Meet Dr Mike Kennedy:

• Email: Mike@KennedyForUtah.com
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**OUR ENDORSED CANDIDATE**

Interview Videos

Daily Wire Interview

Mike Kennedy’s Record

State Convention Speeches

 

• Cleaning Up Already…

  Endorsement

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“Going to do the right thing for our families and children, not for leadership roles.”

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Key Strengths:

• Wide range of experience to assist in Washington (Physician, Lawyer, State Legislature.
• Strong history of not working with Lobbyists. (“I will pay for my own meal.”)
• History of being responsive to constituents and returning phone calls.
• Proven Conservative with Voting Record (#12 of 75 Utah State Legislators, 2018 – 77% Conservative Votes, Lifetime – 69% Conservative Votes)

Position on The Issues:  (Unable to do interview, answers from Town Halls and Calls)

Freedom and The Constitution of The United States

• What is your opinion on Freedom and how do you help protect it?
  • The purpose of government is to protect god given liberties of life liberty and property.
  • For us to create statute, there needs to be a good reason.  We shouldn’t need to recreate statute to protect already constitutionally protected rights.
• What is your opinion of The Constitution of The United States?   How will you protect the rights therein?
  • [Senator Lee’s 1st Amendment Defense Act] We should be legislating on these things instead of sending them to the supreme court.  Any time we can get ahead of the judiciary legislating from the bench by creating a law through our representatives in congress, i’m in favor of that.
• What is your opinion of the Convention of States to amend or change the constitution?
  • Problem is State-Federal Collaberaion.  Important that we work together.
  • No convinced this is the right thing or the right time (can we do something else, something better)
• What are the most important Amendments to the United States Constitution?

1st Amendment – Freedom of Religion

• What does this amendment mean to you?
  • This is an important right that must be protected.
• How can we ensure the protection of the few doesn’t supersede protection of the religious rights of all?
• What can we do to ensure religious rights are never impinged?

2nd Amendment – Right To Bear Arms

• What does this amendment mean to you?
  • “We need leaders who understand how important these rights are to ensuring freedom for future generations. I will protect these rights for all law-abiding citizens, and will always uphold the Constitution and fight for our liberties.”
  • I have voted in favor of the 2nd amendment the entire time I was in the legislature.
• How do we continue to protect our right to bear arms?
  • I would not approve of restrictions on the 2nd amendment.  If enough people do not like it they would need to repeal it.
  • We need to keep the guns from falling in the wrong hands instead of taking them away from law abiding citizens
  • Voted FOR constitutional carry.
  • Record -> NRA “A” Grade
• Are there any limitations that should be put on this right?  If yes, what level of government?
  • Have never supported limitations on gun rights.
• How do we protect our schools in this process?
  • History of working for school safety without gun control at State Level.
  • I created a school safety commission to discuss opinions on school safety and to come up with ideas on how to improve things.  I have students, teachers, the chair of the shooting sports council, a forensic psychologist, an architect, the superintendent of the state hospital, the president of UEA, the commissioner of the department of public safety, and a professor of sociology on this safety commission.
  • The goal is to come up with a greenhouse of ideas and not shoot down any ideas.  Then we go through them and decide what would violate the 2nd amendment and what is feasible and we see what we can do and implement
  • I’m just there as a facilitator while members of our community develop best practices.
  • I’m not for knee jerk responses when it comes to public safety that end up violating our liberties.  I want carefully thought out ideas.

4th Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search or seizure

• In a technology era, how do we continue to protect the rights of privacy?
• Should government or law enforcement agencies be able to unlock cellphones as part of a search?
• How do we protect society without infringing on this right? (Wiretapping, FISA Courts, Monitoring, Airport Security)

5th Amendment – Rights of Due Process, Freedom from Self-Incrimination

• In the social media, sensationalized media reports and #metoo society, how do we help ensure individuals receive their due process?

9th Amendment – Constitution is Not Exhaustive List of Rights (Other Rights Reserved to People)

• What does this amendment mean to you?
• How do we stop the overreach of all levels of government?
  • Your Senator should be reaching out to you, responsive to you and have a history of working for you (I have a record of doing this).
  • Send someone with experience.  Get government out of your business.
  • Get power back to the people
  • “I was able to attend the conventions in Utah, Davis, Weber, and Cache counties today. If there’s anything I’ve learned from being a doctor and a State Legislator, it’s that you should listen to people more than you speak. We need leaders who will remember us when they vote, not just when we do. I’ll be your voice in the United States Senate.”

