Wendy Long in 2016 NY Senate race

On Budget & Economy: High-tax policies have led to a weak recovery

Wendy Long: Obama-Schumer high-tax policies have led to a weak recovery from the Financial Crisis that has kept middle-class incomes stagnant and produced low quality jobs for many New Yorkers. Chuck Schumer realized that the Obama tax policies raised taxes on middle-class New Yorkers, but supported them nonetheless. Our tax code is also overly complicated with provisions that benefit special interests and not the forgotten working individuals and small businesses. I will support any plan to lower individual tax rates, simplify the tax code, and eliminate special interest loopholes like the carried interest loophole and deduction for mortgage interest on vacation homes. I would propose, for example, reducing today's seven tax brackets to three (10%, 25%, and 28%), and eliminating the ObamaCare taxes.

On Environment: The EPA has heaped rules upon rules

Wendy Long: America can and should be energy self-sufficient, for the sake of both economic growth and national security. Poor government policy is the only thing that has stood between us and energy independence. In fact, in light of our shale oil and shale gas discoveries, we can create millions of new jobs and become the lead exporter of energy in the world. The EPA has heaped rules upon rules so that compliance is taking a huge toll on our American energy industries. These rules have created great waste and inefficiency, and because they are generated by an unaccountable bureaucratic state, they are largely beyond the reach of remedy in a system of self-government. They have driven up the cost of American energy for both consumers and business, making it difficult to create jobs.

On Technology: We need to repair America's transportation infrastructure

A: We need to repair America's transportation infrastructure. The flow of commerce depends upon it. So I would make it a priority, and the bids to do all of the work should be competitive and should be done as economically as possible, because we have to do the work when our nation is in great debt. We can't afford waste, graft, and corporate welfare, as well as excessive bureaucracy, to increase the cost of rebuilding and maintaining our infrastructure.

On Crime: When churches convert to mosques, poverty & crime follow

The North Side neighborhood around the mosque has a fast-growing population of international refugees. Long said she had no independent proof that such crimes are on the rise in the neighborhood since the mosque opened. When asked if she believes there's a direct link between the rising Muslim refugee population and crime, Long said, "Probably not." But she added that "the fact we have refugees who are coming in without work, many of whom are on perpetual public assistance" has led to a cycle of poverty that likely fuels crime.

On Principles & Values: Clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

Her introduction video includes snippets of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump while she declares "this is an election year unlike any we've ever seen before." Then cutting to black-and-white pictures of Schumer with Hillary Clinton, Long continues that "we the people are standing up against the politics of the status quo and against the corruption and cronyism of career politicians in Washington."

On Principles & Values: OpEd: provides conservative Republican ideological diversity

Alas, Long has been nearly invisible since her resounding win in the GOP primary, which she got thanks to the backing of the state Conservative Party. Frankly, we doubt that Rep. Bob Turner, whom she defeated in that race, would've been such a shrinking violet. Certainly, she was never able to raise much money.

But we support Long, because she's far superior on the issues, and because there should be some ideological diversity in New York's political leadership, where Republicans--and especially conservative Republicans--are rare birds.