HOME | DONATION FORM
Select from these topics for Ken Kratz' views on these issues.
Overview:
The Wisconsin farmer is an individual businessperson who will continue to thrive through a pro-growth farm policy.
Specifics:
- I will encourage reasonable regulations, including analysis of the Clean Water Act, and how it affects Wisconsin farmers.
- There must be a tax policy that encourages individuals to remain in the farming business.
- Immigration laws must recognize the economic and cultural reality of 'temporary seasonal workforce' and ensure a method by which Wisconsin farmers can comply with Federal Immigration regulations while meeting their employment needs.
Overview:
Individuals should be allowed to freely express their political opinions through their financial contributions.
Specifics:
- Individual contribution limits should be raised to better allow candidates to compete in an open election process. Full and timely disclosure of contributions must be required on both the state and federal level.
- Forced contributions (e.g. unions) should be strictly prohibited and individuals should be free to support the political candidate of their choice without retribution.
- The right to freedom of speech is constitutionally protected, and, therefore, organizations and individuals should be allowed to finance 'issue ads' without limit.
Overview:
I support the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.
Specifics:
- The 2nd Amendment (US Constitution) and Art 1, Sec. 25 (Wis. Constitution) should be liberally construed. Any state or local legislation designed to restrict an individual's rights should be prohibited.
- The simple truth is that criminals prefer unarmed victims. The rights of citizens to defend themselves from individual or state-sanctioned aggression is absolute and unconditional.
Overview:
There must be a balance between protection of our resources and protection of our private property rights.
Specifics:
- Government regulation can support a strong economy and protect our environment at the same time. We have a responsibility to protect our natural beauty.
- One of the greatest opportunities to decrease our dependence on foreign oil is the development of viable and renewable energy programs. My N.E.W. I.D.E.A., the Northeast Wisconsin Industry, Development and Education Alliance, is an example of this coordinated industry-education-government initiative. (Details on this initiative will be coming out soon. Please check back.)
Overview:
All human beings have inherent civil rights, and government should promote equal opportunity for all.
Specifics:
- People succeed or fail on their own merits. Fairness requires the government to prohibit race as a factor in granting preferential treatment for employment, educational opportunities or other programs.
- I strongly oppose lowering standards for education or employment opportunities based on race and believe that 'lowering the bar' does an incredible disservice to our nation's minority population. I support raising the bar and allowing our citizens to strive for excellence.
Overview:
Government must maintain the highest standard of ethics and integrity, which should be exhibited by our elected officials.
Specifics:
- Public officials must place their public service ahead of the possibility of any personal gain. This should be regulated by an ethics commission to investigate improper gifts from lobbyists to members of Congress.
Overview:
I support local control of public schools while demanding accountability for results and standards.
Specifics:
- Parental involvement is the key to successful education.
- Teachers should first teach basic skills and family values in the schools. Accountability should apply to teachers as well as students.
- Our system should include a comprehensive school choice plan with funding (vouchers); allow innovation and creativity of individual teachers; oppose federal mandates as a substitute for local control; and ensure the use of technology to prepare our students to compete in the global economy upon graduation.
Overview:
We must commit ourselves to the values that strengthen our culture and sustain our nation: faith, family and personal responsibility.
Specifics:
- I support the concept of 'compassionate conservatism' which teaches respect, discipline, and accountability.
- We must protect our most vulnerable population, our children, from exposure to obscenity and exploitation.
Overview:
We must seek the end of government discrimination against religion and its interference with the free practice of religion.
Specifics:
- Teaching religion in the schools should be a local issue left to the discretion of individual districts.
- The prohibition of nativity scenes on public land, Ten Commandment display, and using school space by religious groups should not be the subject of Federal Law suits but should be addressed through local rule and interpretation.
Overview:
Government exists only to serve the needs of its citizens, and it must continue to be accountable to them.
Specifics:
- We must recognize that governments are a necessary part of an organized society, as they provide security and services. However, it should be limited to only those functions that cannot be fulfilled by other means, including privatization of services.
- Our legislative goal should be to act with fiscal responsibility to prevent unnecessary taxation, regulation or interference with citizen's lives.
- A smaller IRS, reduced government waste in the administration of social programs, and overall less government is better government. Less government means less power, less pork, fewer lobbyists, and more decisions available to individuals.
Overview:
The highest priority for public officials should be to create an atmosphere for growth in the economy.
Specifics:
- Economic development in northeast Wisconsin requires a realization that our workforce must shift from 'making stuff' to retaining our best and brightest individuals, developing new technologies and attracting new industries.
- Specifically, I propose the N.E.W. I.D.E.A., the Northeast Wisconsin Industry, Development and Education Alliance. It is a coordinated and aggressive approach to our region thriving in today's global economy. I will be unveiling specifics of my N.E.W. I.D.E.A. soon; please check back for details.
Overview:
I am committed to maintaining high quality, affordable health care.
Specifics:
- I promote a fair and balanced legal system. This can be achieved while promoting a business and political environment that encourages medical professionals to practice in Wisconsin.
- I support the expanded use of health savings accounts (tax-free savings), volume purchasing of medical insurance for small businesses and the self-employed, and expanded Medicare drug benefits for seniors.
- I oppose a move to a national health care system. The proponents of a national system have never been able to outline what level of care people will receive, at what cost, and how this system will advance our current standard of living.
Overview:
We welcome any and all legal immigrants who enter our country to work, participate as citizens, and become assets to our society.