10th Amendment – Rights Reserved To States In Not Enumerated in Constitution

• How do we get the rights reserved for the states back to the states?
  • The 10th amendment is clear that any power not given to the federal government falls under the jurisdiction of the states.
  • Get the right back to the people by sending people that in in Washington for you, not for themselves
  • I am a minimalist.  By moving as much as possible Local, we can ensure things don’t get worse.
  • Move power back to states by reducing regulation based agencies.
  • Uniquely qualified to protect the State and Local Government from Washington (From his run for Utah House District 27)

Caucus System vs Count Me Voice

• What is your feeling about these two systems?  Which do you feel is best for Utah?
  • Great System
  • 4th Election, never done signatures.
  • Voted AGAINST SB54 – Think it should be repealed.

Education 

• How should the federal or state government be involved in education?
  • There is no federal role for education.  These departments never disappear like we hope they would though, so I would be working to roll it back program by program.
• What are your feelings about Common Core or local equivalents?
  • Control of education should be at the Parent Level, no regulations should happen at the government level.
• How do we return the power of education back to the local level (teachers, parents)?
  • Sometimes universities get kickbacks from the student loan lender to push these debt on students.  They are making a profit at the costs of our students future.  The federal government should not be involved with student loans.
  • I will not vote for anything to enhance washington’s power.  I want more options to come back to the states.  I want power closer to the people.
  • Our state already funds higher education to a very significant level.  Imagine if all that money came back from the fed.  We could do some much more with that money.
• How do we protect the right of parents to be involved and make decisions about education for their children?
  • Mike understands the only way to advance education is to take control out of the hands of unelected bureaucrats in Washington, and put it back in the hands of state and local governments, teachers, and parents. As someone who understands the value of quality education, Mike is committed to giving power and funding back to the states. Mike’s state legislative career demonstrates his commitment to education by voting for increased funding for our classrooms and voting against burdensome bureaucracy on our teachers and schools.

Healthcare

• How do we reform (reduce the cost of) healthcare without reducing the incentives to having the best medical care in the world?
  • Local problem that should be treated Locally (Health Reform Task Force)
  • “Best Doctor is Your Own Body”
  • People should be in the drivers seat and government out.
  • Biggest Problem – 3rd Party controlled problem (Lots of moving parts to be considered in reform)
  • Free Market is best option and will reduce price and improve efficiency and care.
  • Voted AGAINST ObamaCare implementation in Utah.
• How do we make insurance more affordable for the average person/family?
  • I’m embarrassed that we have republicans in all three branches and cannot get obamacare repealed.  Many of them promised to do that and failed.
  • Obviously that needs to happen, and I would need to work with others to make that happen.
  • I will always vote no to raise my own salary.  I have done this before in Utah and will continue to do that.
  • As a doctor I give my patients options.  They can decide if they want to pay for an X-ray. 
  • I do not go out to lunch with drug reps as a doctor and I do not go out to lunch with lobbyists as a legislator
  • With a direct primary care practice you can have a monthly fee and if you come in one time or twenty times it costs the same. The doctors incentive is actually to keep people healthy so they are not a burden.  We should not incentivize more and more tests and procedures to pad a doctors pocket.
  • Th brand name extension of many of these drugs is well beyond what it ought to be
  • Should be less than 20 years
  • Let the states handle healthcare
• How do we move the control of healthcare back to providers and patients instead of the government and insurance companies?
  • History of working on this at the Local Level – House Health and Human Services Committee
  • Government shouldn’t be in the business of telling you how to buy healthcare
  • Put patient and doctors back in control

Drug Epidemic

• How do we get control of the Opioid Epidemic?
  • Very important to him.
  • Government created problem -> “Pain is the 5th vital sign.”
• How do we improve drug enforcement and limit access?
• What is your opinion (or ideas for) legalizing cannabis in any form?
  • Need studies to determine safety and correct use.  Government should move to Schedule 2 drug so it can be studied.
  • Federal Government should not control this debate.

