Taxation and Federal Spending
I believe that, in spite of the efforts of Ronald Reagan and others since,
the percentage of income the American taxpayer pays to local, state, and
federal government is too high. The system is burdensome and made
purposefully complex by career politicians. If elected, I would work for
a total overhaul of the tax system and would support implementation of the
FAIR Tax. I am completely opposed to the annual raiding of Social Security
revenues, which will soon disappear due to the retirement of baby
boomers. I believe that the Congress spends money on programs for which
it has no constitutional authority. I would work to eliminate the
practice of placing congressional “earmarks” in spending bills, which are
used in attempts to bribe voters and enable the incumbents to keep their
seats. To this end, I would support giving the President the line-item
veto.
I support making permanent the tax cuts put in place by President Bush
and the Congress, balanced with real cuts in spending.
Iraq We must not squander what we already have invested in this endeavor, both
in the sacrifices of our citizens and in treasure. We must focus on
accomplishing what many democrats have a great deal of trouble
understanding: VICTORY. Immigration
We are a nation of immigrants and should continue to support safe and
legal immigration. However, I believe that the value of United States
citizenship is too great to be cavalierly bestowed, particularly in a
time of unique national security challenges. Apart from potential
security issues, there are health, safety, and economic issues as well.
The financial and manpower drain on public schools, law enforcement, and
healthcare is massive and must be addressed. I am opposed to a blanket
amnesty program for illegal aliens. I support increased border security
including fences and more personnel. War On Terror I believe we need to continue to aggresively pursue the war on terror; I
believe that our military people know best how to proceed; while
“oversight” is important, they are the experts. Lobbyists
If elected, I pledge to my neighbors in the 4th District that I will not
accept gifts, or free trips from lobbyists. If I think I need a vacation
I’ll pay for it myself.
Term Limits And Personal Pledge I support term limits for the U. S. Congress. I offer a pledge to the
voters of the 4th District that if elected, I will serve no more than 4
terms in the House of Representatives. I believe in the concept of
“citizen legislator”. If eight years is enough for the President, and
Missouri’s state representatives and senators, it is enough for the U.S.
House. The Business End Of Healthcare
I am categorically against socialized medicine. I believe that we can
begin modest cost reform by putting control of medicine back where it
belongs: in the hands of patients and doctors; and injecting free market
concepts by simply requiring that patients know what non-emergency care
will cost before treatment. Right now the system is completely driven
and controlled by insurers, whose interest in good care is minimal. I am
concerned that Medicare Part D as it currently operates will not only
prove to be cumbersome, inefficient, and too expensive, but will
ultimately drive small-town, independent pharmacies out of business. I
know that the current effort is to allow small businesses to combine into
associations to reduce insurance premium costs, which is a step in the
right direction, but I suggest that we might pursue the idea of making
health insurance portable and the responsibility of individuals.
Our American Heritage
“No Child Left Behind” is in place, requiring accountability for the
success of public school students in math, science, and reading. If the
federal government must be involved with public education, I would like to
see an additional requirement: the teaching of true American heritage.
The educational establishment, especially the liberal teacher’s unions,
often present a view of America that is much different than I and many
older citizens were taught and believe. Many texts and teachers fail to
teach the greatness of the United States of America, preferring, in the
name of “balance” to emphasize our country’s failures rather than
successes, the negative rather than the positive, and don’t adequately
teach about the sacrifices of our forbears. If young and future Americans
are not taught pride in, and love of country, who will be willing to stand
up and defend this nation? A Culture of Life
I am opposed to abortion and will work to promote a culture that reveres
and respects human life.
I am opposed to human cloning. Unless someone can show me evidence to the
contrary, I believe that somatic cell nuclear transfer is cloning, and am
opposed to it, particularly when it is a fact that the positive results of
stem cell research are completely derived from adult stem cells.
Tort Reform
I will support measures that continue to reduce frivolous lawsuits, which
damage the economy by putting small businesses out of business, and drive
up health costs. National Defense/Military
I believe in “peace through strength”. Throughout the twentieth century,
after each conflict, the U.S. consistently made the same mistake:
demobilizing and gutting the defense budget. We, as the world’s only true
superpower and historically the greatest force for good in world history,
must maintain a strong and ready defense posture.
I am an avid student of our country’s military history. I know what
occurred at places like the Argonne and St. Mihiel, Bastogne and Colmar,
Chosin, Khe Sanh, and on and on. My greatest heroes are the soldiers,
sailors, and airmen who bought and paid for freedom the only way it can be
bought, the hard way. I am very proud that Missouri’s 4th District is
home to Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood, and as a
congressman would work to continue, increase, and modernize their
respective missions. We need to make sure that our returning veterans
have the care, rehabilitation, and resources they need because we can
never adequately repay them for their sacrifices on our behalf.
Intelligence
Since 9-11, there have been investigations galore and much pontificating
about intelligence and how the intelligence community failed. The truth
is that our once-effective intelligence apparatus was systematically
dismantled, de-funded, and debased by democrat presidential
administrations and a democratically controlled Congress, beginning with
the Church Committee in the 1970s. I support the continued rebuilding of
our intelligence agencies as a critical component of our national
security.
Energy
As a former employee of an oil company, I have long been interested in and
have studied the history of the oil “age”. The emergence of the United
States as an industrial giant and military superpower was in great part
due to our ability to harness energy. I support the continued development
of renewable fuels such as biodiesel and E 85 and would also promote their
production as economic development tools for Missouri, so long as
government mandates and subsidies do not disrupt food and feed production
and related. I am an advocate of commonsense energy conservation. I also
support the proposals to build new refineries on abandoned military bases.
The Environment
I believe we need to be good stewards of the resources of the nation and
planet in a practical and intelligent manner but do not subscribe to the
wild-eyed rantings of radicals such as Al Gore, Robert Kennedy Jr., and
organizations such as Earth First and PETA.
English Language
I would support a constitutional amendment making English the official
language of the United States of America
United States Sovereignty
I believe that the United States should remain a sovereign nation and
would resist all attempts to place our population, land and environment,
military, or economy under the control of any other entity or world body.
Israel I believe that we have a vested interest in the security and continued
survival of our democratic ally, the nation of Israel. Separation Of Church And StateI believe that the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees
Americans to worship or not worship as they please without interference
of the government. I also believe that the Supreme and lower courts have
been off track and have misinterpreted the question for many years.
Second Amendment Rights
I believe the Second Amendment of the Constitution means what it says:
that we as American citizens have the right to keep and bear arms.
|
