Rick Stewart

Party Affiliation: Independent 

Candidate for: U.S. Senate

Age: 63

Hometown: Maquoketa, Iowa

Political History: None

Job History: Founded Frontier Cooperative Herbs

The issues:

Education:

Stewart said that Washington should stay out of education decisions and that those should be made at a local level. Stewart said the government getting involved in the student loan business has made the cost of college increase dramatically and is a way for government to raise taxes. Stewart says getting the federal government out of student loans and eliminating pell grants will lower the cost of higher education. 

Jobs/The Economy:

Stewart says that government regulations and new taxes kill jobs. Stewart said that a reduction in those will promote job growth. Stewart also said that government “anti-poverty”, or welfare programs, incentivize people not to work which hurts the economy. Stewart also said eliminating the minimum wage, which has no positive effect on the economy, will help workers.

Healthcare:

Stewart said that the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, did nothing to fix healthcare issues like cost. Stewart also said government in the main cause is the main factor in the costs of rising healthcare. Stewart also said the Medicare and Medicaid programs provide poor healthcare, and proposes discontinuing them. Stewart said his economic policy would create jobs, which would allow them to buy their own healthcare. 

MORE INFO:

Campaign site: www.rickstewart.com

Twitter: @RickStewart