Vaccines

• Who should make decisions about vaccines? (Government, Doctors, Parents)
  • Mom and Dad should decide on vaccines
  • We should not have the government mandate vaccines.  That should be a healthcare decision you make with your child.
  • The argument for the federal department of education is often that if they didn’t mandate programs for those with special needs and disabilities that the states wouldn’t do it.  I find that offensive.  Utah takes care of its disabled population and there are constantly volunteers taking care of those in need at homes and the state developmental center.  We will take care of our disabled population in Utah because that is what we do.  We do not need the federal government to force us to.
• When if ever should vaccines be mandated?
  • Never
• Should vaccine companies be protected from lawsuits (as they currently are)?
  • Should be able to sue vaccine companies for injuries, especially in neglect or misrepresentation

Immigration

• What is your opinion on immigration reform?
  • Close borders first.  (Can’t stop/fix unless flow is fixed first.)
  • Legal immigration needs to be fixed.
    • Legal immigrant father
  • Should partner Federal & State to fix this problem
• How do DACA individuals fit into this plan?
  • Laws of land should be enforced (Obama created problem)
  • Before addressing DACA, must secure border.
  • Should look at lots of options for addressing this problem and put priorities on fixing the problem before addressing DACA issues.
• What is your opinion on President Trump’s Border Wall?  Sending National Guard to the border?
  • One of the functions of our federal government is to protect the border and if that means sending the troops down there to head off a caravan, I am all for it. A country without borders is not a country. God bless you people who want to come here for a better life, but we have to enforce our law and our border.
• How do we fix the visa system, especially H2B visas?

Mike is committed to working with the president to pass real reforms to fix our broken immigration system, secure our borders, keep our country safe, and honor our commitments to the American people. Mike is a first generation American on his father’s side and believes legal immigration is the lifeblood of our country.

Fiscal Responsibility

• What is your opinion on taxes?
  • I have voted against every tax increase I have seen for the past 6 years
  • It needs to be extremely important in my mind to ask the people to give us more of their hard earned money
• How do we reduce our national debt without increasing taxes?
  • One of my highest priorities is deficit reduction (Biggest Problem)
    
  • Personally Debt Free – Should be able to expect the same of the government.
• How do we balance the budget and prevent uncontrolled spending (Omnibus Bill/Continuing Resolutions)?
  • Omnibus Bill was an example of Bullying at the Legislature level.
    • We have all three branches of government and still are not cutting spending.  The tax cut was great and so is all the deregulation but time is ticking away and we have to do what we as republicans have been promising.
    • I don’t stand down to bullies and pass an omnibus bill just because the government might shutdown.  I will not be blackmailed with these self created deadlines.
  • “We can’t continue to spend money the way that we are and not expect serious repercussions to our country,” Kennedy said. “So debt reduction is a major issue to me.”  It’s an important issue because, if the nation can’t pay its bills, Kennedy said, it won’t be able to continue to fund the military appropriately.  “The way I approach the world is peace through strength,” Kennedy said. “This country needs to be strong.”   In order to make a difference in the nation’s debt, Kennedy said the first step is not to make it worse by growing government, then to make cuts where you can.”
  • We cannot keep voting for continuing resolutions and omnibus bills that grow the debt
  • I would never vote yes on a bill that I only had two days to read.  That generates an automatic no from me if I cannot fully consider a bill.
  • We have to stop generating these government imposed deadlines and forcing through these gigantic bills by blackmailing us with a government shutdown
  • I’m not in favor of continuing resolutions
  • We should be passing separate appropriations bills that have all been made more lean through committee.  That is what I have experience doing in the legislature.
  • We shouldn’t need the line item veto because we shouldn’t be created these gigantic bills that address dozens of issues
• Where does Entitlement Reform fit in the puzzle?  How would you do it?
  • History of working on this at the Local Level – Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee
  • I think we need to cut back from all areas, including non-discretionary spending
  • We cannot change social security for those already receiving it or those who will qualify soon, but we can ratchet it back for those in the younger generation

Mike learned early on that if he didn’t control money, it would control him. One of the biggest threats to our country’s future is the ticking time bomb of debt. Mike will fight to rein in government spending.

International Relations

• What is your opinion of Military Strength or Funding the Military?
  • Securing our border is the first step to ensuring national security. After our border is secure, we need to ensure our border patrol and military have all of the necessary tools and training to protect our citizens.
  • Mike also believes we must address the growing number of cyber threats by turning our attention towards large-scale network security, supporting advanced network infrastructure, and protecting our power grid against the ever increasing threat of EMP.
• Should the United States be involved in conflicts around the world?  Why or Why Not?
• How do we better take care of our veterans?
  • Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. Our government made a promise to them, and we need to ensure every veteran in America is cared for properly. We need to improve the services delivered at the VA and increase access veterans have to alternative healthcare systems.
• What is your opinion of The United Nations?  NATO?
• Should our military be assigned to work under NATO or United Nation commanders?
• What do we need to fix in our relationship with countries around the world?

