My Bio
I am a Kentuckian and I have lived in the Commonwealth my whole life. I grew up watching family and friends being taken advantage of by our abusive system, struggling just to survive day-to-day. I have spent a large chunk of my life working in the healthcare field. I’ve learned a great deal about the pain and difficulties of life while working in nursing homes, hospitals, health departments, and rape crisis centers.
Growing up in Marion County, I can remember walking along unpaved roads, picking up cans to exchange for enough money to purchase bologna and a loaf of bread. Believe me, I understand the struggles that Kentuckians face day-in and day-out.
I am a graduate of Kentucky’s public education system (Head Start through High School). I am a proud Forever Colonel of Eastern Kentucky University. I served in the Kentucky National Guard. I am a Kentucky Colonel.
I would consider it an honor to represent Kentucky on the national stage and the United States on the global stage.
My Key Issues
Medicare 4 All
Healthcare is a basic human right...especially, when we live in the wealthiest nation on Earth. I believe that it is the U.S. government's sworn duty to "Promote the General Welfare" and, therefore, provide for the basic medical needs of all its citizens. In the long run, a Medicare For All plan will save U.S. taxpayers several trillions of dollars whilst, simultaneously, making us a healthier and more productive Nation.
Pro-Labor, Pro-Union
Labor is the most valuable asset to any company or organization. Every dollar that a company makes comes from the work of a laborer. Every bridge, school, hospital, and factory is built on the backs of carpenters, ironworkers, millwrights, plumbers, and electricians (not an exhaustive list). All American workers disserve to work in safe environments, with excellent benefits and quality pay. Additionally, those workers must have a means to address grievances without fear of retaliation or retribution. Nothing is more valuable to our economy than the laborers that make up the American workforce.
Public Health & Environmental Sustainability
Public health and environmental sustainability are often cast to the side when Congress divvies up where tax dollars are going to be spent. This makes zero sense. At a very basic, biological level, humans need access to clean water, clean air, and safe land to live, work, and play upon. In keeping with this philosophy, I will push for a Constitutional "Green" Amendment that clarifies that the U.S. Government has a duty to insure a safe, healthy environment for its citizens. This is not a new concept, as some state constitutions have "green" amendments (which have been upheld by state supreme courts, see. Held v Montana). Personally, I believe that the "...Promote the General Welfare..." part of the Preamble of the Constitution includes environmental protections. A poorly maintained environment directly impedes the "Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness" of the citizenry. As a Senator of Kentucky, I would push for legislation to eliminate the ability of companies to purchase Carbon Credits, which simply allow facilities to continue polluting as they pay third-parties to develop "green" projects.
Respect for International Law
Historically, the United States has often ignored International Law in the pursuit of profit and territorial gains. Far too often, our leaders blatantly disregard the fact that we are not the only people occupying this planet. In Congress, I will push for ratification of several United Nations Doctrine that will place our nation as a global leader in the protection of civil liberties, for our citizens and individuals who live beyond our borders. U.N. Committees/Treaties that are in need of ratification, include, but are not limited to: 1) The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 2) The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 3) The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 4) The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 5) The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Women's Reproductive Rights
Every person has total, autonomous control of their own bodies...and that does not change when a woman becomes pregnant. A person's body is their private property to do with as they see fit. I believe this to be a Constitutionally protected right, via the 4th, 9th, 10th, and 14th Amendments. Reproductive Care is Health Care and no American citizen should be deprived of it.
Term Limits
Leaders can become tyrannical authoritarians very quickly. I believe that every elected office in the United States should have term limits, but it is especially important that all offices of the Federal Government have them. As of now, only the office of POTUS has term limits (22nd Amendment) . As a Senator, I will push for a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on the other two Branches of Government, as follows: U.S. House of Representatives - Three, 2-year terms U.S. Senate - Two, 6-year terms Supreme Court - 18-years terms
Anti-War, Pro-Military
A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment [and] we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. We recognize the imperative need for this development [but] we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. - President Dwight Eisenhower, Farewell Address, 17 January 1961 In the years since President Eisenhower's words of warning, the Military-Industrial Complex has grown into a trillion dollar industry (in 1960, defense spending was around $47 billion). The U.S. Defense budget is heavily influenced by the price-gauging tactics of corporate billionaires and the greed of spineless politicians who only see their citizens as fodder to fuel the never-ending war machine. As a Senator, I will push for a major cut in the military budget by the following actions: 1) Push for the immediate moratorium on all military aide (money, weapons, personnel) to foreign governments. 2) Consolidation of the hundreds of global U.S. funded military bases (Congressional Base Realignment and Closure Process) 3) Elimination of contracts that allow for "private security firms" and "private military companies" in armed combat. 4) Ending the price-gauging efforts of defense contractors who charge the U.S. taxpayer prices that far outpace inflation. 5) Ban defense contractor lobbyists from propositioning Congressional leaders. My goal would be to get Defense Spending as close to 1% of GDP as possible (currently, the U.S. allocates 3.5% of GDP).
End Corporate Personhood
As a U.S. Senator, I will propose a Constitutional Amendment that clarifies that rights and liberties (enumerated and unenumerated) are reserved for individual persons and do not extend to ANY artificial entities. This Amendment would seek to overturn several Supreme Court decisions that have granted individual sovereignty to artificial entities. Those decisions include, but are not limited to: Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad (1886) Pembina Consolidated Silver Mining Co. v. Pennsylvania (1888) Buckley v Valeo (1976) Boston v Bellotti (1978) Citizens United v FEC (2010)
Statehood for U.S. Territories
Congress must work to eliminate the United States imperial footprint. Once in office, I will push for a resolution that will allow for current, U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) to vote on U.S. Statehood or Sovereign Independence.
Election Reform
Many of the laws that govern our elections are archaic and have not been properly updated for the electoral environment in which we operate in, today. Several reforms need to be administered and they would require one Constitutional Amendment to do so. That Amendment would need to include the following measures: Abolishing the Electoral College Ranked-Choice Voting Non of the Above Option on Ballots Elimination of candidate/party exclusion Stronger guardrails against gerrymandering Enhanced protection of voters’ rights (issues addressed by John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
Acknowledging Tribal Sovereignty of First Nations
As a U.S. Senator, I would push legislation to acknowledge the tribal sovereignty of First Nations Peoples, allowing them to operate as "domestic dependent nations". Some tribes already have this distinction (via Supreme Court decisions), but there has not been a formal treaty to recognize all First Nations Peoples/Tribes as having inherent sovereignty. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Kentucky does not formally recognize the sovereignty of the many tribes (current and former) that call our state home.
Send Me a Message
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!