Steven Braun

After his graduation from Harvard University, Braun joined Price Waterhouse before founding a software company, which he would later sell. In 1990, Braun founded technology consulting firm Braun Technology Group, which he sold in 2004. Braun was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2012. He stepped down in 2014 after being nominated to serve as the head of the state's Department of Workforce Development by Gov. Mike Pence (R).[4]

Steve Braun did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Pro-life

I believe life begins at conception and will always defend the rights of the unborn in Washington. Our tax dollars must never be used to fund abortion. When I ran for State Representative, I earned the endorsement of Indiana Right to Life.

Second amendment

The right to bear arms is not only a constitutional right, it is a cherished Hoosier value. I will fight anyone who wants to take away our basic right to own a gun. I am a member of the NRA, and when I ran for State Representative, I earned the endorsement of the NRA.

Immigration

President Trump needs conservative leaders to help him put America first. That includes shutting down illegal immigration and securing our borders. We are a nation of immigrants, and the diverse makeup of our social fabric has contributed to America’s greatness for over 240 years. Unfortunately, our immigration system has become dysfunctional and jeopardizes the safety of the law-abiding people who live here legally. We must secure our borders to end the influx of illegal immigrants and drugs that pour across our southern border. I support President Donald Trump’s efforts to ensure that current immigration laws are enforced. Immigration reform is a complex issue, and it is vital to our national interests that we fix this broken system

Jobs & Economy

I have spent 35 years of my life in the private sector creating jobs. After a brief stint at Price Waterhouse, I took a risk and started a technology company that grew to more than 700 employees at its peak. We hired thousands of employees, and I learned early on that our success was not dependent on government – our success was a result of initiative and hard work. After selling my company, I have focused my efforts on investing in companies and building businesses in both real estate and agriculture. I know firsthand the barriers government places on employers and employees. We need to reduce burdens on job creators, not create more hoops for them to jump through. In Congress, I will take my experiences and fight to cut red tape and eliminate the unnecessary regulations that hurt Hoosier workers. Entrepreneurs and small businesses, not government, are the hubs of innovation and economic prosperity in Indiana and across the nation, and I will champion legislative policies that restore this principle. I will actively work to support the passage of the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 (REINS Act). I am in favor of tax reform. Washington should implement a flat, fair structure, and lower the overall tax burden on Hoosier families and their businesses. We also need to simplify the tax code by eliminating special interest tax breaks and loopholes. I also favor repealing and replacing Obamacare and ending the program’s job-killing policies. I served in the Indiana General Assembly – as a member of the Ways and Means Committee – to help bring some business principles to government, and I will do the same thing in Washington.

National Security

A strong military is the foundation of our nation’s security and prosperity. Protecting the American people will always be the top priority, and in Congress, I will support our funding for the military and our veterans. As threats and challenges to our nation evolve, our defense capabilities must follow suit, and that requires Congress to continue investing in the technology of tomorrow. Our reliance on technology in everyday life requires a cybersecurity strategy against foreign invaders. We must protect our country’s intellectual property, business and individual financial information, and our energy delivery infrastructure. Cybersecurity now and in the future is among the important issues facing our nation. Our adversaries are becoming more capable at using technology to threaten our interests. I believe that we need to increase cooperation and collaboration between the government and private sector to design and implement future systems and products with national security in mind.

Defense of our Allies

The United States must be clear in projecting strength and ensuring that hostile nations know we will stand with our allies across the globe. Israel is a critical U.S. ally, and we must always stand in defense of them from enemy forces in the region. NATO has been a force for peace in Europe and across the world, and the United States must continue to support its objectives. Lastly, we must ensure that North Korea, its nuclear ambitions, and its dangerous behavior do not destabilize that region of the world.

Fighting Terrorism

America must continue to lead in the fight against terror. I will support our military leader’s plans to eradicate ISIS and secure peace and stability in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the terrorists continue their attacks in new forms, we must invest in our intelligence agencies to make sure we are doing everything possible to protect Americans at home and abroad.

Veterans

Our nation’s veterans put their lives on the line every day for our freedom. My own father served in World War II. He and countless others through the years have served with honor and dignity and deserve the best care and support we can provide when they return home. I have the highest respect for the men and women who serve in the military, and in Congress I will work to build on recent reforms to our Veterans Affairs Administration that increase accessibility to quality health care, employment opportunities and benefits. As DWD Commissioner, I worked to expand employment opportunities for our service members when they return home to Indiana. In Congress I will support federal programs to expand these opportunities, including the USDA’s Veterans to Agriculture program to train and develop our next generation of farmers.

