Joe Donnelly
Age: 56
Indianapolis
Democrat
Office sought: U.S. Senate
Political experience: I am the current U.S. representative from Indiana's 2nd Congressional District. I am a former school board member and served on the Indiana State Election Board.
What prompted your decision to run for this office?: Hoosiers deserve a U.S. senator whose priorities are helping Indiana businesses create jobs, strengthening our economy and standing up for working- and middle-class families every day.
Top three goals:
- My focus is job creation. I have a plan to help Indiana businesses create jobs. I support leveling the playing field because our manufacturers face unfair competition. We should cut taxes for job creators and give workers the tools they need to compete.
- To create jobs, we need to invest in infrastructure, for example Cline Avenue, by getting back more of our gas tax dollars -- we currently only get 92 percent. We should also go all-in on American energy production to stop sending our money overseas and create jobs.
- Washington must live within its means. I support following pay-as-you-go rules, putting in place a balanced budget amendment and creating a commission to recommend cutting federal programs that aren't working and requiring a vote on each from Congress.
Why should voters choose you?: Sen. Dick Lugar voted for trade deals that ship American jobs overseas and supports raising the gas tax. Richard Mourdock tried forcing Chrysler's liquidation, which would have cost thousands of jobs. I will protect our jobs and our promise to seniors.
What would you do on your first day in office?: I will start to implement my plan to help Indiana businesses create Hoosier jobs.
What else would you like to tell us?: Washington needs to work for Indiana, not the other way around. I am traveling the state nonstop because I believe there is more wisdom here at home than in Washington.
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