Issues

PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY

The promises made to our seniors must be promises kept, which is why I oppose privatizing social security and oppose raising the retirement age as a way of stretching benefits. We must find ways to reduce costs and improve the quality of services we provide to our seniors. The focus must be on efficiency and effectiveness, eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the system, and providing our seniors with the benefits they have been promised.

SPENDING

Washington spending is out of control. Congress is borrowing money we do not have and spending money we cannot pay back. Moreover, they are sending the bill to our children and grandchildren.

While Ohio families are hurting, Congress has kept increasing our national debt limit and thrown money at bailouts and bonuses – they even bought a car company.

As your representative in Congress I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stop this reckless behavior. I will work to pass a line item veto law, cut discretionary spending and stop adding to our national debt.

JOBS

As I look at the state of our nation, two things are certain to me – we must create jobs and we must fix our economy. In order to do so, Congress must take several steps. First and foremost they must stop passing legislation that kills American jobs.

Time and again Congress has taken the wrong approach – creating new bureaucracies, passing bills to send jobs overseas and meddling in the affairs of private business. Meanwhile, right here at home in Central Ohio, families are suffering.

The government must understand that, in order to be successful, they must stop interfering with the free market. As your congressman I’ll stand up for our small businesses, work to put a stop to out-of-control spending, and help create incentives for investment and job creation here at home.

HEALTHCARE

Without question, America has the best medical care in the world. In fact, some of the latest medical research and cutting edge procedures are being developed and preformed right here in Central Ohio. Unfortunately, affordability is often an impediment to receiving high-quality care.

I do not support the efforts by Congress to create a one-size-fits-all, government-run health care system. Americans should be free to choose their doctors and their treatment options.

Instead of the one-size-fits-all, government-run health care mandate, I believe Congress should enact legislation to fix problems in our current healthcare system. Congress should address the issue of cost. Congress must also address the need to expand access to health savings accounts, allow for incentives to live healthy lifestyles, pass price transparency and allow small businesses to pool their health care risk.

NATIONAL DEFENSE

I support a strong national defense. My 25 years of experience in the Ohio Army National Guard, and deployment to the Middle East, give me a “boots on the ground” perspective of what is going on in the war.

I support giving General McChrystal the troops he requested in Afghanistan. Moreover, I believe our men and women in uniform must have at their disposal the tools necessary to do their jobs when called to duty and they should have the resources available to support them when they return home.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT

I am and will continue to be a strong defender of our Second Amendment rights afforded to us in the US Constitution. I also support educational programs about the use of firearms, marksmanship and safety programs.

As your next Congressman I will defend the US Constitution and the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

ENERGY

Energy independence is important for our country. We need an energy plan that embraces all options for energy – including green energy technology, nuclear, and clean coal.

Congress has been working to pass their version of an energy plan (cap and trade), but the American people should not be fooled. What Congress has passed amounts to another tax on families and another job killer in our communities, especially here in Ohio. Our country cannot afford a direct hit to our domestic energy industry and Ohio families cannot afford higher electric bills.

We need to adopt a common sense, all-inclusive energy plan. As your next representative in Congress, I will work to do that.