Issues.
Where I stand.
Michelle put together this series of statements so that you can be informed about where she stands on a variety of important issues. We hope that you take a moment to look over her stance and contact us if you have any questions or would like to chat.
The Republican Platform
Constitutional Government
“We are the party of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Declaration sets forth the fundamental precepts of American government: That God bestows certain inalienable rights on every individual, thus producing human equality; that government exists first and foremost to protect those inalienable rights; that man-made law must be consistent with God-given, natural rights; and that if God-given, natural, inalienable rights come in conflict with government, court, or human-granted rights, God-given, natural, inalienable rights always prevail; that there is a moral law recognized as “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”; and that American government is to operate with the consent of the governed. We are also the party of the Constitution, the greatest political document ever written. It is the solemn compact built upon principles of the Declaration that enshrines our God-given individual rights and ensures that all Americans stand equal before the law, defines the purposes and limits of government, and is the blueprint for ordered liberty that makes the United States the world’s freest and most prosperous nation.
We reaffirm the Constitution’s fundamental principles: limited government, separation of powers, individual liberty, and the rule of law. We denounce bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, and religious intolerance. Therefore, we oppose discrimination based on race, sex, religion, creed, disability, or national origin and support statutes to end such discrimination. As the Party of Abraham Lincoln, we must continue to foster solutions to America’s difficult challenges when it comes to race relations today. We continue to encourage equality for all citizens and access to the American Dream.” – The Republican Party of the United States of America
The Constitution was written as our enduring covenant. Our constitutional system, and the rights of the people must be preserved uncompromised for future generations. Michelle’s statements on the issues will reference back to the Republican Party’s platform as it relates to our community here in Northwest Florida. You can visit the Republican Party’s website here: https://www.gop.com/
what about the candidate?
Michelle Salzman on the issues.
There are many components of the platform, but there is one underlining agenda – Michelle wants to restore the American Dream.
“The American Dream” is not a colloquialism. It is the reason our America exists. It expresses the dreams and aspirations of all our people. It means a decent place to live, a safe place to raise kids, a welcoming place to retire. The American Dream says that Northwest Florida should be an ideal place to live, work and play.
It attests the humble pride of those who work hard to shelter their family and, in the process, create caring neighborhoods if like-minded individuals. We are the party of independent individuals and the institutions they create together — families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods — to advance their ideals and make real their dreams.
Don’t misunderstand. Government cannot create prosperity, though government can limit or destroy it. Prosperity is the product of self-discipline, enterprise, saving and investment by individuals, but it is not an end in itself. Prosperity provides the means by which citizens and their families can maintain their independence from government, raise their children by their own values, practice their faith, and build communities of cooperation and mutual respect. It is also the foundation for our nation’s global leadership, for it is the vigor of our economy which makes possible our military strength and our national security.
“One Nation Under God” We ask for divine help that our country can fulfill its promise. We earn that help by recommitting ourselves to the ideas and ideals that are the true greatness of America.
“The American Dream says that Northwest Florida should be an ideal place to live, work and play.”
a person is a person no matter how small
Protecting Human Life
“The US Constitution says – no one can “be deprived of life, liberty or property.”
Michelle is a proud mother of three children and has personal testimony on this issue. Her personal story that she has shared with many parents-to-be has saved many lives and affirmed her ability to stand enduringly and attest that she is a proud Pro-Life advocate.
The US Constitution says – no one can “be deprived of life, liberty or property.” This deliberately echoes the Declaration of Independence’s proclamation that “all” are “endowed by their Creator” with the inalienable right to life. Michelle believes in the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life. Michelle believes that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to children before birth. Michelle opposes the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion.
Michelle also believes we have a moral obligation to assist, rather than penalize, women who face an unplanned pregnancy. In order to encourage women who face an unplanned pregnancy to choose life, she supports legislation that requires financial responsibility for the child be equally born by both the mother and father upon conception until the child reaches adulthood. Failure to require a father to be equally responsible for a child places an inequitable burden on the mother, creating a financial and social hardship on both mother and child. Further, Michelle encourages providers of counseling, medical services, and adoption assistance for empowering women experiencing an unintended pregnancy to choose life. She supports funding for ultrasounds and adoption assistance. Michelle is abhorrently opposed to laws that protect underaged women the right to access any healthcare to include for pregnancy without the permission and knowledge of their parents. Michelle believes in parental consent, waiting periods and clinic regulation. The government should not be passing laws that protect a minor’s “rights” when the parents and guardians maintain the responsibility of their actions, not for this and not for any medical or mental health issue, period.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT
Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
As a former Armorer in the US Army, Michelle is a strong 2A advocate. Michelle is a proud member of the NRA as well as Florida Carry. If you would like to stay up to date on the national issues we face, you can go to the NRA’s website here: https://home.nra.org/
Florida also has an organization that deals with state 2A issues. You to visit Florida Carry’s website with up to date and relevant information on the infringement of your rights here: https://www.floridacarry.org/issues
Michelle will fight to uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a natural inalienable right that predates the Constitution and is secured by the Second Amendment. Lawful gun ownership enables Americans to exercise their God-given right of self-defense for the safety of their homes, their loved ones, and their communities. Further, your right to bear arms is not based on a “need” it is our RIGHT. Our right is not based on size, magazine capacity nor any other trait. Our right is simply that… our right. We should not have to defend why we purchase, carry or use the types of firearms that we do. The second amendment does not restrict our choices. We must stay vigilant in this and keep our voices heard.
