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Issues
• Economy
We need to create more jobs and production to grow our economy. This cannot be done by creating a larger government bureaucracy and raising taxes. Jobs and production are created by private enterprise and entrepreneurship. The best way to grow the private sector is by reducing taxes so that more jobs can be created. We need less government, less taxes, and more jobs. The economy will improve when people have more to spend and when businesses have more to invest for long-term growth and the creation of jobs.
• National Security
Since September 11, 2001, our nation has failed to provide adequately for our national security. We have declared war on terrorism, but we have not used our armed forces in the most efficient and effective manner to win this war. We are still fighting a very lengthy war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our service men and women are doing an exemplary job, but our leaders have not clearly defined our goals or the means to accomplish these goals within a reasonable time.
• Education
Education is the foundation for finding solutions to the deficiencies in the economy, national security, health care and all the other challenges that we face in our country. We need to use the best teaching methods with passionate teachers. Our school administrators need to budget our educational resources and give all students the best education available. Kansas students should be the best in the nation and the world in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and liberal arts. We need high standards and accountability in public education. The best interest of our children for high quality education should be of primary importance. Schools should be adequately financed and accountable for the efficient use of funds to provide for the highest quality of education.
• Healthcare
There is no doubt that our nation’s healthcare needs to be improved. However, giving the government control of healthcare is not the right answer. There are examples in other states of improvements in healthcare. The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota manages to provide less costly and more efficient and effective healthcare for the benefit of its patients. Each state has the ability to improve healthcare and to develop new ways of finding the means of delivering the best healthcare this world can offer. The medical profession, the pharmaceutical industry, and the insurance industry are the primary entities that should be held accountable for the efficient and proper use of medical science, medicine, and medical insurance. The responsibility begins with the hospitals and doctors to do a better job with the resources that are available to provide affordable healthcare for everyone.
• Agriculture
Kansas is one of the great agricultural states in our country. The people of Kansas are blessed with the land and climate that will grow quality wheat, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and other crops, as well as raising livestock. As stewards of the land, farmers continue to do more and they do it better without government telling them how to do it. Agricultural education and research continues to discover new ways to increase production and conserve the land for future production. The farmer needs government support, not government intrusion and control. A nation that cannot feed its people cannot prosper and develop. Actions of the government must support this fundamental principle.
• Family Values
When making new laws, the government needs to always stay focused on family values. Family values in Kansas include honesty, integrity, common sense, and hard work. Workers in the private industry or in the government bureaucracy must not be corrupt or incompetent to do their jobs. Government must eliminate bribery, excessive taxes, wasteful spending, and over-regulation. Our leaders need to reinforce the family values of honor, integrity, and pride that make Kansas and the 1st District a great place to live.
• Energy and Environment
We need to continuously seek new and more efficient forms of energy that support economic development and growth. We do not need a cap and trade program that will place new taxes on carbon emissions and create a negative impact on economic growth and energy production. We need to improve oil production in the short-term and develop new and alternative sources of energy in the long-term such as wind, solar, hydrogen, or nuclear. These new sources of energy need to be affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly.
• 1st, 2nd, and 10th Amendments
The first ten amendments to our Constitution known as the Bill of Rights were considered paramount by our Founding Fathers and remain paramount today. I strongly support the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press as stated in the 1st Amendment. I strongly support the 2nd Amendment for the right to bear arms in a safe and responsible manner. I strongly support the 10th Amendment providing for the right of the states to reserve the powers of health, safety, and welfare of its citizens as state’s rights and not rights that should be given to the federal government.
• Veterans
As a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, I totally recognize the importance of our men and women who serve in our armed forces. The soldiers, sailors, and airmen who defend and secure our freedom deserve only the best that we can give them. Many of these individuals have paid the supreme sacrifice of giving their lives for all of us. Many have been injured or wounded in defending our freedom. The nearly 250,000 veterans in Kansas are entitled to first-class medical care and other benefits that they have earned by their service to our nation.
• Immigration
Most of our ancestors immigrated to this country in accordance with our laws. I support legal immigration; however, we must enforce the laws against illegal immigration. We have the technical ability and laws to control illegal immigration. We need to enforce those laws. We need to put competent people in control of this enforcement. Employers need to verify the legal status of workers in accordance with the law.
• Abortion
I believe in the sanctity of life for all individuals. I oppose abortions, but believe that unique exceptions exist that require medical care to save the life of an unborn child or mother.
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