General Statement:
I support policies that ensure all Americans have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from conception to natural death.

Economy: Free enterprise and individual initiative brings economic prosperity. Fiscal responsibility in the form of reducing the national debt and balancing the budget are the key to keeping the government and economy in check.

Putting money into the hands of the people who create jobs will spur the economy. Small business is the engine of our prosperity, and it needs the support of a government that will encourage their growth and expansion. Limiting the span and control of the government, while encouraging entrepreneurship, will create new jobs, propel the economy and move the country forward.

The United States must be a place where businesses want to run to, not from. We must work together with industry to reduce red tape and bureaucracy that stifles business. In a responsible fashion, we must support the businesses that create jobs and fuel the economy.

Energy Independence: We must not depend on other countries for our energy, period.

• Old coal plants should be replaced with clean burning plants.
• New technology should be explored to build clean, safe, reduced waste, green power facilities.
• Support green power sources where possible via tax incentives.
• Continue tax incentives for home owners to become energy independent through alternative technology such as solar, wind or any new viable technology.
• Tap into geothermal energy where possible.
• Continue to fund research and encourage zero-emission automobile technology.

Environmental Stewardship: The environment must be cared for in a responsible way. We need to change the way we think about it and care for it as the precious gift that it is. Caring for the environment does not include destroying the economy or redistributing wealth therefore, policies such as “Cap and Trade” will not be supported.

• We need to reduce waste by stepping up the recycling effort.
• We need to support product engineering which designs products for longer and extended use.
• Support responsible forest management.
• Support clean water and air policies.
• Have not seen convincing evidence of “man-made global warming” and therefore will not commit to economy and job killing policies based on unproven theory.

Foreign Policy:

• Foreign relations decisions should be based on the best interests and well being of the United States.
• A strong defense department is the leverage used for effective diplomacy. (Without teeth, a bark means nothing.)
• Free societies do not wage wars of aggression against their neighbors.
• We oppose terrorists or countries that support terrorism.
• Support Taiwan’s right to self defense.
• Believe the United Nations is a fundamentally corrupt institution which allows brutal dictatorships to serve on human rights commissions. Denies Israel’s right to self defense while turning a blind eye elsewhere in the Middle East.
• The United Nations should not dictate any policy or command any troops of the United States.
• Support the independence of Israel and their right to self defense.
• Support a moral policy against genocide in the world.
• Support secure borders.

Health Care: Government should not be in the business of health care. The United States has the best health care in the world but there are problems that need to be addressed without putting it under total government control. Believe Universal Health Care would attack certain groups such as seniors by denying them care based on their age or disability. (Being given a “pill” instead of treatment, as the President stated to the daughter of a senior, is not a viable option.)

• Medical Savings Accounts, which everyone would contribute to, along with employers, tax free, would be used to purchase the insurance of the individual’s choice.
• The level of care, location, doctor, should be up to the individual’s choice.
• Medicare should stay for all those who choose to keep this coverage. However: the hope is that better coverage would be available through the use of the MSA’s.
• A system that covers each individual according to their needs and freedom to choose is the way to go.
• Support fully deductible medical and healthcare expenses.
• Believe Emergency Rooms should continue to accept anyone. However; in the case of illegal aliens, the federal government should be directly billed for their charges. In addition, once the illegal alien patient is treated, they should be turned over to the authorities and deported back to their country of origin.

Abortion: Every unborn child has the right to life.

• Do not support federal mandates or intervention in this state’s rights issue on either side.
• Do not support outlawing the practice as I believe it would not stop abortions. (If there is a demand, there will be a supply.) Instead, I support policies aimed at changing the culture where adoption and life is the only right choice. In other words, stop abortions by working on the demand side of the equation. No demand = no clinics.
• Do not support taxpayer funded abortions.
• Parents have the right to know what sex education or counseling takes place with minors that they are responsible for.
• Opposed to using live or unborn babies for transplant and research. Support stem cell research from placenta and umbilical cords.

Illegal Immigration: Illegal is illegal, and like any other law that is broken, must be enforced.

• Support policies which make legal immigration easier for those coming to the United States who want to work and contribute.
• Support secure borders.
• Support deportation of illegal aliens.
• Support enforcement of the laws that are on the books.

Marriage: Defined as the union of one man and one woman. Support civil unions and basic rights that allow for people of alternate orientation to be protected under the law similarly to married couples.

Homosexuality: I will not judge the morality of homosexuality, it’s not my business. I oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation except where it concerns national defense. Do not believe in minority status based on sexual orientation. Oppose openly gay service in the military as I believe our culture does not yet support that and puts individuals at risk as well as destroying unit morale. Support the current “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

General Beliefs:

• Limited government as set forth by the founding fathers in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence is key to the longevity of the country. The government is there to serve the people, not the other way around.
• Federal elected officials must live by the same laws and partake of the same government- sponsored retirement plan known as Social Security and any healthcare program that they enact. If it is good enough for the people, it should be good enough for them.
• Children belong to parents, not the village, and parents have the right and responsibility to raise them.
• All federal welfare programs should be returned to individual states.
• A hand-up is much more effective than a hand-out. Support diverting welfare funds to incentives to hire needy recipients.
• Public money should not be used for collection of union dues and oppose using union dues for political purposes.
• Fully support the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.
• Citizens have the right to secure communications.
• Americans have the right to life and the government should not be in the business of arbitrarily choosing who lives and dies based on age or disability.
• English is our language. ESL students should learn English through immersion.
• Support abolition of the Department of Education. Believe there should be general Federal guidelines which the individual States will be held accountable for.
• HIV/AIDS is a health problem, not a civil rights issue.
• Oppose tax payer money supporting illegal aliens.
• Czars: Checks and balances are critical to a strong country. Putting a large scope of influence into the hands of individuals who don’t answer to the people goes against our beliefs. If Czars are to be appointed, they must be vetted and confirmed like other political appointees.
• Public funds should not be used to fund partisan groups such as ACORN.
• Support private and faith based charities of the choice of individuals for the development of social welfare programs, not government welfare. Government is not efficient and should be there as only a safety net for those who truly cannot care for themselves.
• Opposed to corporate bailouts. Believe competition and failure is a part of progress and only the strong should survive. Government should only step in to curb monopoly or for national defense reasons.