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UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2

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  • Candidate picture

    Lori Camp
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Rudy Yakym
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What are your top two priorities if elected (or reelected) to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives? Why these?

The U.S./Mexico border has seen a historic surge in migrant crossings, with overcrowding at U.S. immigration facilities. What steps, if any, should Congress take to address border security?

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its annual economic outlook and projects the national debt to rise in the next decade from $34.8 trillion to $54.9 trillion. What steps would you take, if any, to address the deficit and national debt? Would you consider tax hikes, cuts to Social Security, Medicare and/or defense spending or take another approach?

How much aid should Congress approve for U.S. allies, such as Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine? Describe your position on U.S. involvement with foreign affairs and security.

Should Congress pass federal gun regulations, such as a semi-automatic weapons ban, a national background check, red flag laws (for people a judge determines to be a danger to themselves or others)? Why or why not?

What role should Congress play in the election process? Which is a bigger problem: voter access or voter fraud? What, if any, federal election laws would you like to see changed?

Should Congress pass more legislation to lower energy prices and achieve energy independence even it means greater reliance on fossil fuels?

Do you feel it is important for the United States to support and maintain their membership in NATO and/or the United Nations?

Do you support a federal ban on abortion? If so, what, if any, exceptions, should be included? If not, why not?

Spring 2024 Candidate Video:

Occupation/Current Position OCIE Service and Training Manager/Vendor Compliance Coordinator Donnell Systems, Inc,
Education BS Criminal Justice IUSB
Email Address info@campforcongress.com
Campaign Phone 5749047993
Candidate video
First, codify a woman’s right to reproductive freedom/health. This is the most important right a woman can have and must be addressed immediately. To have anyone threaten to take this away, that is a direct affront to one’s freedom.

Second, finally address immigration reform. We need to allocate additional resources to the border/border patrol, while at the same time revising the immigration laws that have not changed in decades.

These two issues will have immediate impact. Women will have a freedom restored that was recently stripped away, and the immigration issues that have been at the forefront of politics for the past decade will finally have movement. This should make immigration process better than it has been in a long time, while also allowing those that see immigration as a problem to finally see steps towards a solution.
We must revamp the immigration laws and the amount of resources allocated to the border. The laws currently in effect do not adequately address the arrivals that we are seeing today, and the number of resources allocated at the border do not meet the needs that have arisen with the greater number of migrants seeking entry. This additional allocation of resources will help not only speed the removal of ineligible migrants, but will ensure that those eligible for asylum are more speedily processed.

The laws should be updated to reflect the fact that there is a need for migrants, and for some of those migrants, asylum is necessary. The laws should also be enacted to ensure that those who follow the laws and standardized processes are given a straightforward path to legal status or citizenship.
The first thing I would do is something that is already being done, which is to ensure that taxes owed are paid. I would also like to revamp the tax code so there are far fewer loopholes that benefit those who can pay legislators to create those loopholes. This would, in time, decrease the complexity of the tax code making it much harder to cheat on paying taxes.

I would also like to examine spending across the board, auditing and having all aspects of the government offices have more accountability to the people that these offices are serving. We need to be good stewards of the tax dollars that are received and there is no better way to ensure that monies are spent wisely than if every taxpayer can see where the money is going and who it benefits.
I cannot give a hard number as I am not privy to the information that I would have if elected.

What I can say is that I believe in supporting our allies with resources that will ensure that human rights and peace are prioritized. We must, in all cases, be generous with our hardware/supplies while maintaining our own military readiness and ensure that if we even think of sending our soldiers, it is as an absolute last resort. We have been strong supporters of those who align with our ideals of freedom and democracy, and I think that should be a continued goal.
I do believe it is time for sensible gun regulations. As a former Vietnam Veteran said to me, “there is no need for semi-automatic weapons in the home”. I believe that, with sensible regulations, the amount of gun violence that we currently experience will be lessened.

With the technology available today, there is no reason that all individuals who sell or trade firearms, either professionally or at trade shows/fairs, should not be able to participate in a national background check before selling or trading guns.

We must do all we can to ensure that those who possess guns are knowledgeable and serious about keeping their firearms secured and safe.
Voter access is a big problem in the second district. Indiana has done a bit better with early voting and voting by mail with a reason, but there should be no obstacle in place that prohibits any legal voter the ability to vote by mail even without a reason.

I would like to see the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act passed. This would hopefully ensure the end of gerrymandered districts, of which Indiana has far too many.
Yes, but only if we are also exploring renewable sources in tandem. We offer subsidies to many established companies, and we should be looking at ways to make renewables more affordable and sustainable. We also need to be transparent in the support (subsidies) the different companies are getting.
Yes, we have been a beacon on the hill, if you will, of defending and upholding democracy for decades. At this point and time, with our own democracy in possible danger, we must continue to stand with our allies in the fight to defend and strengthen democracy, not only at home, but worldwide. We must not yield to those who prefer dictatorships as a means to govern, but must maintain and even expand our support to those who wish to maintain/ defend democracy with us.

To do anything else is to dishonor those that fought for our freedom, both here and abroad.
No, I do not support a federal ban on abortion. I believe that reproductive freedom is as important of an issue as we could possibly face. A federal abortion ban would literally codify a religious/biblical belief into law.

The right to have an abortion or to not have an abortion, is something that should be between a woman, her family, her physician, and if she chooses, her clergy person.
Occupation/Current Position U.S. Representative
Education Bachelor’s degree in business finance and administration from Indiana University South Bend, Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame
Email Address team@rudyforindiana.com
My number one job is to fight for Hoosier families. Everyday, my team and I go to work for the people of Indiana’s Second District. Whether it is cutting through the red tape at the VA or resolving issues with Social Security and the IRS, we are committed to getting the Federal government out of the way for hard working Hoosiers. Additionally, the crisis at the Southern Border is top of mind for all of us. I have worked diligently with my colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that will address the border, including H.R. 2; however, Democrats continue to refuse to act. We must act now to save lives.
President Biden created this crisis with the stroke of a pen and can solve this crisis with the stroke of a pen. We do not need new additional laws, we need Presidential leadership that will enforce the laws in place.
Historically high spending levels have created record breaking inflation, leaving Hoosiers paying the price at the gas station and grocery store. Recently, the House Budget Committee passed a plan to balance our Federal budget without making cuts to Social Security. I look forward to continuing to support fiscally responsible solutions for our nation’s mounting deficit.
Under President Joe Biden, the United States is experiencing a crisis at the Southern Border. That weakness has extended to the international stage, creating a more dangerous world. We need to secure our border first and continue to stand with our allies.
No.
Our elections should not be federalized. The constitution is very clear that election law should be determined at a state level, “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof.”
President Biden has declared war on domestic energy production. House Republicans have prioritized energy independence, passing H.R. 1 out of the House last year, which would unleash American energy independence. Unfortunately, Democrats have continued to stall this legislation.
I support maintaining our membership in NATO. It is important that NATO member nations pay their fair share.
I am pro-life and believe that Roe vs. Wade was rightly overturned.
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