8th Congressional District Candidates: Mike Gallagher & Tom Nelson

MIKE GALLAGHER

Mike Gallagher

Mike Gallagher, 32, is a Green Bay native, a graduate of Princeton University, and a Marine Corps veteran. Upon leaving the Marines in 2013, Gallagher went to work for Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), serving as adviser on Middle East and North African affairs. In July 2015, he was appointed national security adviser for Gov. Scott Walker’s failed presidential campaign. Gallagher easily won the three-way Republican primary in August with 74.5 percent of the vote, defeating state Sen. Frank Lasee (19.8 percent) and Village of Forestville President Terry McNulty (5.7 percent).

Jobs and the economy

Federal spending is out of control, leaving us with a national debt of more than $19 trillion, bankrupting the country and sending the bill to the next generation. To revive our economic strength, I will work tirelessly to cut wasteful spending, streamline government and get our economy growing again so we can balance the budget and pay down the national debt. I strongly support a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and will support one in Congress.

National security and foreign policy

I will reverse the disastrous Obama-Clinton foreign policy of leading from behind and rebuild our military to ensure we deter our adversaries, destroy radical Islamic terrorism, and stand with our allies, especially Israel. We must demonstrate to the world there is no greater friend, no worse enemy, than the United States of America.

We must also secure our borders and fix our broken immigration system to protect our citizens, our economy and our sovereignty. I will give our law enforcement and military the tools and support they need to keep our country safe.

Seniors

I am dedicated to preserving and protecting Social Security. Like over 50 million American senior citizens, my grandmothers and great uncle rely on Social Security each month and I’ve seen the importance of this program firsthand. This has been the most effective anti-poverty program in our nation’s history and we must ensure it remains in place for generations to come.

For decades, millions of Americans have worked and planned their lives around the understanding that Social Security would be there for them when they need it. Unfortunately, this longstanding promise between the American people and our government is in jeopardy. As the AARP recently stated: “Social Security needs to be updated for the 21st century. If our leaders don’t act, future retirees could lose up to 25 percent of benefits each year. Every year our leaders wait and do nothing, finding a solution grows more difficult.”

Social Security is the single-most important commitment we have made to our seniors and retirees and we must ensure it remains a secure economic safety net for generations to come. As a Member of Congress:

1. I will work with leaders from both sides of the aisle to protect Social Security.
2. I will oppose efforts to privatize the system.
3. I will push Congress to stop ignoring this critical issue before it’s too late.

Environment

We must protect our natural resources without letting bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. destroy our economy. We need to stand firm against excessive regulations that will put Wisconsin out of business, subject our economy to the command and control of the EPA, and do little to actually help the environment. As someone who works in the energy industry helping companies minimize fuel costs and emissions, I will use my private sector experience to fight for a common-sense, all of-the-above energy policy that reduces our dependence on foreign energy, creates jobs, strengthens our manufacturing base, while also protecting all of the natural beauty Wisconsin has to offer.

Here in Northeast Wisconsin, the environment is far too valuable to be subjected to partisan bickering. That’s why I would also continue Congressman Ribble’s Save the Bay initiative, continuing to bring local communities and stakeholders together to protect the Bay of Green Bay and improve our water quality.

Education

We are failing to prepare the next generation of citizens to get a job and thrive in a competitive and rapidly changing domestic and international environment. I will fight to ensure every child in America has access to a high quality education. I believe teachers and parents at the local level are better able to manage a student’s education than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. We must ensure local control and flexibility, so that parents can choose the best education available for their children and no child is forced to remain in a failing school.

I will work to expand the accessibility and reduce the cost of higher education in order to close the skills gap that is costing our economy thousands of jobs. Expanding and promoting the importance of trade or technical schools is also important. Our construction and manufacturing sectors need high skilled workers and we need to have an education or apprentice system that can meet these demands.

Washington reform

It’s simple: if you don’t do your job, you shouldn’t get paid. Currently, the “People’s House” isn’t doing the people’s work. As your representative, I will lead legislation that will not allow members of Congress to be paid unless a balanced budget is passed. Congress should not be a career; individuals should serve and return home. I will push to end pensions for members of Congress, institute term limits, and I will freeze congressional salaries so that Congress will focus on their constituents rather than their paychecks.

