Austin Searle in 2022 UT Senate race

On Government Reform: For term limits for Congress & Supreme Court

U.S. Senators To Serve Three Four-Year Terms
U.S. House Of Representatives To Serve Three Two-Year Terms
U.S. Supreme Court To Serve A Max Of 18 Years

Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Gun Control: Require licensing, registration, training

A more effective way of reducing gun violence in communities would require every buyer of any age to obtain a license that includes the registration of all purchases and at least a modest training program. Those who plan to buy a gun of any type should p Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Budget & Economy: Supports Universal Basic Income: $1200 a month

I propose that every adult get $1,200 while those under 18 get $500; this will improve and trickle up the economy--up for our families, communities, and our people. Those who have children will get more if added together, which will end poverty and give people hope, allowing them to achieve their dreams, accomplish their goals, and put food on the table during this time of need. Homeless people will no longer have to try to find money to sleep somewhere. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Civil Rights: Pass the Personal Privacy Act; stop sharing of personal data

The Personal Privacy Act is about protecting our rights. We need to ban robocalls and safeguard our personal information. Did you know that companies share and sell your personal information to major corporations when you give your phone number on a website, email, sign papers when buying or financing leases, etc.? Companies will share and sell your private information with their partners or allies. We need to ban this. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Crime: Police should only carry tasers, not guns

Law enforcement, including police officers, should only carry a taser. Recently, an officer mistook a gun for a taser and brutally murdered a young man from Minnesota. The company that manufactures tasers says it has implemented new design features and training recommendations to reduce the chances of law enforcement officers confusing the electroshock weapon for a handgun when using force. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Energy & Oil: Improving energy efficiency impacts climate change

Energy efficiency reduces emissions from power plants, improves grid resilience during periods of electricity demand, saves consumers money, and creates jobs in the building and energy sectors. Improving energy efficiency includes insulating your water heater and pipes, installing a programmable thermostat, swapping out light bulbs, replacing appliances before they die, cleaning and replacing filters, etc. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Energy & Oil: Infrastructure investments can reduce emissions

Congress will be instrumental in designing and funding any new federal infrastructure package. Infrastructure investments can reduce emissions and improve resilience to the climate impacts we are already experiencing. For instance, a modernized grid can better distribute renewable power and make communities more resilient to extreme weather. Any new infrastructure should get built to last, with impacts like rising sea levels and increasingly frequent heatwaves in mind. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Environment: Ban euthanizing at animal shelters

Once an animal is no longer cared for or abused and found, animal control will put the animal into an Animal Shelter. Once they are at the shelter for an extended period and cannot get adopted, animal euthanasia happens; this should be a crime and considered animal cruelty. Instead, they should send them to an Animal Care Facility, where they can be loved and cared for until a home can be found. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Environment: Why no vote on clean water infrastructure bill?

Sen. Mike Lee is getting blasted on social media for being one of only two senators to vote against a clean water infrastructure bill. A Democrat looking to unseat Lee in Utah also weighed in on the senator's vote. Austin Searle simply posted on Twitter, "Raise your hand if you believe in clean drinking water. Sen. Mike Lee seems not to think so." Source: KUTV-2 CBS-TV on 2022 Utah Senate race Apr 30, 2021

On Government Reform: Ranked-choice voting should be a human right

Ranked-choice voting should be a human right to vote for their candidate in order from their top candidate to their second choice and so on. Some may ask, "What is the point in this?". Some may have a hard decision on voting for one candidate when they believe that they should also vote for another candidate. Voting for others running for office will also give voters a chance to decide if they also like another candidate's policies and perhaps are their second choice. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Health Care: Replace employer-paid insurance with Medicare for All

Medicare For All would be funded by the federal government, using money that otherwise would go to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs that pay for health services. We can eliminate employer-sponsored health insurance. Employer-paid premiums for health insurance are exempt from national income and payroll taxes. By eliminating employer-sponsored health insurance, it will lower payroll taxes and have the federal programs pay for Medicare For All; Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Jobs: Funding business start-ups creates jobs, economic growth

The goal of all job creation strategies is to stimulate healthy economic growth. Increasing employee earnings leads to a higher consumer spending rate, which benefits other businesses who depend on consumer sales to stay open and pay vendors. Funding local areas to those who want to start their own business will be able to put money directly into our hands, create more jobs, build trust, economic growth, and maintain hope and satisfaction. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Jobs: Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour

We need to increase the minimum wage for all. Right now, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, and it has not increased since 2008. I propose that we raise the minimum to $15 an hour; this will help all survive and live on a minimum wage, which will be one of the first policies I will fight for serving as your Senator. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Social Security: Maximize benefits, lower retirement age to 52

Maximizing our Social Security benefits and maintaining our current income will be my main priority. Maximizing this will allow us to increase our Social Security benefits each year while maintaining our other earnings, which will not decrease our current SS benefits. The retirement age is currently set to at least 62, but many of us plan to retire by the time we reach our 50's. I believe in decreasing the period of retirement benefits to the age of 52. Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Tax Reform: Big tech should either pay for our data or subsidize housing

Some of these tech companies make the majority of their money off our data and pay close to $0 in taxes. We need to engage these big tech companies to pay their fair share and give us our fair share of data worth. We can engage them in funding to lower the costs of housing in local states and cities. I will personally go to these companies and say, "Look, you either pay us all of our fair share of the data and profit you earn from the American people or help us lower the costs of housing". Source: 2021-2022 Utah Senate race website AustinForSenate.com Jun 27, 2021

On Technology: Called out TikTok for trending "National Rape Day"

Utah Democrat Austin Searle who is running to unseat Sen. Mike Lee next year, tweeted calling out the TikTok platform specifically: Austin Searle for US Senate - @AustinTSearle

Apr 18: A Group of users started a "National Rape Day" trend on TikTok that declared this will be taking place on April 24th! This is outrageous and forbidden! What is #TikTok going to do about this?

Source: Rare.US News Feed on 2022 Utah Senate race Apr 19, 2021

The above quotations are from 2022 Utah Senate race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts from 2022 Utah Senate race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Austin Searle. Click here for a profile of Austin Searle.
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Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023