Kenneth Stepp and Hal Rogers

Kenneth Stepp and Harold "Hal" Rogers. Daily Independent file photos.

ASHLAND There are two candidates running for the 5th District Representative seat in Congress. The Daily Independent asked Kenneth S. Stepp and Harold “Hal” Rogers why they were running and what they consider their most important issues.

Here are their responses:

Harold “Hal” Rogers

“We have made great strides in Eastern Kentucky, but we have more work to do to revitalize our rural economy, create more jobs, spur innovation, expand access to drug abuse treatment and education, and make our region a better place to live. 

“In Washington, I continue to support federal legislation that benefits our veterans, modernizes our military and strengthens our economy in Eastern Kentucky. I proudly voted for historic tax reform, which is already boosting wages, benefits and bonuses for individuals and families across the country. In Eastern Kentucky, families will bring home an average of $2,000 more in their paychecks by the end of this year. It provides families and businesses with more financial security for the years ahead. 

“A lot of momentum is building around SOAR - Shaping Our Appalachian Region, the initiative I co-founded to diversify our economy and promote regional collaboration. Since 2013, we have capitalized on job growth by supporting local businesses, advancing workforce development, advocating for high-speed high-capacity broadband, and preparing to be competitive in the new high-tech, digital economy. 

“A new report recently showed overdose deaths have been cut in half in some of our counties in Eastern Kentucky, proving that our work with Operation UNITE is working. For the last 15 years, UNITE has successfully championed the life-saving mission to curb the drug abuse epidemic through law enforcement, treatment and education, becoming a national model. I have voted for landmark legislation, like the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, to invest more federal funding in effective programs and I vow to continue the fight. I want to thank all the volunteers and leaders from across the region who have invested their time and resources to help those suffering with addiction. 

“Finally, I am honored by the confidence that you continue to place in me to represent Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District. Together, we are cleaning up litter with PRIDE, combating drug abuse with UNITE, and creating new tourism and job opportunities with SOAR. I believe our best days are ahead of us and I would be honored to have your vote on November 6th to continue our work together.”

Kenneth S. Stepp

I am running for U.S. House of Representatives, KY-05 because the people deserve better. The people of the Kentucky Fifth District, the people of Kentucky and the people of the United States deserve better representation than we have been getting in the Congress of the United States.

In December 2017, the Republican Congress passed a huge tax cut, signed by Donald Trump that:

1. Gives a tax cut for the rich. Reduces the highest personal tax rate from 39.6 percent to 37 percent and raised the income threshold at which this lower rate commences. Increases the income threshold for individuals subject to the Alternative Minimum tax from $160,900 for a married couple to $1,000,000.

2. Gives corporations a massive tax cut, decreasing the Corporate Tax Rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. This is nearly a $1 trillion tax cut over the next 10 years to corporations. Also gets rid of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax for companies that were able to reduce their taxes to very low levels by aggressive tax planning.

Our drug problem is totally out of control (having risen from approximately 7,000 drug overdose deaths in 1980 to over 60,000 drug overdose deaths in 2016).

Our educational system through high school is dysfunctional and poorly performing compared to the rest of the World (in 2015, the U.S. ranked a mediocre 38th out of 71 countries in math, and 24th in science), especially when considering the resources provided, over $12,000 per student per year (in 2014-2015 dollars), the highest in the world.

We need to continue to maintain laws that provide that neither women nor racial minorities fall victim to discriminatory practices in hiring, housing, education, nor commerce.

We should keep the Electoral College, which, like the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, is designed to assure that neither large-population states nor small-population states get undue influence in our government.

I was initially opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, because I did not believe that it had a provision where the United States could veto Communist China from becoming a member of it; hence, I thought it was contrary to the best interest of the United States.

Concerning NATO, it is in the best interest of the United States, as it is composed of a group of nations that share America's cultural heritage, which is a Western heritage and a European heritage of freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble, and freedom to own private property, and that we can do better working jointly to help to defend each other, rather than going our separate ways.

Many anti-immigrants have voiced preferences to repeal or curtail the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which provides that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." The Fourteenth Amendment was a product of America's Civil War, and should remain a part of our Constitutional Law.

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ccarver@dailyindependent.com

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