Steve Iyer

Steve Iyer was born in Bangalore, India. Iyer earned a graduate degree from the University of Kentucky in 1988. His career experience includes working as the CEO for the Asia-Pacific region of a European energy company.[1]

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased March 29, 2022

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I immigrated from India 36 years ago as an engineer and am now the CEO of a solar company. My values are rooted in family, faith, patriotism and humility. I shall be eternally grateful to this country for letting me achieve my true potential and to realize the American dream.

If I am elected, it is my goal to enable current and future generations reach their full potential as well. Unfortunately, Democrats have made that impossible by penalizing success and by enacting an ideology driven by guilt and self-hate.

I bring a pragmatic, common sense perspective to this district because I am not a career politician and bring over 35 years of professional experience to this role. I promise to uphold the high level of independence, integrity and honesty that helped me achieve success in my career.

I strongly believe that being a self-sufficient country, with an upwardly mobile population, plentiful opportunities, and equal access to opportunity for all (collectively the 'America First' platform) is not only achievable, but also essential to ensure stability and prosperity.

I also believe that a strong adherence to law and order and protecting the sovereignty of our nation are essential to providing a secure environment for Americans to flourish.

Lastly, having worked in energy and environment for over 30 years, I can guarantee that there is a pathway to be both energy independent and reduce waste and emissions sensibly.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Security, Stability and upward mobility for all Americans.Common sense solutions that put Americans first.A sincere, in-depth candidate with a knowledge base deeper than bumper stickers.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My decades of business experience has given me a 360-degree view and understanding of numerous topics, and I can leverage this in many public policy areas.

My experience in energy and environment enables me to put the US on the path to energy independence while sensibly reducing our emissions and waste. I can guarantee that we can do this while reducing energy costs to American consumers, which helps small businesses and industries compete in the global marketplace.

I am also passionate about reducing barriers to existing and new businesses. Many industries in our country are burdened with excessive regulation; I believe I can innovatively preserve our standards while reducing the regulatory burden on our businesses.

I will bring a high level of fiscal discipline and prudence to enacting new legislation. I will always ask 'why do we need additional legislation?' and 'How much is already being spent to solve this problem?' before I lend support to any new legislation.

I will strive to ensure that America continues to be a country that welcomes legal immigrants, and will work to reduce wait times and reunite families.

Lastly, after having done business internationally for over 20 years, I understand world trade, and how our products and services don't receive fair treatment abroad. I will strive to create a level playing field for American goods and services.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Depending on the specific subject matter, I have different people that I look up to. For ideals on achieving equality for everyone, I look up to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. For appreciating the impact of scientific discovery, I look up to Albert Einstein. For being kind to all things living, I look up to Betty White. For enacting policies that allows Americans to flourish, I look up to President Trump.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Adherence to core values; ability to listen to others' viewpoints. Being able to articulate your values in any context.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Strong moral and ethical values, clear and rational mind, and a deep understanding of all aspects of issues.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To uphold the values enshrined in our constitution; to ensure equal access to opportunity for all Americans.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As someone who served his constituents with integrity, and helped future generations of Americans flourish.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember scoring the winning runs in a cricket match when I was around eight years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was with a small consulting company in Clearlake, Texas. I was there for six months.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Simple Man" by Lynrd Skynrd.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Catching up to current trends in progressive/woke ideology.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It is one of the institutions that comes closest to mirroring the will and desire of the American people.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. Sometimes a fresh perspective helps.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

It will be for securing the natural resources we need to keep innovating.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Energy and Environment; Foreign policy; Rules and Ethics committee.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

Not Applicable.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

It could be longer; it tends to put representatives in perpetual 'campaign' mode, diluting their efforts to serve their constituents.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I agree that there should be term limits for various public offices to ensure that there's fresh ideas all the time.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Tulsi Gabbard.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

There are several. My district has many patriots who selflessly do the right thing and stand up for what's right. All they want is stability in their lives, and an America they can be proud of.

Tell us your favorite joke.

"How many woke people does it take to change a light bulb?"

"Don't know yet; they're still arguing over whether the bulb is racist..."

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

In select areas, where the solution lends itself to a scalable solution, yes.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

I would exercise this power to critically question any discretionary spending, and to bring about strong fiscal discipline. I will also fight wasteful spending, or 'earmarks' for pet projects. My ultimate goal is to reduce our debt over the long-term.

Campaign website

Iyer's campaign website stated the following:

State of our nation

What's at stake?

