MEUSER: I WANT TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE

Q: What will be your top domestic gress?and international priority in Con

A: With the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, we see that politicians in Washington, D.C., are more concerned with paying off special interests and their donors. The American vision of government was “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The political elite provides lip service to the people every two to four years, but then turns around and serves lobbyists. It is time for that to end. It is time for someone in Washington to stand up and represent “We the People.”

The top domestic priority should be restoring the American economy. People are hurting. Record high inflation, gas prices and increasing food prices are hitting Californians’ pocketbooks. To start restoring the economy, the federal government must cut spending and start living within its means. I will support efforts to reduce federal spending, especially waste, fraud and abuse, and will encourage the adoption of a balanced budget.

Making sure schools educate children, with a focus on core topics like science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is a priority. Schools should not indoctrinate our children. All education funding should follow the student, rather than fund systems. I will be a strong supporter of any proposal that focuses federal funds on support for students regardless of where they and their parents choose to go.

Q: How do you view the events of Jan. 6, 2021, in our nation’s Capitol and what led up to them? Do those events have implications about the future of the United States?

A: The longest-lasting consequence of Jan. 6, 2021, has been the curtailing of First Amendment activities around the Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-san Francisco, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have kept the Capitol closed to the average American since the riots. By keeping the Capitol closed, the leaders have prevented the people from petitioning their government, resulting in those with close connections and other representatives of special interests having greater access to lawmakers than the people those lawmakers represent.

Current investigations seem to largely miss the mark. They have focused too little on security practices in place on Jan. 6, 2021. Even the 9/11 Commission did not hesitate to ask tough questions of the intelligence community — topics that current investigations seem hesitant to address. We need a much more thorough and unbiased investigation of the events surrounding Jan. 6, 2021.

Q: Inflation is at 40-year highs in the U.S., causing economic hardship for many Americans. What can the federal government do about this? What will you do?

A: Inflation happens when the government spends money faster than it can print it, not to mention faster than it can collect tax revenues. When the government prints money, it devalues the dollar. When the dollar is devalued, prices naturally rise, which hurts Californians’ pockets, requiring them to pay more for gas, food and other daily needs.

The federal government needs to stop spending money. My priority will be on identifying and eliminating wasteful, pork-barrel spending. Politicians should

not be supporting their donors and special interests at taxpayers’ expense, especially when facing a potential recession. I will also focus on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse within the federal budget and will support a balanced budget amendment.

Q: Confidence in the Supreme Court is steadily declining. Should justices have term limits? Should the court be expanded? What, if anything, should change about the high court?

A: As a U.S. senator, I do not have the authority under the Constitution to vote for term limits for judges. It would require an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Expanding the court would only politicize it further. We need a court that is not viewed as political as the other branches of government.

Q: What do you see as the implications of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade?

A: Prior to Roe v. Wade, states were debating abortion. Roe preempted this debate with several men in black robes deciding the issue for the entire country. The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June rightly returned the debate to states. The Constitution gives the states the authority to handle issues dealing with the health and welfare of their citizens.

States are much more responsive to the beliefs and needs of their people. The Dobbs decision was important as a check on the federal government and returned decision-making authority to the people and state legislatures.

Q: What will you do in Congress to combat climate change?

A: I love the great outdoors and the natural beauty of California. We need to be wise stewards of our resources. No one wants to drink dirty water or to live in smog-filled cities. California and the United States have made huge progress over the past few decades increasing livability standards.

There is a huge difference between being wise stewards and the extreme environmentalism we see today. Extreme environmentalists would have us surrender much of the technological progress society has made over the past century. Instead of surrendering this progress, we should embrace California’s bent toward innovation. The private sector will create the technologies necessary to reduce emissions and help us be wise stewards if we allow them and get the government out of the way.

With that said, to ensure adequate water supplies for people and farmers, we should not be afraid to build desalination plants. To decrease carbon emissions from forest fires, we need to enable foresters to remove the underbrush and thin out the forests.

Q: What specific issues about border life in San Diego and Tijuana will you prioritize?

A: Crime decreases the quality of life in both San Diego and Tijuana. From the federal perspective, the best help we can provide is by providing Border Patrol with the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.

Q: Why should voters elect you over your opponent?

A: I want to represent the people of California — not special interests, lobbyists and other well-funded and connected interests — in Washington. As a constitutional attorney, I have a proven track record of fighting for the people of California against big businesses, big tech and big government.

When unelected bureaucrats shut down our churches, schools and businesses, I was in court fighting to get them open again. When unelected bureaucrats forced people to choose between their jobs and vaccines, I was in court fighting for their rights to choose their health care options.

I am not, and will not be, paid for by special interests. My campaign is funded by the people of California and that is who I will represent in Washington.