Katherine "Kat" Kritsch
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Katherine "Kat" Kritsch
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 26
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Indiana University East, Richmond, Respiratory Therapy, 1992
WORK & MILITARY
California College of Health Sciences, RRTe, 1993
Ambers Beauty College, Cosmetologist, 2019-2020
AFFILIATIONS
Randolph County Child Advocacy, Volunteer, Indiana NORML
State Board of Directors, Secretary, Randolph County United, Member, Business Owner
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Indiana NORML
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
WinRed (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
ActBlue (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should only be permitted in cases of rape or incest or if the life of the mother is in jeopardy. Abortion should never be used as a means of birth control. We need to educate to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
While Planned Parenthood does provide other services than abortion, I do not believe that they should receive government funding.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
I do not believe that we can play God.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I believe that taxes should be minimal and that the state needs be better stewards of the taxes it collects. We need to do what is right for Hoosiers. Property taxes need to be done away with; at the very least, the state needs to pass a law that prevents property from being taken away from the owner for unpaid property taxes.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Government spending needs to be reduced across the board. Every department in the state should be required to justify their budgets annually. Every department would be required to find the waste and cut it out themselves, or the House and Senate would make the cuts for them.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
An individual or a business has the right to refuse service to anyone. Businesses post "No shirt, no shoes, no service signs." If this is OK, then a business or individual should have the right to refuse business when doing business would violate that individual's or business' First Amendment right to freedom of religion. That individual or business has the right to refuse business, just as the public has a right to not do business with them in light of those business choices.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
I think Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Quit inviting them in.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Choose not to answer
As a candidate for state senate, this is beyond the scope of the Indiana senate's legislative responsibilities.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone should be allowed to immigrate to the US as long as they go through the proper process.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Indiana tax payers are paying money to fund the Department of Education and should be able to decide where their tax dollars are spent on their children.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I agree that our government was founded on Judeo-Christians values. I question whether we have a system of "limited government."
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
This is already the law. Discrimination because of sex is not legal. This falls under that category.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Neutral
Unless you're talking about repealing the laws on the books, it is already a done deal. That being said, my personal views on this are that everyone has a right to the pursuit of happiness, as defined by themselves, not the government. Everyone has the right to enter into the marriage they choose and be equally as happy or miserable as the rest of us.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Critical Race Theory is being misconstrued as American history. We are taught in school the good and bad of our country, so we hopefully don't repeat the bad stuff. However, CRT is a course in college for those studying law in order to get a better understanding and a new view of how the law is applied. CRT does not need to be taught in elementary or secondary schools under the guise of being "history." There is a place for these classes--and it is not for young children.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in God, but I have no place in telling others how they should worship. See the First Amendment.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We show ID for many things. If you need an ID to open a bank account, then you can get one to vote. To suggest that people cannot get an ID is racist and insane. Voter ID helps ensure the integrity of our elections.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I believe we need paper ballots as a backup to our elections and to allow for audits.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not a threat to domestic security. Most people are not racist. Racism is a political tool used to get inept politicians into office.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
It's stupid questions like this are why we have racism.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
None of the above. We have enough government regulation and overreach. The laws on the books regarding environmental protection are contradictory. It is illegal to spill oil and let it seep into the ground, but it's OK to put up windmills that leak hydraulic fluid all over the ground. We need common sense protection for the environment, with true protection as the goal, not the lure of money and power in the name of being "green."
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Choose not to answer
I need to do more research to better educate myself on this topic.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The Declaration of Independence sums up the purpose of government: to secure the rights of the people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is all.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I consider myself constitutionally conservative and socially liberal.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
N/A
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I want the voters to know that I am there for them. I believe that Hoosiers have been silenced and need a representative who will listen and do what it is the voters hold most near and dear. No one in their right mind should want to do this job. We often mislabel elected officials as "leaders," when in fact they are servants. To serve is a hard job. But the people of District 26 deserve a servant who places their needs and desires above all.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
Police should be protected from prosecution for conduct in keeping with departmental policy, but departmental policy needs to be written in such a way as to prevent police from ever being in a position where they are in danger of compromising their integrity or being subject to lawsuits.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
I agree we need more mental health programs, but we do not need to be taking any money from the police. On the same token, I do not believe that police departments should be militarized.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
You are never going to protect public safety by placing restrictions on gun ownership. Criminals do not follow the law and so restrictions only hamper the right of people to defend themselves. See the Second Amendment. "Shall not be infringed." I think that says it all.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
And I should be able sue the company that made the forks I bought. They made me fat. . . . Please. Guns do not get up and go shoot people. People shoot people. This is about personal responsibility. I choose to eat with the evil fork, and sometimes evil people choose to do violence.