Source: mikeforwisconsin.com

TOM NELSON

Tom Nelson

Democrat Tom Nelson, 40, is a graduate of Little Chute High School who continued his education at Carleton College and Princeton. In 2004 he was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, defeating the incumbent Republican for the 5th District and was assigned to committees on health, insurance, rural development and transportation. He was re-elected twice and was elected by his peers in 2008 to serve as assembly majority leader. In 2010 Nelson ran for the position of lieutenant governor, winning the four-way Democratic primary with 52 percent of the vote. He and running mate Tom Barrett were defeated in the general election. In 2011, Nelson ran for and won the race for Outagamie County executive against former Republican State Treasurer Jack Voight.

Jobs and the economy

Tom Nelson knows that today the wealthy are not paying their fair share, while it is more difficult for the middle class to get ahead. In Congress, he will fight to close tax loopholes that benefit wealthy Americans, and support legislation that makes it easier to raise a family while growing one’s career. This includes supporting paid family and medical leave, equal pay for equal work, and raising the minimum wage.

We also need to make it easier for small businesses to grow and thrive. Nelson will reduce regulations while increasing tax credits for small businesses so they can hire more employees and grow our local economies.

In order to attract more advanced manufacturing to Northeast Wisconsin, we should focus our efforts on workforce training programs that help veterans transition into civilian life, and laid-off workers find jobs in the industries of tomorrow.

National security and foreign policy

America faces the ongoing and evolving threat of terrorism, and we must do all we can to ensure American citizens are safe both at home and abroad.

In order to do this, we must be tough and smart: we must provide our military, diplomats and related personnel – and coalition partners abroad – with the support, resources and tools to cut off ISIS strongholds, and deny it the funding it needs to continue. We must partner with our allies and technology companies to target those who have been radicalized on our soil, without ignoring the Constitution. We must expand the number of FBI agents dedicated to finding potential terrorists, as well as beef up our immigration screening processes.

Seniors

Nelson knows that we must protect Social Security and Medicare for future generations. Our seniors rely on these important programs, and he will fight any attempt to weaken them by reducing benefits or gambling them on Wall Street.

In the state Legislature, Nelson fought to protect SeniorCare – an important program that thousands of Northeast Wisconsin seniors rely on to afford their prescription drug coverage.

In Congress, Nelson will oppose any attempt to privatize Social Security or reduce Medicare benefits. He is opposed to raising the retirement age and believes we must protect the current monthly payment because for too many seniors, it is their only source of income.

Nelson also knows we must bring down the out-of-control price of prescription drugs, which is why he supports allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

Environment

Northeast Wisconsin is home to some of our nation’s most important natural resources, and in Congress, Nelson will fight every day to protect the Great Lakes. He will continue Congressman Ribble’s work combating the pollution in the Bay of Green Bay by bringing people together and finding solutions that protect our environment and ensure our state has the resources necessary to solve this pressing issue. Nelson also knows that we must address the issue of unsafe groundwater in parts of our district. He will work with national, state and local leaders to address this problem that is impacting people in Northeast Wisconsin.

Nelson knows climate change is real and it’s threatening our environment. He supports efforts to reduce carbon emissions by ending taxpayer subsidies for large oil companies.

Education

In the state Legislature, Nelson opposed his own party and voted to override the Governor’s vetoes in order to maintain funding for education and other critical services. In Congress, he will always protect funding for K-12 education, and he will work with local school boards to make sure they have the resources they need to ensure our kids succeed.

With the cost of higher education skyrocketing, Nelson believes we need to look for ways to make it more affordable for everyone who wants to earn a college degree. He supports the great work technical colleges do in matching students with good-paying jobs right here in Northeast Wisconsin. And he supports allowing the refinancing of student loans, expanding Pell Grants, and pushing for lower student loan interest rates.

Washington reform

Too many politicians in Washington are focused on scoring partisan points instead of fighting for their constituents. Nelson knows the only way to change Washington is by changing the type of people we send there. He has spent his career bringing together Republicans and Democrats to get things done for the people of Northeast Wisconsin. In Congress, he will use that experience to put partisan politics aside and get Washington working again.

Nelson knows we can begin to fix Washington by passing real campaign finance reform that will get corporate special interest money out of politics. He believes that we need a constitutional amendment to overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, which has seen too much money flood into our political system.

Nelson supports passing a No Budget No Pay Law because he does not think members of Congress should get paid if they don’t do their job. He will also sponsor legislation to move to a two-year budget – like we do here in Wisconsin.

Source: nelsonforwisconsin.com