Specifics:
- I support an open and welcoming society, which values hard work and personal responsibility. I also believe that our nation requires a safe and secure boarder.
- No 'catch and release' of illegal immigrants should be condoned. Mandatory detention and expedited removal of illegal aliens must be advanced.
- Employers need a reliable method to determine if employees are eligible to work for them. We first need to employ and care for citizens that are here legally before educating and providing services for illegal immigrants.
- We should honor diversity, but it should not be at the cost of disrupting the common ideals, language and values binding our country together.
Overview:
Citizens of the 50 states should vigorously reclaim all powers not expressly allocated to the federal government.
Specifics:
- Citizens of the 50 states should vigorously reclaim all powers not expressly allocated to the federal government.
Overview:
The US must encourage the development of democracy and respect for humanity around the world. When necessary, we must protect ourselves and our allies from the forces of evil through military means.
Specifics:
- America must remain strong through example. We are required to maintain a strong national defense through the advancement of modern weapon systems, the continued training of our military personnel, and the unwavering support for our military troops abroad and the leaders who direct their efforts.
- Recognizing our unique responsibility to advance democracy around the globe, we must adopt an 'America First' defense policy, rather than securing other countries' boarders - let's keep Americans safe.
Overview:
Government's most sacred responsibility is to protect it citizens from harm, either from international or domestic sources.
Specifics:
- I support the aggressive development of homeland security strategies against attack by all reasonable means.
- I would immediately implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. We must ensure port security, customs and boarder security, and tracking of foreign visitors.
- We should re-establish law enforcement grants (Byrne Funding), urban area grants, and TSA funding (explosive detection, cargo screening).
- Legitimate American citizens have nothing to fear from law enforcement and Homeland Security strategies. We must remember the risk of failure to secure our nation's security interests.
Overview:
I support a voter ID system which will protect the integrity of our election process.
Specifics:
- Federal law should require a Photo ID to vote in any election.
- The 2004 presidential election in Milwaukee established that over 4600 more votes were cast than voters were eligible to cast them. This became one of the clearest examples of wide-spread voter fraud in our nation's history. Our state and our nation should not continue to support any system that encourages the hijacking of our legitimate voting process.
Overview:
I am convinced that 'tort reform' as proposed does not create an environment of business growth and retention in our state. Capping legitimate jury awards does not help to contain medical costs. Successful lawsuits are, by definition, not frivolous.
Specifics:
- Wisconsin jury awards are lower than the national average. This demonstrates that Wisconsin juries are by nature conservative and only award those damages that are fair and reasonable.
Overview:
I am committed to honoring all of our men and women in uniform.
Specifics:
- I support immediate increased funding for veterans' programs to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they are owed.
- I support the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (higher compensation for service related disabilities); the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act (improved patient care facilities for vets); the Veterans Benefits Act (increased financial, health, housing and education benefits for vets and their families); and the Veterans Housing Affordability Act (increasing home loan benefits available to vets).
Overview:
We must lessen our country's dependence on foreign sources of energy.
Specifics:
- America should encourage new technology and alternative power sources.
- We should continue to develop and harvest American fossil fuel reserves.
- My N.E.W. I.D.E.A., the Northeast Wisconsin Industry, Development and Education Alliance, also addresses the demand for alternative fuel sources by specifically attracting renewable energy industries to Northeast Wisconsin. Please look forward to details concerning this project coming soon.
Overview:
I am committed to ensuring seniors receive every penny in Social Security benefits they have earned over a lifetime of work.
Specifics:
- This social insurance program is safely funded for today, but it is believed to be in danger for our children and grandchildren, By 2018, we will start to pay out more in Social Security benefits than we collect, and it is estimated that by 2042, the system may well be bankrupt.
- Doing nothing will cost the most in the long run, so our system should encourage 'personal accounts.' This will ensure that our younger workers can participate in the same benefits upon their retirement as our current seniors.
Overview:
Working Americans should be able to keep more of the money they earn.
Specifics:
- Our Tax relief package passed by Republicans in congress has allowed taxes to decline. Families with children have received the most dramatic tax cuts, together with the elderly and small business owners, Congress must make every effort to make these tax cuts permanent.
- Our current tax system is complicated and inequitable. We should move to a 'fair tax' system, which does not punish the middle class and those citizens who have worked incredibly hard to improve their station in life.
Overview:
I oppose abortion.
Specifics:
- I believe abortion should only be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the expectant mother is endangered.
- In the current environment, we must encourage education and adoption options for young women considering abortion, and support a required 'waiting period' to allow these emotional young women a full and reasoned opportunity to make their decision before any abortion is allowed.
Overview:
I believe that imposition of the death penalty is required for some heinous crimes, especially those committed against children or law enforcement officials.
Specifics:
- True 'justice' can only be accomplished in some cases by imposition of the death penalty.
- Wisconsin is one of only 13 states that does not allow the death penalty. A 2006 referendum shows Wisconsin citizens overwhelmingly approve of imposing the death penalty in some circumstances. The reality is that a handful of Wisconsin politicians in Madison refuse to advance the true will of Wisconsin citizens.
Overview:
Public safety and accountability for wrongful behavior must remain at the very top of our legislative agenda.
Specifics:
- Adequate resources must be provided to Wisconsin law enforcement, prosecutors, and corrections to ensure our local communities remain safe.
- We should promote the development of new technologies to make law enforcement more effective and efficient.
|
