Contract With Kentucky
CONTRACT WITH KENTUCKY
As a Prospective Republican Member of the United States Senate and as a citizen seeking to join that body I propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.
That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, I offer instead, a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This next election offers the chance to transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.
Like Lincoln, our first Republican President, I intend to act "with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.
From the first day, I will immediately undertake to pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress, and the Federal Reserve for waste, fraud, corruption or abuse;
THIRD, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FOURTH, ban the casting of proxy votes;
FIFTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SIXTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
SEVENTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of taking office, I shall bring to the Floor of the Senate the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available upon creation for public inspection and scrutiny. These bills shall promote Liberty and Responsibility.
1. THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses.
2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, "good faith" exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending.
3. THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact work requirements to promote individual responsibility.
4. THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children's education, provisions for Home Schooling, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society.
5. THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: Increasing the child tax credit, repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts, and Medical Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief.
6. THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command. Restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. Congressional Audit of ongoing missions.
7. THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years.
8. THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, abolition of capital gains taxes, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, eliminate unfunded mandates, and implement a tax structure to bring American Industry home.
9. THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: "Loser pays" laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of frivelous litigation.
10. FAIR TAX ACCOUNTABILITY ACT: An examination of the current tax structute, it's impact on the Economy, and to provide real solutions to real problems, providing real reform. Also, an examination and problem solving regarding the current deficits and elimination of such deficits.
11. CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT ACT: Consolidate and eliminate wasteful and unneeded Government Agencies and Programs. To consolidate the Governmental Departments to a sane and effective level.
12. COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT: Strengthen the Border Patrol, being assisted with the United States Army to enforce the Border Crossing and reform Immigration Laws to prohibit Illegal Immigration while at the same time rewarding Legal Immigration into the United States of America.
13. BILL CALLING FOR COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT OF FEDERAL TRUST FUNDS: To examine the Federal Trust Funds, such as Social Security, Federal Highway Trust Fund, Superfund, etc. to ascertain amounts missing or diverted, along with the cause, in order to repay and replenish such funds, and/or return such funds to the People.
14. BILL CALLING FOR COMPULSORY AUDIT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE: To examine the Federal Reserve, and their issuance of Stimulus Money to make sure those monies have been properly and efficiently recieved. Also, to determine how much of the money has been paid back and the profits therof.
Further, I will instruct the House Budget Committee to report and work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be eliminated, and the National Debt repaid.
Respecting the judgment of my fellow citizens as I seek their mandate for reform, I hereby pledge my name to this Contract with Kentucky.
Daniel Essek
Candidate for
United States Senate
Kentucky
Additional Pledges
I, Daniel Essek, pledge to the taxpayers of the state of Kentucky and to the American people that I will:
ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and
TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates; and
THREE, seek the elimination of deficit spending and the National Debt