ISSUES – Ken Walther
The following issues are important to all Americans and you, the voters, will reflect the beliefs of the elected official. As a citizen-politician I will tell you my position on several hot button items and hopefully you will agree with me and help me get elected. Holding public office is not rocket science, as we can clearly see by the actions of many of our legislators, but Common Sense should prevail.
We need to do what is good for the country, good for the citizens and do what is right for maintaining the freedoms we enjoy in this great country. We must not be afraid to say what we think nor should we stifle opposing opinions. Let’s work together to change the attitude of our elected officials.
Remember, first and foremost, Politicians work for YOU, not the other way around.
If you would like to comment please use the “contact” page. For more information about Ken Walther visit the About Ken Walther page.
Click the links below to go directly to specific issues.
Second Amendment Rights
Health Care
Small Business Advocate
Public Education
Government Waste
Defense and National Security
Immigration
New Taxes
Renewable Energy
Pro-Life
ISSUES
Second Amendment Rights
As a long time member and supporter of the NRA I believe in the Citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. As a former US Army soldier I was trained on a variety of arms. In my 27 years of Federal Service (CIA) I had the opportunity to be trained in weapons for the defense of our country. We must never lose our rights as Citizens to own firearms.
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Health Care
I believe our present health care needs some reform, but not complete socialization. While we need to have lower costs we don’t want the Government to take over the system and convert it to the failed systems now in place in Europe, Canada, Cuba and other socialist countries. We need tort reform to prevent “jackpot” settlements on medical claims that make the Doctor’s insurance rates sky high.
I tried Government run medical in the Army, and again while in the Foreign Service overseas for twenty years, and I prefer the civilian style where I can choose my doctor, my procedures and get opinions on how to treat me best.
When I was 14 years old I had a motorcycle wreck that left my right leg just hanging on at mid-thigh. The first opinion was “we have to amputate”. Fortunately my mother intervened and requested a special surgery that worked – covered under her private insurance policy. Without that, I would have been without a leg, could not have served in the Army and could not have served my country in the CIA as I did.
Let’s improve our health care insurance, but let’s NOT let the Government bureaucrats take our present system down.
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Small Business Advocate
Having run small businesses after retiring from Federal Service, I know how every penny counts in a start up business. Any extra taxes, fees or programs can sink a fragile business. I will encourage more programs that exist in Nevada, such as Foreign Trade Zone 89, and other business friendly programs for small businesses.
I discourage the oppressive union interference in businesses where that sort of intervention is not needed. America’s free enterprise system has proven to be a beacon for business growth and most free countries envy that status. Let’s keep it that way.
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Public Education
I strongly support public education by rewarding good, dedicated teachers and a first quality curriculum. I would support vouchers to level the playing field to provide quality education for those who cannot afford it. I would discourage the wasteful programs that have exorbitant salaries for administrators and staff. The wasteful programs, such as the recent costly computer program fiasco, do nothing to help our youth. Unwarranted overtime is another huge expenditure.
Both of my sons graduated from local high schools and are finishing up at UNLV. By taking AP courses they were able to get into smaller classes more conducive to learning. I also believe that the Clark County should decentralize and give more power to the individual schools. By cutting administrative bureaucracy we will put more into actual education. We need to get more parents involved as well with their children’s future.
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Government Waste
Our budgets are terribly abused and one solution is to establish a zero-based budget and require all government agencies to justify their proposed budgets. Additionally, we need to review and eliminate marginal and wasteful programs. We all know of programs that are not in the best interest of our citizens, but may benefit or enrich certain individuals. This includes the unsustainable Public Sector PERS salary and retirement system. Let’s stop it!
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Defense and National Security
We can never be weak on defense and security of our Nation. My whole career was dedicated to winning the cold war and fighting terrorism. Political correctness is a sure way to allow our country to be hit again by failing to take corrective action against our sworn enemy, Islamic terrorism. If we cannot utter our enemy’s identity, how can we win?
We need to keep our first responders well equipped and funded for the immediate safety and security of our citizens. Nevada is identified as a high value, soft target and we need to be prepared. I support our troops overseas, our first responders and police within our borders and will argue for this important funding.
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Immigration
Many get tongue-tied on this issue. The truth is we have always had immigration laws in place to allow, annually, approximately 1.3 million immigrants into the USA legitimately. I have personally sponsored highly educated persons into the country on H1-B visas and they were costly, time consuming and burdensome. But I played by the rules because we are a country of laws. However, at the same time, our borders have allowed undocumented strangers to surge into our country without regard for our national sovereignty.
We must stop the unchecked immigration and force the State Department and Department of Labor to streamline their resources to process legitimate immigrants. We need immigration, but we do not need wards of the state or persons who demand our resources without having earned it.
As an analogy, let’s do what is required in treating a combat injury: first stop the bleeding, then prevent or treat for shock. We must first stop the bleeding at our borders and then treat the shock to our medical and social services system, which is bankrupting our states and nation. The laws are there – let’s enforce them and work on a system that is legitimate and right for our citizens.
I worked at US Consulates and Embassies all over the world and the thing in common was the lines of people each day applying for visas. Many would stand in line all day for a chance to come here legally. How can we ignore law abiding immigrants in favor of allowing an abuse of our laws?
I also propose more stringent enforcement on companies and industries that are using undocumented workers unjustly in order to save salary costs. Let those who need foreign labor apply for immigration as I did with my employees from Russia.
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New Taxes
While I oppose new taxes to feed old problems, I believe taxes may be in order for emergency situations. A “no tax pledge” may sound good, but as my word is my bond, I cannot say there would not be a situation that would require extraordinary measures. I can say that I will not raise taxes without first exhausting all other methods of balancing the budget as required by our Nevada Constitution.
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Renewable Energy
I believe that we must use all resources to cut our reliance on foreign oil imports. Solar and wind power is good, but will not help us in our day to day needs. We need a combination of petroleum, nuclear, solar, wind and coal to keep our fragile economy growing.
More burdensome regulations by the EPA, the imposition of Cap & Trade laws and tax increases on utilities are sure method to weaken our country’s industries and small businesses. Like a broken record, I heard this same story trumpeted by the Carter Administration about alternate energy. At that time all we got was very high gas prices, the restriction to even buy gas on either an odd or even day according to your license place, and other failed programs that administration dictated.
I want green energy as much as the next person, but not at the expense of our survivability as a free nation with small business as its backbone. I am presently involved with technologies that will provide alternative energy businesses and it will succeed if the government will stand back and watch rather than regulate.
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Pro-Life
I believe in protecting the sanctity of life. Partial birth abortions should not be sanctioned and that opinion has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. I believe that women should receive education on the abortion procedures and should have a 24 hour waiting period. I do believe that doctors should perform surgical abortions to protect the health of the mother. I don’t believe this emotional issue will ever be resolved through legislation but we must make sure we protect the lives of all citizens, even those not yet born.
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