Nikki Haley is spot on with her Freedom Plan. She has made the point repeatedly that the fiscally irresponsible choices made by both Democrats and Republicans have undermined our economy. Speaking the truth to the American people is a trait that not enough politicians have these days. 

To reverse America’s decline under Joe Biden, we need to rescue the American Dream. Haley’s Freedom Plan is a pro-growth, limited government agenda to revive the American middle class and take control back from Washington to empower states. To do that, we need a president who knows that true freedom starts with economic freedom.   

Haley argued in her announcement of the plan, “My highest priority is keeping Americans safe. We must do everything in our power to prevent a war and keep the peace. That only happens when America is strong.” One way to do so is to promote freedom to push back against existential threats to freedom coming from China and other nations that do not respect the rule of law, core freedoms (including economic) and participatory government. 

That is just one of the many hard truths laid out by Haley on the campaign trail and at the Republican debates leading to her recent surge in the polls. In fact, some have dubbed her “America’s Iron Lady” for her tough love and candor. This plan embodies that spirit. 

At the second Republican debate in California, she put the blame on Joe Biden’s shoulders for causing the UAW strike and for destroying the middle class. Under Biden, Americans have seen a 3.2 percent pay cut while prices have risen 17.7 percent. Had it not been for ’Bidenomics‘ and socialist policies leaving them with no money, Haley argued, autoworkers wouldn’t be striking.  

Haley points out that “Joe Biden is building the biggest government in American history” and “swapping freedom for socialism.” This weakens America with regard to China. Prosperity will lead to peace and away from socialism.

She also points out that Republicans don’t have clean hands when it comes to growing government. At the first GOP presidential debate, Haley drew a line in the sand when she held South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence accountable for voting to increase the debt ceiling, and former President Donald Trump for signing it into law. 

In every election, both parties promise to get our fiscal house in order, but what do we have to show for it? Families can’t afford to buy homes, rent is out of control, inflation is skyrocketing and our middle class can barely make ends meet.

When our economy is roaring, our communities and families are stronger. Picking winners and losers and killing the middle class has our nation at the brink of despair. More than three out of four voters in America don’t feel confident that their children’s lives will be better than theirs.

Haley’s plan cuts taxes and simplifies income tax brackets for the working middle class, slashes the size of government, rolls back Biden’s green energy subsidies and cuts the gas and diesel tax. Also, she pledges to veto any budget that “doesn’t take our country back to pre-COVID spending levels.” Haley is pushing to enact a common-sense zero-based budgeting, making Congress start from scratch every year. 

Critically, Haley’s plan addresses an inconvenient truth that politicians of both parties willfully ignore: the soaring costs of entitlement programs which are the biggest drivers of our national debt.  Currently, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and interest on the debt consume two-thirds of federal tax revenue and must be addressed before it is too late. That share rises to 90 percent of revenue in 10 years and a whopping 119 percent of revenue in 2053, leaving no money for defense, education, infrastructure, and other critical needs.  

Cutting the waste from these programs does not mean abandoning those most in need. Haley would reform Social Security and Medicare to strengthen them for future retirees and to slow entitlement spending. “I’ll raise the retirement age — only for younger people who are just entering the system,” because “Americans are living 15 years longer than they were in the 1930s,” Haley said at an event in New Hampshire.

Haley went on to promise that her administration will “keep these programs the same for anyone who’s in their 40s, 50s, 60s, or older, period. And we’ll preserve Social Security and Medicare for the next generation.” Haley’s plan would also limit Medicare benefits for the wealthy and expand Medicare Advantage plans. 

Nikki Haley’s Freedom Plan reminds many of Ronald Reagan’s 1981 across-the-board tax cuts, spending cuts and regulatory reform that lifted an economy mired in “stagflation” and sparked the longest peacetime economic boom in U.S history. 

It’s an ambitious agenda — one she will have to fight tooth and nail for, even against the Republican establishment.   

Cesar Conda is a former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and a former Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President of the United States.  The views expressed in this piece are his own.