Issues

“In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”  Thomas Jefferson

Health Care -  Defeat. Defund. REPEAL!  I reject any notion of government-run health care. More government intervention will only exacerbate the problems of access and affordability. Private ownership and individual choice are the keys to real health care finance reform.

We the People  - The Founding Fathers knew that the power for self-governance comes from our Creator and is lent to the government by the people through the electoral process. For far to long we have turned that power over to elected officials without holding them accountable for how they use it. That is about to change.

The Constitution ...defines the limits of the federal government’s power and protects our God-given rights.  The original intent of the authors will guide my application of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as I seek to roll back the encroachment of government on our liberties.

The Second Amendment ... is not about hunting, it’s about self-defense and liberty.  I support an individual’s right to own guns. I oppose national gun registration or other attempts at federal licensing of law abiding gun owners as a violation of the Second Amendment and an invasion of the privacy of honest citizens.

Private Property -  I support the right of our citizens to own private property as protected by the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

Immigration - I support measures to ensure that the immigration system is structured to address the needs of national security. I will work for real border security including a technologically-supported physical fence and oppose any amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Lawsuit abuse reform - I support legal reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits.  “Loser Pays” provisions will protect access to courts by those legitimately harmed while providing the proper incentives to reduce unnecessary lawsuits.

National Security - I oppose Miranda rights and civilian trials for terrorists. Our military and intelligence agents should treat terrorists as unlawful combatants and be able to interrogate and prosecute in Guantanamo or other appropriate military facilities without fear if they follow the time-tested rules of our military system of Justice.

The Tenth Amendment ... It doesn’t really need explanation, just application.  “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

"The federal government has taken too much tax money from the people, too much authority from the states, and too much liberty with the Constitution." Ronald Reagan 

Out of Control Spending -   By simply taking federal spending back to 2007 levels as suggested by Sen. LeMieux (R-FL), we can balance the budget and make a $163 billion down payment on the national debt by 2014.  Most Americans have cut back much more than that and it’s time for Washington politicians to do the same.

Ballooning National Debt - The problem is not that the American people are taxed too little, but that the government spends too much. Adding to the debt by $1 trillion every year is totally unsustainable and the fix is simple. The American people do it every day; we don’t spend money we don’t have.

I support a Balanced Budget Amendment that prohibits deficit spending unless it is specifically authorized by a super-majority (such as >60%) of both Houses of Congress for national emergencies or war. Any vote authorizing deficit spending should be a roll-call vote and valid for a maximum of one year only. This will ensue that priorities such as out nation’s security will continue to be met. 

Earmarks - Pork-barrel politics circumvent the oversight and accountability of the normal competitive, merit-based appropriations process. I will join Senators DeMint, Coburn, Lemieux and Representatives Flake, Campbell, Shadegg and Ryan (and many others) in personally supporting spending reform in Congress by refusing to seek, support, or enact earmarks.

Jobs and the return to an “opportunity society”.  In order to allow American businesses to be competitive in a global economy and create American jobs, I support four reforms:

Tax reform. A flatter, fairer tax system will provide the simplicity, efficiency and predictability that businesses need and the American people deserve. I support preserving the 2001 and 2003 individual tax cuts, the permanent elimination of taxes on capital gains, dividends, interest and death. I also support payroll tax reductions on employees and job-creators and reducing taxes on businesses across the board. Lower taxes on businesses and individuals will also increase revenue as it did under JFK, Reagan and Bush, which will go to deficit reduction, not increased spending.

Regulatory reform. The creation of a five year maximum “Sunset provision” on all new legislation and regulation will ensure that they are reevaluated on a regular basis.  For past regulations, I support government agencies justifying their existence every five years after a proper review by Congress that includes cost/benefit justification.

Incentive reform. Instead of picking winners and losers through the political process or failed 5-year government “plans”, I support allowing businesses to compete for consumers approval in the free market to ensure the best use of resources. No more Bailouts and payoffs to the politically connected.

American energy reform. I strongly oppose Cap-and-Trade energy tax schemes.  We need an “all of the above” energy policy that allows consumers to tell us which energy is best now and which energy holds the most promise for the future.  Instead of subsidizing the exploration of foreign supplies of oil or choosing winners and losers in the alternative energy market, we need to utilize modern, safe technologies to create millions of American jobs in American companies. This has the added benefit of improving our national security by making us less dependent on foreign oil.

The government's view of the economy can be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." Ronald Reagan

"Nations crumble from within when the citizenry asks of government those things which the citizenry might better provide for itself. ... [I] hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts."  Ronald Reagan

Pro-Life - I support a Human Life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.

Pro-School Choice - I recognize that under the American Constitutional system, education is a state, local and family responsibility, not a federal obligation.

Pro-Worker’s Rights -  I affirm the right of individuals to voluntarily participate in labor organizations and to bargain collectively. I unequivocally oppose “Card Check” or any other provisions that would take away a worker’s right to privacy. No American should be coerced into an association they do not wish to join.

Pro-Traditional Marriage - I support a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as between a man and a woman.  I believe that neither federal nor state judges nor bureaucrats should be able to force states to recognize other living arrangements equivalent to marriage.