A self-reliant and strong nation with equal opportunities for all its citizens vs. Economic chaos, lawlessness and open borders

A snapshot of what’s happening

Over two-thirds of our country believes we are headed in the wrong direction. This administration has appointed inexperienced leaders to deal with supply chain, energy sources, illegal immigration, law and order and covid response. The runaway inflation that we are facing was entirely avoidable as several other countries have successfully kept inflation under control.

Instead of addressing the pocketbook issues of its citizens, Biden wants to pass wasteful spending and usurp state’s rights. Even members of his own party are opposed to some of his radical proposals, which have since stalled.

Over the past year, this current administration has gone on an ideological rampage, and another three years is only going to cause irreversible damage. Only a return to America First principles can repair this damage.

So what needs to be done?

We need competent leadership that can:

Diversify supply sources and bring manufacturing home.

Ensure enforcement of law & order, including at the border.

Expand and support law enforcement

Specific Actions that Steve will take

Introduce Warpspeed like legislation to bring back energy and other critical industries back home.

Strengthen border patrol, law enforcement and ensure all laws are enforced.

Ensure humane justice reform.

Introduce a parent ‘bill of rights’ on schools and curriculum.

Ban teaching of CRT and age-inappropriate topics

Support legal immigration

Support carbon reduction driven by market forces

School Curriculum and Choice

What's at stake?

Transparent curriculum with parent input and competition for tax dollars vs. Monopoly of public schools, race shaming and age-inappropriate topics

A snapshot of what’s happening

Woke ideology and political correctness have permeated our education system, threatening the critical thinking and analytical foundation of our education system. Parents who are concerned about their children’s welfare and education are labeled as ‘terrorists’.

Not a day passes when a new gender or sexual identity is not born, or another word ‘banned’. Conservative speech is heavily restrained or banned outright.

Several school districts are doing away with competency testing, and allowing teaching of age-inappropriate topics without parental consent.

We need to dismiss the ever-changing woke terminology, race-shaming and redefining basic grammar, and instead help our children compete and succeed. School Boards must seek input from parents on curriculum.

So what needs to be done?

We need competent leadership that can:

Remove monopoly of public schools by allowing tax $’s to follow student.

Maintain merit-based testing.

Introduce a parents’ bill of rights on curriculum and ban CRT.

Specific Actions that Steve will take

Introduce legislation to ban teaching of age-inappropriate topics and CRT without parental consent.

Support legislation promoting STEM learning for girls and women.

Allow tax dollars to follow student to the school of their choice

Introduce legislation to mandate in-person learning for children

Declare Education a ‘critical industry’ to outlaw the hold of teacher’s unions.

Introduce severe penalties for drug dealing near schools.

Encourage companies and institutions to provide more internships and entry-level positions to graduates

Economy, Jobs and Inflation

What's at stake?

A pragmatic approach of low taxes, pro blue-collar policies, and high-paying jobs in critical industries vs. An ideological zeal that depresses wages, penalizes success and creates bureaucratic roadblocks.

A snapshot of what’s happening

Our nation is currently in an ‘inflationary death spiral’, which was triggered in May 2021 and continued to worsen with no counter-measures. In such a spiral, corporate margins are squeezed, leading to firms raising prices, triggering a wage rise to meet inflation, which again squeezes corporate margins in a never-ending cycle. High paying, quality jobs are exported overseas to control costs, leading to layoffs and an stagflation in the economu.

Global events like the Ukraine invasion, the Iranian negotiations etc. have hyper-stressed an already tight market. Biden finally admits that inflation is ‘here to stay’, and forecasts are for even higher inflation rates than the current 7%.

It is tragic that we have an administration with zero real-life experience. As the operations head for several blue-chip companies, I have creatively resolved the very same supply chain issues that plague our nation.

So what needs to be done?

We need competent leadership that can:

Immediately return to self-reliance in energy.

Incentivize critical manufacturing to set up in-country.

Enforce provisions of trade agreements and ensure equal market access.

Law and Order and Crime Wave

What's at stake?

Enforcing laws as a deterrent to criminal behavior, and supporting law enforcement vs. Support for Defund movement and the naive belief that career criminals will self-rehabilitate

A snapshot of what’s happening

No other issue affects every American more than the deteriorating law and order spreading across the country. The Antifa demonstrations and the Defund movement were but precursors to weaken and demoralize our police. This emboldened criminals to brazenly assault and murder police (a record 150 were killed in 2021), women and minorities.

To add to the misery, criminal-friendly District Attorneys have helped accelerate the spread of homelessness, smash and grab robberies, and the rapid spread of dangerous drugs. The standard Liberal response is that ‘crime happens’.

2021 was one of the worst years for homicides across the country in a long time, brought about by a criminal-friendly, liberal interpretation of our legal system.

