Fiscal Responsibility
The current spending spree at all levels of government is unsustainable, and can only lead to the ruin of our country. Though often said, there is fundamental truth in the old saying “you cannot tax your way to prosperity.” And yet it seems as if the irresponsible, if not immoral, spending habits of Sacramento are making their way to Washington, helped in no small part by some members of California’s congressional delegation.

I have taken the “No New Taxes” pledge. I will not vote for any spending which imposes an additional tax burden on American citizens. Living within our means means making hard choices. Our nation can have almost anything it wants, but it can’t have everything!

Healthcare Reform
Americans are looking for quality healthcare that will be affordable, accessible, and portable. The obvious problems of the current employer based system can be addressed by putting individuals back in charge of their healthcare insurance. We can do this by using a system of tax credits/vouchers so that individuals and families will be guaranteed the means to purchase their own healthcare insurance plan. Personal choice, personal ownership, and personal management are the keys to fixing the system.

The proposals emerging from the Obama White House and Congress would centralize control over the healthcare system in Washington. Bluntly, do we really want to put the kind of folks in charge of the DMV and IRS making our healthcare decisions?

Illegal Immigration
The real problem presented by illegal immigration is security. When three people out of every 100 are undocumented, there is a serious security problem. The first step in immigration reform is to secure our national borders. We must provide the resources for the various law enforcement units to do the job, including fences, high-tech systems, and appropriately trained personnel.

Gun Ownership
I believe that every law-abiding American Citizen has the right to self-defense which is protected by the plain language of the 2nd Amendment as their right to keep and bear arms.  I will vote against any attempts to weaken or abolish the 2nd Amendment.

Support Our Troops
Whenever our armed forces are in harms way, we must provide the tools and training for victory. Congress must not play political games with war funding. Congress and the President must take their Constitutional duties seriously, and not commit American armed forces to foreign entanglements without a formal Declaration of War.

Values
I am Pro-Life. I will support that position on any measures that come before me in the Congress. The institution of marriage is the bedrock of our society and is rightly defined as the lawful union of one man and one woman.  I will resist all attempts to change this definition and any tax or regulatory policies that punish or weaken the families of America.

Water & Energy
Water and energy are the engines are our region’s prosperity. Without sufficient access to water, our vital farm industry will fail. Without affordable energy, our economic engine will sputter to a stop. We must increase water storage throughout our region, and provide the means to deliver it to thirsty crops. We must increase energy production through the cleanest and least expensive means possible. I will not support proposals that do not meet these basic criteria. I will not support pie-in-the-sky projects that will increase energy cost or taxes.