Candidate Statement
Raju for Congress stands for common-sense solutions, fiscal responsibility, and representing the diverse needs of our community. With a commitment to economic growth, education, and security, I pledge to serve with integrity and accountability. Together, let's build a brighter future for all. My Mission Is To Work For The Development Of My District And Constituents.
Education
Two Master’s Degrees: Business Administration (MBA) & Speech and Hearing
Occupational background
Over the past 30 years, Raju’s professional and personal service has impacted Hoosiers across the state. He is a leader in healthcare, practicing as a speech pathologist. He is a leader in business, with experience in creating and expanding profitable partnerships, managing hotel franchises, and leading international corporate expansion initiatives. He is a leader in the community, helping create better healthcare and positive revenue investments of over $500 million. As Senior Advisor for India at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Raju cultivated relationships that resulted in thousands of jobs.
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
None
Campaign Phone (public)
3175727258
I believe the challenges faced by our middle class, blue-collar workers who are seeing rising costs of living, inflation and other challenges is one of the most important things that our federal economic policies can change. My experience and plan moving forward is to continue building global economic relationships to attract more jobs so that Hoosiers can get better jobs with higher salaries to sustain the middle class in the future.
I would give us a solid 4 … because I believe that our system of government is still very strong, despite the challenges we have faced in the recent past. The forefathers of America anticipated many of the challenges faced today. We need to resist making knee-jerk changes to our democratic institutions based on the actions of the extreme elements of the two parties that currently control politics. America’s success is a marathon, not a sprint, and I hope to bring that philosophy to Congress.
I came to this country many years ago and I became a Citizen by doing it the right way. First we need to control the borders to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants into our country. But as a matter of human dignity and democratic policy, we need to stop the extremist fighting and come together to develop a better system to handle the influx of immigrants coming to America. As an immigrant myself, I would support any legislation to streamline the process and make it possible for legal immigration to take place and benefit America.
Climate change and its impact on cities across the globe cannot be denied. Changes in the warming of our waters and our atmosphere have resulted in historic weather events that do indeed pose a threat to the life that we currently enjoy, especially for those along our coasts and in the storm-prone sections of our country. We may debate on the causes of climate change - how big of a role does mankind actually play in this change or is it natural - but there is no denying that it’s happening. I would score this statement as a 4 as well.
I am the only person of color in this Congressional race and I understand what racial inequality is all about. Race has always been an issue in America and other countries and I don’t see that changing. But I will say that focusing on race issues is not something the federal government should be overly focused on. It’s more important for Congress to focus on economic issues that lift the boats of all Americans - regardless of race or culture. Too many times I see that race issues are used for political reasons and that I do not support.
I believe America is the shining light and example of what freedom means to those who seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We stand against the communists, dictators and fiefdoms that seek to deny basic freedoms to their people. I believe we have a right and responsibility to be the major player in global efforts to achieve peace in our world, however it is our responsibility to take care of our own people first.
I am the only candidate in this race with a healthcare background and I understand how this works. I advocate for competition, transparency, and regulatory reforms to reduce healthcare costs. I support policies enabling Medicare to negotiate drug prices, importing prescription drugs, and promoting value-based care. I also prioritize combating healthcare waste and fraud. By fostering competition, increasing transparency, and implementing targeted reforms, my aim is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Americans.
I am the only candidate in this race who has brought billions of dollars in investments and thousands of new jobs to Hoosiers, so I understand the importance of the global economy and America’s leadership role. However, we must cut the liberal spending by President Biden so that we can improve the economy and reduce the costs on everything. While unemployment rates are low, inflation is high and the cost of living - gas, groceries, utilities, etc. - is a huge challenge. Our federal economic policy needs to focus on how we can reduce inflation and lower the cost of living for our middle and lower classes in America. That starts with turning off the tap of rampant federal spending and tightening out budgetary belts. We have done this before
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Candidate Statement
IN
Education
Taylor University BA, Baylor University (MA) Michigan State University (JD)
Occupational background
Attorney
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
Delegate and Precinct Committeeman
Campaign Phone (public)
7657762957
Border security directly affects our national security and budgetary dilemma. We must enhance technological surveillance on the borers and enhance military interdiction at ports and border to stop the illegal flow of fentanyl and illegal drugs into our nation. We must also reform birthright citizenship and not allow maternity hospitals, for instance, Chino Hills, California, where people fly in, have a baby, and fly home simply for the privileges of US citizenship. After we secure the border, then members of Congress can debate and agree upon numbers and elements of immigration the work visa system and expedite the review of refugee claims. Requests must be made in a country of origin and human trafficking must stop.
4. We do have attacks from outside influences and foreign countries who wish to undermine our free and fair elections. I have concerns on mail in ballots. I am also concerned about large corporate interests who have the means to higher many lobbyists and strengthen a fourth branch of government that is not elected by the citizens,
After border security is achieved, I believe members of Congress can speak to immigration reform as a nation without borders is not a nation.
