Kathy Salvi: 2022 candidate for U.S. Senate

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: U.S. Senate

City: Mundelein

Age:

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: N/A

Q&A

What needs to be done to get Congress to work constructively, whether that be senators and representatives of both parties working with each other or Congress itself working with the president?

Today, Democrats control the House, the Senate and the White House and our Nation is in chaos. We have massive inflation; a huge spike in gas prices; a compromised supply chain that yields empty shelves at the supermarkets; an unprotected border to our south that allows for the free flow of drugs and human trafficking; soft-on-crime DAs in our cities; and the takeover of our children's education by an education establishment with an agenda. Single party rule has been a disaster. Here in Illinois, we know that balance is best and have historically sent two Senators to Washington from each party - one Republican and one Democrat. Encouraging diversity of ideas and showing a willingness to listen and find common ground are crucial to enacting policies and legislation that represent all of America - not just one demographic. We must restore this balance again in the next election.

Do you support continuing the filibuster?

America is one of the few countries in the world that protects the rights of the minority party. The filibuster is one of many procedural protections to prevent a small majority from exercising unchecked power. It is a way to preserve and protect a strong system of checks and balances. Abolishing the filibuster today would marginalize the minority and give license to the majority acting with impunity. Our nation prospers and thrives when there is balance and debate, and the filibuster ensures that the Senate chamber is run by consensus. I would not support abolishing this important protection.

What is your position on changing voter access?

We need to ensure that Americans have confidence in our elections. I believe that every legal vote should be counted and done so in the open. It is essential that poll watchers are properly trained, that Illinois law is followed regarding signature verification, and that the prevention of illegal ballot harvesting is enforced. I do not believe in a federal takeover of elections. I believe elections should be run by the state.

Do you recognize that the election of Joe Biden as president in 2020 was legitimate and fair? If not, why?

Joe Biden is our President. I wish we had a different leader who could meet this moment, but we don't. That is why we need a Senator who will be a check - not a rubber stamp - on President Biden's policies. Preserving election integrity is crucial - and it is important that we make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. That is why I have been part of the Voter Integrity Project here in Illinois which is working to take steps to protect every single vote. Restoring trust in the election process is a good thing for our democracy and it's what the people want.

What, if anything, should Congress do to prevent another violent attack such as the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol?

Our Constitution protects peaceful protests and any individual who breaks our laws should be prosecuted. Going forward, all responsible parties should work together to ensure that all members of Congress and citizens visiting the Capitol are safe. I am running to restore balance and order to Congress. The hyper focus on this day distracts from the issues that matter most to the people of Illinois. The American people are hurting today with rising gas prices, increased cost of living, unsafe neighborhoods, a broken border, and an educational system that is failing to meet the needs of students. We need serious leaders who are ready to step up and address these issues.

What do you see as the most important issues to address regarding immigration reform? If you oppose funding for a wall, what steps do you support to try to control illegal immigration?

Leaders in Washington are responsible for ensuring our borders are safe and secure. President Biden has failed in this duty. We have a growing national security threat and humanitarian crisis at our southern border. Drug cartels and human traffickers have taken advantage of our weak borders. Deadly drugs, like fentanyl, continue to flood across the border taking countless American lives. Human traffickers enslave young girls and women only to sell them after crossing into our country. Illegal border crossings harm millions of migrants making the dangerous trip and our citizens here at home. Due to Covid, the government issued protections to prevent illegal border crossers from bringing Covid into the US. Removing this protection - with no plan to address the huge increase of migrants that will follow - creates an extremely dangerous environment. The situation is chaotic and dire, and President Biden's illogical policies are throwing rocket fuel on a fire already burning out of control.

What do you consider America's role in world affairs? In particular, what should our role be regarding current points of tension involving Russia/Ukraine, the future of Taiwan or other threats of Chinese expansionism and the Middle East?

Leaders must lead from positions of strength. The Biden Administration has operated from a position of weakness from Day 1. The world sees this. President Biden left us vulnerable when he limited our ability to be energy independent. He showed weakness and incompetence with the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. We are now experiencing the results as the evil powers of the world are emboldened to act with the aggression of war. The world is waiting for President Biden to lead with strong, articulate, and decisive action to prevent this and other aggressions by our enemies.

Do you acknowledge humans' role in causing climate change? What steps should government be taking to address the issue?

We should follow the science and the Biden administration's green new deal policies do more harm than good. Moreover, these radical policies hurt average Americans at the gas pump and in the grocery store. Our energy needs today cannot be 100% supported by alternative green energy policies alone - we simply don't have the energy grid to support that - not even close. The only way to move toward policies that address the good of our environment is to make sure America is energy independent first. We need to produce more oil and natural gas domestically. Our energy security is tied to our national security, and we need to make sure that America is not reliant on the unpredictable politics and energy policies of countries like Iraq, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Relying on such nations and depleting our oil reserves with no plan to replace them is dangerous and puts our national security at risk.

Please define your position on health care reform, especially as it relates to the Affordable Care Act.

We have a healthcare problem in America and socialist healthcare is not the answer. Obamacare has failed to fulfill numerous promises - deductibles have spiked, insurance premiums have doubled for individuals, risen 140% for families, and the number of participating insurers has decreased by one-third. Fewer choices have made too many Americans dependent on government healthcare, wedging government between patients and their doctors. From 2014-2019, the federal government spent more than $600 billion through Obamacare and Americans' health worsened. Life expectancy was lower in 2019 than it was in 2013. True healthcare reform requires price transparency, no surprise billing, no pharmaceutical middleman jacking up prices, coverage for preexisting conditions, and real conversations about ending drug and alcohol abuse. I also support Americans who favor preserving employer-based private healthcare plans allowing families to remain in charge of their medical decisions.