Free Trade

• What is your opinion of our current trade agreements?
  • We should renegotiate trade deals.
  • Free market is best option – Should use a surgical scalpel to ensure we are doing right for Americans
• Is there a place for Tariffs as President Trump has threatened?
  • Tariffs are a big deal and should be used cautiously.

Government Overreach 

• How do we reduce federal requirements (mandates) for local infrastructure and local governments?
  • Information is power.  Knowledge is power.  Deregulation of internet (no Net Neutrality) is important (consistent with what President Trump is doing.
  • Transportation – History of working on this at the Local Level (House Transportation Committee)
  • Regulations are a huge burden on small businesses. Even cosmetology is being drowned in regulation making it more difficult to succeed running your own business.
• What is your opinion on the Public Lands in Utah?  The Antiquities Act?
  • I would support a reformation of it.  Meaning if something is to be designated it must be voted on by the state legislature of the state the land is in.  That way they have a say. Its a high bar to pass. What we don’t need is millions and millions of acres designated. Wyoming and Alaska have exemptions to the antiquities act, why not Utah?
  • State should manage.  Money comes from managing lands correctly.
  • The biggest problem is that our National Monuments have become less about protecting historical and cultural sites and more about political control. It’s time We The People stepped in and restored the balance.
  • The Antiquities Act needs to be reformed. Mike supported legislation in the state legislature that requests Utah be exempted from the Antiquities Act. State and local government should be the primary drivers on when and how the Antiquities Act is used.

Mike is committed to rolling back the disastrous Obama-era regulations like Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, and the War on Coal. Doing this will instantly jump-start small business growth and revitalize manufacturing, which in turn will produce more jobs.

Additional Policies

• What is your stance on Abortion? Has this position ever changed (why)?
  • Mike is 100% Pro-Life and will always fight to protect the sanctity of life.
• What is your feelings about LGBTQ+?  How can their rights be protected without infringing on the rights of others?
• Should the government be involved in regulating marriage?
  • Government should not be regulating marriage.

Government By The People

• What is your opinion on Term Limits in Congress?  How do we make that happen?
  • I’m a fan of term limits
  • I would serve a maximum of 18 years as senator.  If I can’t get something done in 18 years, then I need to be replaced.
    • If I don’t do what I say in Washington, I will pass on myself
  • Lies are abhorrent to me. So if I made a promise on this campaign, I would hope you can trust me.
  • I love getting the message out to delegates and answering their questions.  I hope I get to keep doing this into the primary and the general.
  • If I do not get elected, then I can go back to being a doctor, and I love that too
• How are you similar to Senator Orrin Hatch?
• How are you different from Senator Orrin Hatch?
  • I am not running against anyone for this seat.  I’m running for Utah.  I want to represent you and your values.
  • I like running campaigns because I get to talk to people and get the answers to problems from citizens.  Whatever flaws I have are refined as I am called out and helped by my constituents. 
  • I am the only candidate with experience in a legislature.  Which is what a senator is, a legislator.
  • “Going to do the right thing for our families and children, not for leadership roles.”
• How can you best serve Utah as a US Senator?
  • I’m not sure [about current Senate leadership].  I have heard things much the same as you have, but I am going to at least try to work with everybody in the Senate when I get there and base my impression on my personal interaction with them.  I might change my mind if it feels like we are unable to work together but I feel I need to give everyone the chance to work collaboratively with me before I cast judgement.  I will not have any enemies going into the Senate and hope I do not leave with any either.
  • I love to work with people and work collaboratively with people.  I have professional training as an attorney and a doctor and 6 years of legislative experience.  But in all honesty none of that makes me better at being a government representative than any of you.  What gives me the ability to do my job is all of you working with me as a legislator.  The duty of a representative cannot be accomplished by oneself or even with an army of staff.  I requires the involvement of the citizenry and that is really when government is working properly.  I would try to go to Washington with humility seeking to do what you all would have me do.  Knowing that I am not the smartest guy in the room, but that I have a foundation of passionate individuals making it all possible.
  • I do not think public criticism of others in congress is beneficial.  If I have a problem I would rather talk to someone privately.  That’s just my style.  I’m not one to seek media attention.  I’m not going to throw tomatoes at those I disagree with.  I’m just not one to grandstand.
  • I might not know Washington as well as some of the other candidates, but I feel like I would know Utah better as I have lived here all my life and worked with Utahns in creating legislation.

Straw Poll Results:

Primary Debate:

Town Halls: