal commitment to Hoosier values to Congress on behalf of the 9th District.
