Tim Smith
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Tim Smith
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 3
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Purdue Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, B.A. - Political Science, 1990
WORK & MILITARY
n/a, n/a, n/a
AFFILIATIONS
Grace Gathering Church, Elder
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None, n/a
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Mayor of Fort Wayne, IN, 2019
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Randolph County Farm Bureau
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under no circumstances should taxpayer funds go to pay for abortions or to fund abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood or others.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
None.
Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?
Yes, the Dobbs decision granted that right to "legislatures" and "legislators." I will support any federal legislation that limits, eliminates, or makes it more difficult to access abortion of any kind.
ECONOMY
What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?
Cut taxes; permanently eliminate the "death tax"; and lower spending, which will lower inflation and interest rates. Burdensome taxation stifles wealth creation and chokes the middle class, making upward mobility enormously difficult.
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Strongly Agree
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...." The phrase "separation of church and state" occurs nowhere in the Constitution, and Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists has been misquoted and misapplied for centuries. The 1st Amendment limits government's role--it does not limit individual freedoms; in fact, the opposite is true. The First Amendment expressly protects individual religious liberties.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberties are paramount to constitutional order and a healthy society, and thus must be protected against all threats. No one should be compelled to violate their religious or moral conscience. I will always stand on the side of religious liberty.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. The government's actions in regard to COVID were unconstitutional.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C; however, we must get spending under control if these programs are to survive much longer.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
C; we've spent trillions on foreign wars while our country slips in many major indicators, both social and economic. Thus, I strongly support an America First foreign policy that prioritizes the American people and American sovereignty before the interests of other countries.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
I strongly support all policies that limit or outright eliminate the reach of China into American sovereignty -- including purchasing American farmland and securing the border and ports of entry to cut off the supply of fentanyl streaming into our country from China.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes; Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East, offering partnership in trade, military support, democracy, etc. I will support policies that build upon and strengthen America's relationship with Israel. A stronger Israel makes a stronger America.
What are the causes of decline in U.S. military recruitment and retention?
Focus on DEI, ESG, and other non-defense-oriented, woke issues. Additionally, a lack of focus and purpose in American foreign policy, such as fighting open-ended wars with no clear objective or defining a course of success. The American military should focus on recruiting and training fierce warriors, not brainwashing soldiers with DEI nonsense.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
America needs an impenetrably high wall along the southern border. When that's finished, we need to secure the northern border. Border security is American security, and it will be my number one priority in congress besides ending out-of-control spending.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
America should prioritize welcoming the world's best and brightest. But only after we secure our border and strengthen our economy can we have a discussion about immigration reform and asylum-seekers. Border security has to come first.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
School choice is fundamental to strengthening education and allowing parents to make the best decisions for their children. I support it wholeheartedly.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
States, local communities, and most of all families should be making decisions regarding the education of children. The U.S. Department of Education serves no purpose other than giving power over our kids to unelected bureaucrats, therefore it should be eliminated.
VALUES
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Both Divine (i.e., Biblical) and natural law clearly stipulate that marriage is between one-man and one-woman. Government's role is to preserve and protect that institution, not to change the definition of it.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Wokeness is coming for our kids. I will stand against any legislation that attempts to harm our children, denies parents rights, and weakens the family. I'm running for congress to protect my kids and grandkids -- and yours.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Under no circumstances should taxpayer dollars ever go to fund dangerous gender transition services of any kind. Gender ideology is dangerous and should be stopped at every turn.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a devout Christian who believes God -- Father, Son, Holy Spirit -- and God alone is the author and sustainer of life. I believe salvation is found in Christ alone, by faith alone, through grace alone. The revelation of God in Christ by the Spirit found in the Bible is the foundation of all Truth, and therefore is the ultimate guide to my life and worldview.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Photo identification is the cornerstone of election integrity, thus I support it without qualification.
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
It was the deep wisdom of our Founding Fathers to create the Electoral College, and that wisdom stands as a bulwark of liberty today and will preserve liberty for the coming generations.
EQUALITY
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 the essence of wokeness. I am firmly committed to fighting and defeating every form of wokeness, including CRT, once I'm in congress.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Gender ideology is coming for our kids -- and for women and women's sports. This is a safety issue, first and foremost, and it cannot stand. I support all legislation protecting women's spaces and women's sports.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
Climate change has become a pagan religion, and I refuse to bend the knee to it or force others to do the same. We need sensible energy policy, and we should trust our farmers and agriculture producers to be good stewards of their own land.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Oil, gas, and coal. Renewable fuels should be pursued, but only if they stand on their own financial grounds without major government subsidies.
ABOUT YOU
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?
Very Conservative
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government exists to assure liberties, safety, and regulate commerce, as defined by the U.S. Constitution.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
The Supreme Court should be reformed to include more seats.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Our state and local police need every amount of support they can get, financial and otherwise, to ensure our communities stay safe.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment has no restrictions. In fact, it says the right "shall not be infringed."