Democrats, by implicitly or explicitly supporting Antifa, BLM and Defund movements, have all but ensured that the end of the covid pandemic is followed by a crime wave and mental health crisis.

So what needs to be done?

We need competent leadership that can:

Stop selective enforcement of laws. Unequivocally support law enforcement.

No catch and release of repeat offenders.

Shutdown antifa and other violent demonstrators.

Specific Actions that Steve will take

Introduce legislation to allow victims to seek alternate path to justice through federal courts.

Stop all initiatives by current government to undermine law enforcement.

Require that all laws be enforced, if not allow prosecution of DAs under federal law.

Ban catch and release of repeat offenders and sex predators.

Address negative bias in the police force.

Ensure that the $150,000/year being spent on each homeless person goes towards rehabilitation

Border Security and Immigration

What's at stake?

A compassionate nation that embraces legal immigration and enforces its laws vs. Allowing our borders to be overrun, eroding the value of being an American or a legal immigrant

A snapshot of what’s happening

The horrific effects of this administrations’ open border policies are reverberating across the nation. Unprecedented numbers of illegals cross-over without so much as a Covid test and are covertly dispersed to other states. Even though seizures of dangerous drugs have gone up by 500%, the street price of those drugs have fallen by over 75%, a clear indication that we are facing a drug epidemic.

In recent actions and interviews, Secretary Mayorkas has all but made it clear that he is coordinating his actions with open-border activists. At the rate of immigrants flowing across the border, over 10 million would have entered the country during Biden’s term without any vetting whatsoever.

Never forget that, in desperate act to gain attention during the Democratic Presidential primary debates in 2020, Biden asked illegals to ‘surge’ to the border. They remembered, and we are paying the price for it now.

So what needs to be done?

We need competent leadership that can:

Set up a physical and electronic fence and enforce border security.

Welcome skilled legal immigration from all countries.

Enhance border patrol staff with more personnel and equipment

Specific Actions that Steve will take

Make ‘Stay in Mexico’ and Title 42 permanent part of US law.

Dedicate adequate DHS staff for processing legal immigration. Reduce waiting times for legal immigrants.

Introduce legislation to ban sanctuary cities.

Increase penalties and liabilities for foreign manufacturers for fentanyl and other addictive drugs.

Move low-cost manufacturing from China to Mexico and Central America to discourage illegal immigration.

Support trade relationships with democracies like Australia, Brazil, India and others to diversify supply-chains.

Support legislation that charges illegal immigrants for services rendered.

Energy, Environment and Climate Change

What's at stake?

Being energy independent AND using innovation to reduce waste and emissions vs. Pretending that the US lives in a bubble, and celebrity-driven climate alarmism.

A snapshot of what’s happening

The US is already 20% below its 1990 emissions levels, (reduced from 7 bil. tons of CO2/year to 4.5 bil. tons/year, with ongoing reductions of 7-10% per year). This reduction in US emissions was due to American ingenuity market forces, i.e., solar and wind becoming cheaper than fossil-fuel based energy, and not because of climate alarmism by Democrats.

Even if the US and Europe managed to eliminate all carbon emissions (together, roughly 10 bil. tons/year), as the ‘Green New Deal’ proposes, it wouldn’t change the current climate trajectory because the rest of the globe is adding emissions faster than we are reducing. To limit temperature rise to 1.5o C, a reduction of 25 bil. tons/year of CO2 is required (from the current total of 40+ bil. tons/yr).

While the US should continue to take sensible steps to reduce emissions, other emitters need to take similar steps. Also, Our supply chain for renewables components are dependent on China, which manipulates markets. We need to bring critical manufacturing closer to home

So what needs to be done?

We need competent leadership that can:

First ensure other large emitters meet their pledges;

Cap emissions from fossil plants and allow market to grow wind and solar.

Require utilities to pass lower renewable costs by passing on savings to consumers

Specific Actions that Steve will take

Let market forces decide which renewables source to adopt. Gradually introduce caps on CO2 emissions.

Demand that other nations meet commitment, if not impose a carbon tax on the goods imported.

Incentivize on-shoring of climate critical industries like solar panel and wind turbine manufacturing,

Diversify our sources of lithium and other rare earths by allowing domestic mining and forming consortiums.

Support legislation to introduce new home-grown technologies and degradable materials to replace plastics.

Support laws to ban dumping in the oceans and waterways and eliminate deforestation.

Force utilities, which benefit from lower wholesale cost of energy from renewables, to pass on savings to consumers.[2]

—Steve Iyer's campaign website (2022)[3]