Tax Reform

America has the highest corporate income tax rate in the world, which is stifling economic growth and contributing to American jobs moving to other countries. I will work to reform our tax code to lower rates for businesses and families. America needs a tax code that doesn’t require more than eight hours to complete. We need a tax structure that is easier to understand and encourages investment and growth. Additionally, we must eliminate the federal estate tax that is unfair to our small businesses and farmers.

Health Care

Obamacare has failed to do what was promised – resulting in higher premiums and rising health care costs that are hurting Hoosier families. I support the repeal and replacement of Obamacare with a plan that will lower premiums and provide states more flexibility over Medicaid dollars so low-income families continue to have access to affordable healthcare.

Government Spending

Federal government spending continues to increase at levels that cannot and should not be sustained. The federal deficit continues at levels that threaten future generations – $700M in 2017 alone – which adds to our nation’s growing debt of almost $20 trillion. I will fight to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in government and support responsible spending cuts that will enable us to pass balanced budgets and reduce our national debt in the long term. As DWD Commissioner, I led efforts to crack down on fraud in the unemployment trust fund, saving Indiana taxpayers more than $200 million. I support a constitutional amendment that will require Congress to pass a balanced budget, providing certainty to both the public and private sectors on future government spending.

Education

Supporting high-quality education opportunities for Hoosiers of all backgrounds and economic standing is fundamental to our nation’s future. I believe in empowering the local decision-making of parents and educators. It is common sense that parents understand what is best for their child, and we should level the playing field and allow parents to choose the school that best meets a student’s needs – public or private – and regardless of income or geography. This is an issue that is close to my heart from my work helping to launch the Oaks Academy in Indianapolis, which focuses on helping underprivileged children. A high-quality education provides the foundation for a good job, which is fundamental to creating stronger families and a higher quality of life. As the Commissioner of Workforce Development for Governors Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb, I worked tirelessly to strengthen and align education and workforce development programs. I have seen firsthand where the federal government must do more to cultivate collaboration between educators and business leaders, so our education institutions are teaching the skills and competencies necessary to fill the high-demand, high-wage jobs of the future. The US Department of Education has become too large and ineffective at providing meaningful assistance. We need to move power away from Washington and back to the states. I would support legislation to simplify and streamline the allocation of federal tax dollars back to states and local leaders to use as they see fit. Career and Technical Education (CTE) should be an area of focus and investment. We can improve significantly on the job we do preparing students to enter rewarding careers in Indiana’s major industries: manufacturing, information technology, health care, transportation/logistics, and the building/construction trades. Supporting work-based learning and apprenticeship models are also important to offering students real-life experience and a better-rounded educational experience, better preparing them for a career and lowering the need for incurring student loan debt.

Social Security

As Baby Boomers head toward retirement at historic levels, Congress must act to reform and preserve Social Security for them and for future generations. Failing to action will result in the Social Security Trust Fund running out of money, and that will result in harmful benefit cuts – and that is unacceptable. We must keep our promises to seniors in the system and restore the Trust Fund to a solid level of stability. I support common sense reforms that leave benefits in place for those currently receiving them and allowing younger workers to have more control over how their money is invested for retirement.

State's Rights

It has been a long time since Americans help a positive view about the work Congress is doing on their behalf. Simply put, Washington is mired in political gridlock that leaves the biggest problems unsolved. This failed system of federal control isn’t accountable, responsive, nor innovative enough to improve the lives of Hoosiers. But here in Indiana, under the leadership of Governors like Mitch Daniels, Vice President Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb, we see every day how small, effective government works best. Restoring more control to state and local governments, entities that are more reactive, flexible and accountable to issues that influence Hoosiers, should be the role of the federal government.

Agriculture

I have witnessed how Washington’s regulatory overreach has been hard on Indiana farmers. The EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) placed every waterway in the country under the control of the EPA and solved nothing in the process. Thankfully, we have a new President who is rolling back some of these anti-growth regulations, but Congress must also act. I will co-sponsor and fight to pass the REINS Act and insert Congressional oversight and the voice of the American people into the current federal government rule making process to restrain out of control Washington bureaucrats.

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—Steve Braun for Congress[27]