Nels Mitchell in Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites
On Energy & Oil:
Oil & gas industries get huge subsidies despite high profits
Q: Should the federal government raise taxes in order to balance the budget? Which spending cuts do you favor? Please be specific.A: Members of the Senate and Congress spend too much time grabbing for headlines. We have a tax system that plays
favorites and is inefficient. We need to make our tax system fairer and simplify it. We also need to increase transparency and eliminate waste and fraud. Federal subsidies to profitable, well-established corporations are a waste of the taxpayer's money.
For instance, oil and gas industries are highly profitable, but have been getting huge subsidies from the U.S. taxpayers for almost a century. A conservative think tank recently estimated that corporate welfare in the federal budget costs taxpayers
almost $100 billion a year. That's $870 for each one of America's 115 million families. The Simpson-Bowles Commission provided a good starting point for serious work on tax reform and fiscal responsibility
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Immigration:
Idaho's farmers need immigration reform
My first priority is jobs and the economy. I would be an advocate for Idaho's economy and living wage jobs; there is a lot that a Senator working for Idaho can do. I would support and fight for funding for INL, and not vote against its funding as
Jim Risch recently did. I would be a staunch defender of Mountain Home Air Force Base and other federal facilities. I would work with Idaho's farmers who are advocating the need for immigration reform.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Abortion:
Support woman's right to make her own health decisions
I support fairness and equality in the workplace, and I support a woman's right to make her own health care decisions.
I also support the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Jim Risch voted against reauthorization of VAWA. I would have voted for it.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jul 1, 2014
On Environment:
Committed to protecting our unique outdoor heritage
Idaho is an outdoor state. Most of us like to hunt, fish and take our kids hiking and camping. I am committed to protecting our unique heritage so that future generations of Idahoans can have the same
access to recreational opportunities that you and I enjoy today. I will strongly oppose any effort to sell off our public lands.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jul 1, 2014
On Social Security:
The greatest generation earned their retirement security
My parents were part of America's "greatest generation." I know how hard they--and millions like them--worked to achieve the American dream. Seniors should have the resources and independence to
enjoy the quality of life we as Idahoans and Americans enjoy. Unlike my opponent, I will not waver in my support for Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jul 1, 2014
On Education:
More funding for schools, from property tax, not sales tax
As the Idaho Legislature struggles to set education funding, Mitchell says Idahoans would do well to remember the root cause of today's misery: "During his seven months as fill-in governor, Jim Risch started the 'race to the bottom' in our schools, and
he owes an apology to the people of Idaho.""In 2006, Risch sold the legislature on a wrong-headed plan to swap public schools' property tax funding for an increase in the sales tax," Mitchell said. "He promised us schools wouldn't lose money.
The fact is, they lost big--$50 million in one fell swoop, and that was just the beginning."
Mitchell said Risch's scheme raised the sales tax by a penny, which impacted all Idaho families, while the concurrent property tax cut mostly benefited
big corporations, and wealthy Idahoans. They got hefty breaks while Idaho families paid more in sales tax and often more in property tax as well because of override levies. "The future of our state lies in our public education system," Mitchell said.
Source: 2014 Senate Campaign web, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com, "P.R."
Mar 5, 2014
On Budget & Economy:
No silly votes to shut down government; no budget blackmail
I said when I announced yesterday that I'll go back to Washington and work for Idaho. I won't be an automatic vote for anyone or anything, unlike Mr. Risch who shields his lack of accomplishment in the Senate by voting NO on virtually everything and by
offering no real solutions of his own. In particular, he has done nothing to promote job growth in Idaho.Unlike Mr. Risch, I won't cast silly votes to shutdown our government; I won't use budget blackmail to harm Mountain Home Air Force Base or the
INL, and I won't concentrate on Syria and Kazakhstan at the expense of Kootenai or Canyon County.
This election is about the record of a life-long politician who has held elected office for nearly 40 years and, in an entire term in the U.S. Senate,
has not one major thing to show as an accomplishment for Idaho's families. The only desperation here is Mr. Risch's as he struggles to hold on to the job that pays him $174,000, one he recently said was so easy he could do it permanently.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jan 15, 2014
On Homeland Security:
Maintain Mountain Home Air Force Base
Unlike Mr. Risch, I won't cast silly votes to shutdown our government; I won't use budget blackmail to harm
Mountain Home Air Force Base or the INL.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jan 15, 2014
On War & Peace:
Don't concentrate on Syria at the expense of home
I won't use budget blackmail to harm Mountain Home Air Force Base or the
INL, and I won't concentrate on Syria and Kazakhstan at the expense of Kootenai or Canyon County.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jan 15, 2014
On Families & Children:
Strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act
Mitchell said he would work with Rep. Mike Simpson to ensure funding for the Idaho National Laboratory and to protect the Boulder White Clouds, and, unlike Sen. Risch, would be a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act.
Mitchell said the 2014 election will be pivotal. "In 2014, we the people must reclaim the US Senate from the control of career politicians. It is not too late for the Senate to reestablish credibility and restore the confidence of the American people."
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jan 14, 2014
On Government Reform:
No junkets; no gridlock; promises one term only
Noting that Risch has held public office for almost 40 years, Mitchell said the Founding Fathers never envisioned career politicians running Washington."They conceived of a Senate in which citizen legislators would step forward to serve their country
for a limited time before returning to their private lives." Mitchell said. "For that reason, I will run for one term and one term only."
"I am not a politician. I have had a successful career, and it is now my turn to step up," Mitchell said. "Six
years is a long time. During that time, I will work as hard as I possibly can to represent Idaho and its people. I will be beholden to nobody but the people of Idaho."
Mitchell said the gridlock in Washington can be addressed. "I do not believe, as
Sen. Risch does, that it's impossible to accomplish anything in the Senate," he said. "If that's the case, why do we pay him? I commit to you that I won't make excuses and I won't take junkets. No excuses, no junkets, period."
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jan 14, 2014
On Gun Control:
High priority on right to hunt & fish on public lands
Mitchell said that, after jobs and the economy, he would focus on protecting Idahoans' right to hunt, fish and recreate on public lands. "Our public
lands belong to all of us, and they should not be turned over to the state where they could be put up for sale."
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com
Jan 14, 2014
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018