Our state and local officials are defying the Court’s decisions upholding an individual right to bear arms as affirmed by the Supreme Court in Heller and McDonald. Michelle supports constitutional carry statutes and salute the states that have passed them. Michelle opposes laws that would restrict magazine capacity or ban the sale of the most popular and common modern rifle. Michelle also firmly disagrees with “red flag laws” and is a supporter of Constitutional Carry either openly or concealed.
“Michelle will fight to uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.”
government financial
Taxes and Fees
“Taxes shouldn’t penalize thrift or discourage investment.”
Although Florida has some of the lowest tax rates, and even lower in Northwest Florida, Michelle’s stance is straightforward: wherever tax rates penalize thrift or discourage investment, they must be lowered. Wherever current provisions of the code are disincentives for economic growth, they must be changed. We should eliminate as many special interest provisions and loopholes as possible and curb corporate welfare, especially where their erosion of the tax base has created pressure for higher rates. We should be mindful of the burdens on families with children and the impact on an aging population. Florida has a very large retirement population and we should be very strategic in our taxation.
public investmenT AND RESPONSIBILITY
Infrastructure
Infrastructure should not be an afterthought for our delegation, but should be cohesively echoing through the halls of Tallahassee and City Hall. Our current state delegation has been reactive at best in this partnership and our local economy along with the small businesses and our families are suffering from it.
Zoning decisions have always been, and must remain, under local control. Government, at all levels, should work together, as partners, with the citizens, the investors, developers and industries in progress, not a meddlesome monitor nor an afterthought.
Our community’s investments in transportation and other public construction have traditionally been non-partisan. Everyone agrees on the need for clean water and safe roads, rail, bridges, ports, and airports. President Eisenhower established a tradition of Republican leadership in this regard by championing the creation of the interstate highway system. In recent years, bipartisan cooperation led to major legislation improving the nation’s ports and waterways. In Escambia County, transportation is the number one barrier for many of our basic needs: Education, Healthcare, Workforce, and Worship. Michelle is committed to work alongside all of our local and state leadership to help create commonsense, bipartisan solutions for our communities most valuable asset- YOU.
“Everyone agrees on the need for clean water and safe roads.”
small business
Entrepreneurism
“Entrepreneurs create most new jobs and form the commercial network that holds communities together.”
Michelle is a small business owner of over 15 years in Escambia County. Her passion to create this business was so she could be at home to raise her children, while helping to support her family with her husband by her side.
A central reason why the 20th century came to be called the American Century was the ability of individuals to invent and create in a land of free markets. Back then they were called risk-takers, dreamers, and small business owners. Today they are the entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and small business men and women of our new economy. Their innovation drives improvement and forces long-established institutions to adapt or fade away.
Entrepreneurs create most new jobs and form the commercial network that holds communities together. Their enterprise is the lifeblood of our economy. We should reduce the occupational licensing laws that shut untold millions of potential workers out of entrepreneurial careers. We must overturn the regulatory nightmare for the community banks and savings and loans that provide nearly half of all small business loans and over three-quarters of all agricultural loans. We must challenge established interests and traditional business patterns to facilitate market entry of new business models, including inventive means of transport, delivery, and communication. Pensacola has been gaining momentum as a very entrepreneurial friendly community, and Michelle has been a part of this conversation for many years as a partner in University of West Florida’s Center for Entrepreneurs, The Studer Community Institute, and maintained ongoing communications with the Small Business Administration both locally and at the state level. Michelle will continue this dialogue with actionable plans to encourage small business development in our community.
the foundation of the american dream
Education
The greatest asset of the American economy is the hard-working American. Education is the cornerstone of economic stability, growth and development. That is why I have always made it my priority to get our local workforce college or career ready. Education is much more than schooling. It is the whole range of activities by which families and communities transmit to a younger generation, not just knowledge and skills, but ethical and behavioral norms and traditions. It is the handing over of a cultural identity. In order for families to maintain their own cultural identity, it is imperative that we foster the ability to choose which method of education is most suiting for each family’s own needs. The right to choose between public school, private school, homeschool, virtual school or charter should be a choice made by each family and not one imposed upon by the government.
My commitments on education and workforce development are diverse in nature. Not every child needs to attend college. There are many options we should ensure our youth have to include academies and trade schools that should be made available while in high school. Our school district here in Escambia County works very hard to offer school choice and career academies. For over a decade I have been engaged in our education system at both the county and state levels and will continue to be a voice for ALL children.
Empowering families to access the learning environments that will best help their children to realize their full potential is one of the greatest civil rights challenges of our time. A young person’s ability to succeed in school must be based on his or her God-given talent and motivation, not an address, ZIP code, or economic status. Finally, in our recent history, it has become apparent that our children’s safety while in school and all public facilities is in jeopardy. I will continue to fight for conservative solutions to ensure our children’s safety is the number one priority not just while in school, but throughout the community as a whole. The recent shootings in our schools and throughout the community are tragic, and we must work on the root cause of this issue together. Parents, teachers, community leaders, elected officials of all areas- county, city, state, first responders, we all have a roll in this solution. We must continue to work together for the sake of our children and our America.
“For over a decade I have been engaged in our education system at both the county and state levels.”
