Issues
Sovereignty of our Commonwealth
The Obama administration continues to expand the federal government’s size, power, and debt, at the direct expense of our personal liberties. Kentucky needs to exercise the rights granted to states in the 9th and 10th amendments of the US Constitution.
The Moffett/Harmon administration will review federal laws and regulations to determine if they are compliant with the US Constitution and Commonwealth’s Constitution. If they do not pass muster, we will protect our citizens by fighting against them.
Tax Code Reform: Creating Jobs & Improving the Business Environment
Dozens of companies are leaving California, New York, and New Jersey because the business environments are bad. None of them are considering Kentucky as their new home.
Why? Kentucky’s business environment is not competitive.
Kentucky has 240 different state taxes, fees, surcharges, etc. The Moffett/Harmon administration will replace all of them with a single-rate, consumer sales tax on all goods and services.
- No more personal income taxes.
- No more corporate/business income taxes.
- No more imbedded taxes in products.
- No more state property taxes.
- You will no longer have to file a state tax return!
Transforming our tax structure to a single-rate, consumer sales tax will make Kentucky the most competitive state in the region, if not the nation, for business growth and new jobs.
It is a simple fact that profitable companies hire more employees. Kentucky needs to be the place where companies can be profitable! Kentucky needs to be the place to get a good job!
Improving Public Education
One-third of Kentucky’s K-12 students drop out. Of those who graduate, 60% need remedial education to get into our Commonwealth’s colleges and universities.
When you strip away failure and mediocrity, Kentucky prepares roughly one-of-four students to enter the workforce or enter college.
Our public school system operates on a failed business model. Practically no one can be held accountable for anything. Schools and Districts blame Frankfort. Frankfort blames the US Department of Education.
This has to change.
The Moffett/Harmon administration will strip away the bureaucracy, make districts responsible for school & student performance, and provide parents with public school choice.
To do this, superintendents and principals will have to operate like business owners. They need to have control over all decisions, including personnel. If changes need to be made to improve student performance, they must have authority to make changes.
It is a fact that students cannot learn unless they submit to their teachers. Under the current system, teachers have little control over their classrooms or curriculum. Students can be disruptive without fear of real punishment. If students fall behind, teachers cannot alter the curriculum. They must continue to “teach to the test.”
Our teachers are very capable and need to be in a system that fosters success. Our administration will make this a reality.
Parents have the primary responsibility to educate their children. The Moffett/Harmon administration will allow parents to put their children in the public school they believe is best for their child, regardless of district boundaries. We will make public charter schools available to any community who believes it will be best for their children.
Parental choice means competition. Competition means better quality and lower costs over time. Kentucky’s schools certainly need the positive impacts of competition.
Smaller, Efficient, and Fiscally Responsible State Government
Our Commonwealth is drowning in debt. We have over $7 billion in authorized debt. Additionally, we have a $30+ billion underfunded state employee retirement fund. This debt hole is getting deeper by the day and there is no plan in place to stop it.
The Moffett/Harmon administration will appoint a “military base-closing” style commission to look into every corner of state government.
The commission will be chartered with consolidating back office functions and cabinets, eliminating unnecessary programs, and outsource as many state services as possible.
The savings realized from the commission will be used to eliminate our debt and shore up the pension plan.
Pro-life
Phil and Mike are both 100% pro-life and are absolutely opposed to abortion. They have been endorsed by Northern Kentucky Right to Life.
Second Amendment
Protecting the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to our freedom as Americans. Phil and Mike will accept no compromises with those who would trade precious freedom for the illusion of security.
Coal
The Obama administration’s war on Appalachian coal merely expands the political games Frankfort has played with our coal counties for far too long. The Moffett/Harmon tax plan will repeal the coal severance tax which currently is misappropriated by Frankfort politicians. Fighting government abuse of the coal industry is critical to our entire state.
Illegal immigration
The federal government’s repeated failures to protect our southern border with Mexico leaves enforcement of immigration laws to the states. In the last General Assembly session, the Senate supported an Arizona-type law and the House supported requiring employers to check on the legal status of their employees. Phil Moffett and Mike Harmon support implementing both of these plans, in addition to requiring landlords to use the E-Verify system to check renters’ status.
Industrial Hemp
Kentucky farmers who want to grow industrial hemp are prohibited from doing so based on misapplication of federal drug laws. Industrial hemp is not a drug and has no involvement in promotion of illegal drug cultivation whatsoever. Phil and Mike support fighting the federal government’s prohibition of industrial hemp farming and welcome the support of both Republican candidates for Agriculture Commissioner on this subject.