If an individual has worked in the USA, paid taxes, has no criminal background over a period of 10 years, and this same person is willing to learn the English language, a pathway to citizenship should be possible.
3 Without curbs on emissions from India and the Peoples Republic of China, climate change initiatives in the USA make minimal reforms. We must be good stewards of our environment and have plans in place for sustainability of our climate.
Prejudice and racial discrimination cannot be tolerated. Many times, it is the values transmitted by parents and churches that have a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of people. We must show love and compassion to those of different ethnic groups.
The USA is the leader of the free world. We must stand up for Israel and stop the attacks by Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza) and Houthi rebels (Yemen) who are attacking our ships who navigate in the Suez Canal and Red Sea -- source of 12% of our trade. Military action is merited against Houthi rebels.
In the Ukraine, a cease fire should be considered whereby the Russian speaking and Russian connected Crimea is controlled by Russia and the mineral rich Dombas region is controlled by the Ukraine. An international peace keeping force may need to help in erecting a wall and firm boundary.
In the Artic, we must compete in natural oil exploration.
We must continue to be a leader in artificial intelligence.
Businesses must build on business commonality, be allowed to operate across state lines, band together and have more leverage against insurance companies.
Community health care centers offer a good connection to primary care providers for treatment in pre and post-natal care, diabetes, and asthma. Lower income, the underserved and, those in Medicaid need a gatekeeper who can provide guidance on how to take medicine and when to take medications.
More power needs to be vested in doctors and away from insurance companies and hospitals. We must invest in more hospital beds and group homes for the mentally ill and provide systems of care before incarceration. Presently 30-40 percent of those in jail suffer from a mental illness.
We must stop some of the stimulus packages and the qualitative easing which has created inflation in all the goods needed for daily living, i.e. food, gas, etc.
I recommend zero based budgeting as a way to control spending among federal agencies. Like Coca Cola and other large companies, companies would justify their spending, go back to square one, on an annual basis instead of seeing automatic increases in their budgets. Budget hearings should have firm deadlines, transparency, and issues should be considered on their own merit and not through lobbyist prepared omnibus spending bills.
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Candidate Statement
United States
Education
B.S., Indiana University; M.S., IU Kelley School of Business
Occupational background
Technology Entrepreneur
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
None
We need to make sure the American dream is achievable for all of us.
We’ve had challenges in Indiana as manufacturing jobs have decreased. I want to make sure that folks can afford to live in our district with the wages they earn from quality jobs.
As an entrepreneur and job creator, I know businesses need a stable environment to create more jobs and a workforce that matches their needs.
The best thing the government can do is encourage schools and businesses to build the workforce of tomorrow right here in America.
Congress should support policies that foster economic stability, invest in K-12 programs that ensure students are ready for college and support workforce training for high-wage jobs.
2 - Democracy must remain America’s sacred cause and, like generations before us, we must protect it for our children.
Too many politicians are engaged in divisive, partisan politics. They believe that as long as they win, it doesn’t matter how badly they hurt the nation in the process. Worse yet, we now have candidates casting doubt on the democratic process when they lose.
This recklessness leads directly to the political violence we saw on January 6th at our nation’s Capitol. It can never be allowed to happen again.
We must do everything in our power to protect our democracy and repair the broken trust of our democratic institutions. This includes supporting policies such as independent redistricting and campaign finance reforms.
Our immigration system is broken. We need a bipartisan, comprehensive solution that ensures our borders are safe and secure, keeping out drugs and weapons, while recognizing that those who come here legally, pay taxes and play by the rules are a vital part of the American experiment.
Immigration plays an important role ensuring we have workers needed for a thriving economy and avoiding labor shortages. I would support a robust guest worker program and other pathways for immigrants to work and reside within our country legally.
I also support a pathway to citizenship for children who entered the United States illegally through no fault of their own.
4 - Climate change and extreme weather events that come with it are growing problems that we need to address. We need to take care of our environment in order to preserve it for future generations. Hoosiers want clean air and water.
As a nation, we should invest in economically viable, dependable sources of renewable energy. We should also develop a strategic plan to address issues ranging from human migration to rising insurance costs due to growing loss claims from the increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Racism is part of our history, and racism lives on in the hearts and minds of many. As a society, we must continue to call it out when we see it. Many government-backed or government-designed systems in place today were set up in the name of liberty and justice for all but do not operate that way in reality.
These systems directly and indirectly affect K-12 education, higher education, social services, health care and criminal justice. Lawmakers at the local, state and federal level can and should reform inequitably designed systems to allow access and opportunity for all Americans.
America has historically played a unique role as a world leader deeply committed to democracy with extraordinary military might.
We cannot be the world’s policeman but we can be an international leader, uniting a coalition of countries working together to maintain global peace and security. We must stand with our allies to ensure they stand with us and be willing to hold them accountable when necessary.
