Brian Bengs

Liberal

Independent

N/A

South Dakota

Current Position: U.S. Navy and Air Force Veteran

Running For: Senator

Policy Positions

For higher taxes on the ultra-rich and billionaires, and lowering taxes for small businesses and working people; opposes tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest 1 percent
For balancing the federal budget and paying down the national debt through fiscal responsibility and effects-based spending, including withholding Congressional salaries during government shutdowns
For protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare, opposing privatization efforts

For aggressive antitrust enforcement to break up monopolistic agribusiness and meatpacking corporations to protect family farms and ranches
For right to repair laws requiring manufacturers to provide access to tools, parts, and information needed for consumers to repair their own products
For breaking up monopolies and making billionaires pay a higher tax rate than middle-class Americans to lower the cost of living for working families

For overhauling healthcare to reduce costs and improve affordability and accessibility, citing failures of the current profit-driven insurance and pharmaceutical system
Against privatization of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare and workforce reductions at the VA, supporting full funding and staffing for veteran healthcare services

For abortion rights, supporting a woman's right to choose, but favors restrictions on abortion after fetal viability with exceptions for the life or health of the mother
For same-sex relationships and personal freedom in who one loves, opposing government interference in personal relationship choices
For increased tribal representation and rights, including a seat on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, hiring reservation-experienced staff, ensuring Native American voting rights, increasing funding for tribal healthcare/education/housing/law enforcement, correcting Census undercounts, and removing work penalties on Native American benefits

For banning members of Congress and their spouses from purchasing, selling, or holding individual stocks while in office to combat insider trading and corruption
For a constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics and overturn Citizens United, opposing unlimited corporate and PAC political spending
Against taking corporate PAC money in his own campaign
For congressional term limits, supporting a maximum of two terms (12 years) for senators and six terms (12 years) for representatives; pledges to serve no more than two terms himself
For federal redistricting reform to end partisan gerrymandering, taking map-drawing power away from partisan legislators
For term limits and an enforceable code of conduct for Supreme Court justices to increase accountability and prevent acceptance of gifts from wealthy donors
For open primaries and structural electoral reforms (such as consensus choice voting) to reduce partisan extremism and increase political competition

For comprehensive immigration reform that includes strong border security and increased legal immigration to support economic growth and Social Security

For reopening the Jeffrey Epstein case and bringing charges to seek justice for victims
For gun ownership rights and the right to self-defense, while also supporting reasonable gun safety measures