Mayor Mia Love on why Washington is 'broken'

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Do you the American people are way and not behind what you're selling in 2000 well.

He love -- her debut on the national political stage at the Republican Convention.

Is the mayor of Saratoga Springs Utah who was now running for congress and she joins us from salt -- -- mayor love welcome to FOX News Sunday.

Thank you for having me Chris.

You are a black -- who is a favorite of the Tea Party and -- running to be the first female black Republican ever elected to congress for a lot of people who don't know yet.

How did you turn out.

The YE -- debt.

Well he my parents immigrated to this country from Haiti with ten dollars -- their pockets and they worked hard for everything that they have.

My my parents taught me that we weren't entitled to anything that we didn't own -- -- work for or pay for ourselves.

And I've taken those principles everywhere I've gone.

And that's how I ended up where I am.

I want to ask you about that because -- a story that when you went.

To college when you're starting college your father gave you some marching orders -- to become kind of I guiding principle for you what any side.

Them.

Well I tip my dad with me because he's the -- parent.

And -- he said -- your mother and I've done everything we could to get you here.

Today we worked hard we've never taken a handout you are not going to be a burden to society you will give back.

And thank goodness it didn't go in one ear and out the other and did it resonated with me and I and stuck with me.

Let's go through some of the positions that you're advancing in your campaign.

For congress -- -- -- You want to cut federal spending 759.

Billion dollars by 20/20 one including.

Cots food subsidies by 50% -- 53 billion dollars and K through twelve subsidies and other 53 billion.

And and college assistance 33 billion question what happens to -- all of those millions of people including a lot of minorities.

Who depend on those programs.

Well -- are different things are different approaches first of all that program I put out so that we can start a discussion I haven't -- anything in stone.

I want to make sure that we I hit the ground running so we have to start the discussion.

But if you take for instance education.

We're having -- we're trying to see how much -- that we could actually give people and the option that I would like to look at is bringing the cost of tuition down.

So that we give more people the opportunity.

For higher education.

-- how do you get in these colleges and I know is the father of six kids who are put through college.

Hi how do you get that tuition is down.

Well because they don't because federal government has just drown out the private sector -- -- we've got to do everything that we can.

Because the price of tuition has gone up over 500% since the eighties.

If you think about it now there -- people that can't go to college today because the price of tuition is way too high.

And -- they are completely indebted.

And so what we have to do is we can bring some of these things to a state level we can start at letting the private sector come in and compete.

And I think the -- will help drive the price situation down that would we give more people opportunity for higher education.

But Democrats.

Say that you're being hypocritical and has called for for ending.

Subsidies for college education noting that you -- between fifteen and 50000 dollars.

In outstanding.

College loans how do you respond.

I respond by I wish I had more options.

Because we're still trying to pay some of those things off and what I would love to do is be able to be in a position where I'm not I don't have that -- I want my children to be able to have a college education without having as much dat.

And -- many people are leaving college right now they're completely.

Indebted and they can't find work to pay off some of those loans so what's going to happen with -- with a college education.

It's -- the same thing that happened with the with the housing market -- we are going to end up being in big trouble when people can't pay back those loans.

-- talk about another another -- Democrats are accusing your party of waging a war on on women.

Wanted to take away choice on abortion wanting to cut.

Federal funding for planned parent -- wanting to limit ensure access to insurance for birth control.

How do you respond to these charges that Republicans are waging a war and one.

Well think about this under President Obama I think women have suffered a little bit more.

You think about it and 55 point seven million.

And women are out of work we've gone from 7% unemployment to seven point 8% unemployment.

I would like federal government to let me keep a little bit of my own money so I can use my own contraceptives if I want him.

It -- it that that's one of the criticisms that that Republicans.

Level back at Democrats and say all they're talking about -- women's reproductive rights are not talking about the economy.

Well again.

Hi -- to me it's about choice and I want I want more free choice more liberties then then anything else and so I think that.

Federal government trying to be.

Trying to get.

Bring this so called war on women I think it's just a way to distract from the fact that they're not talking about their failed policies.

But when you say is my dad when you say choice.

Democrats would say your party wants to take away the -- When it comes to abortion.

While I.

What the -- The role that government does place to protect life liberty and the pursuit of happiness and I think that we should be protecting life.

I am -- pro life person I believe that you have more choices before.

You know before as somebody and getting pregnant and I think it's important that we -- we're able to have the freedom to exercise that choice and and it's up to you how you want to do that.

But I don't think that we should be getting into the weeds on all of this because.

I think that these are things that we teach in my own home these are things that our pride that we shouldn't just focus on the economy and what's happening with the economy.

Let's and talk about your record because you have been the mayor of Saratoga Springs since 1810.

Before that you were a member of the city council -- wanna ask you about your record on the council.

You voted to double property taxes we should point out Saratoga -- was a very small town of about 3000 huge growth of about 69000.

You voted to double property taxes now as mayor you voted to cut them back some.

But are there are times when it's just necessary to raise taxes.

Look our city was an agricultural city.

We went we never set a municipal tax ever when the housing market -- we're faced with major.

Major shortfall -- so what we had to do was first we cut spending.

We made sure that we cut 30% on the on some of the lower level 67%.

On the higher level.

And then our property tax when we set up for the first time we made sure that it pays for nothing but public safety.

There is a role that government plays and that is to make sure that we are keeping our city safe.

So with that being said we hold the highest bond rating available I was able to lower.

Taxes as -- the first -- mayor and we are firm.

I'm firm financial standing our city is doing very well and I think Washington can take a note.

From now.

Well okay we got a couple of minutes left -- you let me in the direction I wanted to go which is from your vantage point of Saratoga Springs.

What do you think of Washington.

I think Washington's broken look at the problems that we have today household incomes down.

4000 dollars.

Gas prices doubled unemployment 8%.

14% among the black Americans sixteen trillion dollars of debt health care premiums going up.

And so we've got two choices when it comes to presidential candidates we've got a presidential that -- got a president that wants more tax more regulation.

Bigger government and we've got some and then somebody else the governor Romney who wants to to champion small business.

He wants to create twelve million jobs -- that through the private sector lower the tax rate broaden the base affordable education.

Energy independence I think when you ask yourself two questions.

Am I better off -- I was four years ago.

Am I happy with the direction that this country's going it's no and now -- the clear choice as president Romney and you talk supports president Romney answered a lot.

If you're elected if your fortune -- -- -- a tough race right now against a democratic incumbent congressmen.

You say -- Washington's broken how would you like to change Washington if you come here.

Well again we're going to have to lower the would be that debt we're going to have to try and do what we can to lower.

Deficit spending at a time you know I -- -- I try to defend a mayor I'm I'm I'm less talking about policy and more.

The way business is done and watching and how would you try and change that.

Well I think one of the things is I'd like to see a plan come from both parties we've got a plan that comes from the Republican Party but it's been.

Three years since we've had a plan come from the Democrat party we've got to start working together -- to understand.

Or I come from we run nonpartisan.

I don't look at my act fellow council member and say.

What party affiliation are you before I figure out what their plans are we've got to be able to come together and find solutions instead of rhetoric and being -- and being didn't -- Setting people up against each other -- and in terms of dividing this country.

We have to come together as Americans and fix the problems that we're facing today and we need leadership.

Not someone who is going to follow from behind but leadership.

And saying these are the solutions let's look at these and and try and see what we can do to get this country back on firm financial standing.

-- -- I want to thank you so much for coming -- in talking with us today and we'll see how things go for you in November thanks for coming.

Thank you press thank you.

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Mayor Mia Love on why Washington is 'broken'

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