Finally, we need to ensure we keep our military strong to ensure our security and standing as a global leader.
The United States has some of the best healthcare in the world but how we pay for it is broken.
Half of Americans can’t afford an unexpected $1,000 bill yet most deductibles are much higher. We must look at how health plans are structured.
We need a national option, such as Medicare for All, that prioritizes low-cost healthcare while maintaining the option of private insurance for those who want it.
Finally, we must look at the things in healthcare that conspire to raise prices. Monopolies have formed and are driving up costs. Hospitals have consolidated and purchase physician practices. Insurers, PBMs and pharmacies are now a single company. Instead of creating savings, patients are charged more for fewer options.
We must take steps to address the growing debt and balance our budgets while keeping our promises and delivering services at a high level.
Hoosier families sit down to budget to make sure they can pay their bills, and the federal government should too.
We need to look for ways to streamline the delivery of government services so that the government operates within its means just like working families across the country.
Finally, we should re-evaluate the way that the Congressional Budget Office scores bills to make it more difficult to hide unpaid-for expenses.
We simply cannot continue to kick the can down the road. It not only harms future generations but it leads to issues like the inflation we have seen over the past few years.
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Education
BSBA Huntington University, MBA IWU, Masters in Ministry Bethel College
Occupational background
20 Plus years in Telecomunications Ops and Sales, Part Time Flight Instructor
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
NA
• I believe that open boarders are the top domestic policy challenge. My response plan is to pass HR 2 and let’s build 200 miles of boarder wall annually, increasing boarder agents to 22,000, modernize agents’ tools & technology, give no benefits to aliens that do not come in through an authorized port of entry, tighten asylum language. Reenact catch and return and the other provisions in H.R. 2.
Rating 2:
• Freedom of speech is threatened. The Federal Government and Social Media Platforms collaborated on censoring conservatives.
• Federal Government overreach into State’s Rights. Texas is being sued by the Federal government for trying to secure their boarder.
• Religious Liberty is under attack. During the Covid Lockdown, churches services outside as well as inside were banned, while strip clubs were allowed to stay open. Gail Blair, a blind woman, was banned from passing out the Gospel of John at a public park. Coach Joe Kennedy took the knee in silent prayer after a football game and was fired.
• First and foremost, secure the boarders.
• I support merit-based immigration and would give priority to people that can contribute to the economy.
• I support temporary and seasonal work visas that require the individual to return home at the end of the work period.
I support mandatory use of E-Verify to protect immigrants from exploitation and punish companies that do not comply with immigration laws.
• For those illegals that are here now, they need to be vetted for criminal history, agree to learn English and assimilate into American Culture and face potential fines and penalties up to and including return to country of origin and re-enter legally and be subject to a waiting period if not deported.
Rating 2:
The August 14th, 2023 report by the Global Climate Intelligence Group, signed by over 1,600 scientists, concludes there is no climate emergency. It asserts that the end of the Little Ice Age in 1850 naturally led to rising temperatures, which are progressing slower than predicted by IPCC models. The report states that CO2 is not a pollutant but rather beneficial for vegetation as it promotes plant growth. It counters claims of increased frequency of hurricanes, floods, and droughts, suggesting that CO2 mitigation efforts are both harmful and costly. Also, the report points out that climate science is devolving into a belief-driven discussion rather than grounded in rigorous self-critical scientific inquiry.
•America has made great strides in closing the racial divide and Congress has played, and should continue to play, a role in closing the divide even further. Examples of government policy that have been helpful include pro-growth tax reform and responsible deregulation have helped create jobs and reduce unemployment for African-American and Latinos. Welfare reform help others escape dependency on the government. School Choice enables families to place their children in better performing schools. Lastly, I read of an initiative sponsored by James Lankford and Tim Scott to get people of different races to sit down and have a meal together, believing that the best way to change a heart is to get to know someone.
I believe America does play a role in maintaining global peace. America’s influence in the world starts with a strong National Defense and Military and our ability to project military strength in support of our allies and national interests. America also helps further the cause of peace and democracy by promoting democracy, free markets and human rights around the globe. Security is enhanced when we lead strategic cooperation with countries that share our values. World peace is further enhanced when America is economically strong, and that is achieved by protecting American industry and jobs from unfair trade policies. Additionally, America can help achieve and maintain peace by being a peacemaker at via negotiation and diplomacy.
Reduce government intervention. Enhancing healthcare choice and competition in ways that embrace the value of the market while
focusing on patients’ needs. Put patients in control of their healthcare by ensuring price transparency and allowing Americans to pick the care that fits their needs.
We have to reduce the growth of government spending. Since 1960 United States has a five-fold increase in national government spending, establish seven new cabinet agencies, effect a steady expansion in programs and 80,000-plus pages of new regulations. Most of the personal growth has been done by adding some 12 million federal contractors to supplement what the nearly 3 million Federal Employees do not have capacity to handle.
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