Issues

Immigration: We take great pride that our country is one of a few in the history of the world where people are trying to get in instead of out. We are a bastion of freedom and liberty composed of a population of immigrants from all over the world. The success of America is its constitution, its laws and its common language. When we begin to discard one or the other of these tenants of our society, we tear away the very fabric of what has guaranteed our national survival. As a nation, we must not condone illegal entry into our country. We must take all measures to secure our porous border, and to protect our nation’s sovereignty. America is a welcoming nation and it should continue to extend a warm welcome to those that want to enter in accordance with the laws, the rules and the regulations for entry. Those that do so otherwise disrespect our nation’s sovereignty and they must not benefit by their illegal trespass.

Human Life: I believe we are all God’s children and that he created us in His image. I believe all human life is precious to God and should be protected. I am a pro-life conservative who defends the right to life of the unborn and protect those who are in the sunset of their lives.

Healthcare: The United States has the most technologically advanced health care in the world, however rising medical and health insurance costs are moving healthcare out of the reach of many American citizens. To address diminishing healthcare alternatives, reform of the insurance market through Association Health Plans, Health Savings Accounts, the efficient implementation of health technology are needed.  The design of a balanced playing field among providers and insurers would make healthcare more affordable yet leaving responsibility for our nation’s healthcare to the government spells disaster for our entire population.

Economy and Taxes: The 9/11 attack, the prosecution of the war on terror and in Iraq, and the corporate scandals challenged our economy.  Tax cuts have successfully brought us out of the economic slump giving way to a thriving economy marked by low unemployment, low interest rates, and high level of productivity.  This dynamic response is due to American small business and entrepreneurs at the heart of our American way of life. Such a quick recovery happens only in a free and democratic society where government stays out of the way of business, yet insures that government policies maintain an environment where business can thrive. To this end, the 2002-2003 Tax Cuts must be made permanent and the “Death Tax” must be eliminated.

National Security: The protection of the nation’s sovereignty, control of its borders and the ability to readily prevent and protect our homeland from both foreign and domestic threats, are among our government’s primary objectives. Our nation and the rest of the free world are facing a threat like no other; one bent on destroying our way of life: our very existence. I take this threat very seriously. All reasonable measures must be taken to protect the American homeland and I believe that sacrificing moderate intrusions of personal privacy are necessary to this mission.

National Defense: The protection of our country requires constant attention and support especially now that we are at war. Our soldiers in the field risk life and limb daily in order to protect our homeland from those who wish us harm. We owe our soldiers not just our gratitude, but our support for them and their families as they sacrifice their lives for our country’s well-being.  As we prosecute the war on terror, our Armed Forces must have the newest and best equipment to accomplish their objectives. They must know that their families are being well-cared for and that when their job is done, they will come home to a grateful nation willing to demonstrate its gratitude by providing benefits for them and their families.

Education: The foundation of any great republic is the education of its citizenry.  For too long, we have neglected our charge and allowed the education of our youth slip by the wayside.  Our national and our state education systems are in crisis. Colleges and higher education are becoming more and more unattainable to our students and public schools struggle to achieve their goal of preparing pupils for the challenges of the future. The control of public education must be returned to the local districts and they must not be burdened by unfunded mandates. The cost-provoking burdens of governmental meddling in the operation of schools must cease and we must admit that the mandates of No Child Left Behind stifle creative thinking in the classroom, increase bureaucracy, and drive the costs of education upward. Government must stay away from the state school system to allow states to release control to local school boards. We must protect our schoolteachers from burdensome paperwork while encouraging them to standards of excellence.  We must find more effective ways to assure that our children are meeting standards and that these standards are fairly applied. 

Social Security: For more than seventy years, our country has had a federally-administered retirement/pension system created in the 1930’s to solve social and economic demands of the time.  To many Americans, the system has proved to be a vital safety net yet, over the decades it has failed to be administered for longevity.  In those days, America was shifting in demographics from agrarian to industrial society, but today the age of “ownership society” is upon us.  Social Security must meet the challenges of the 21st century in order to fulfill its promises to all Americans.

Our Right to Bear Arms: Our great country was founded on the backs of citizen soldiers, and the legacy of that movement is still with us today.  The right to bear arms has been a respected and cherished right throughout the life of our nation, and we must continue to protect our 2nd Amendment rights.

Agriculture: Promoting our nation’s agriculture and protecting the independence of our nation’s food supply is vital not just to our well-being, but also to our nation’s security. Our farmers and ranchers have long provided healthy nourishment to our country and to the world. Our goal must be to remain leaders in food production; to protect our agricultural products from agri-terrorism; and to make our farm and ranch products more accessible to global markets by minimizing burdensome tariffs and export fees.

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