Core Principles

Individual Responsibility

The United States is a nation of strong individuals.  We must promote a culture of personal responsibility, not a culture of entitlement. The prosperity enjoyed across America is the result of dedication and hard work; success and resources are to be earned, not deserved.

Limited Government

He who governs least, governs best.  Washington, Jefferson, and Madison inscribed this important philosophy into our Constitution – modern politicians should uphold this ideal.  Government serves an important role in society, but it should be effective and lean.  We cannot allow government to expand at the expense of the private sector and our individual freedoms.

Freedom Of Enterprise

The greatest strength of America is its entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and culture of innovation.  By allowing our citizens to independently develop products, services, and technologies through free-market incentives – and reap the rewards of their labors – we have become the world’s strongest and most dynamic economy.  To maintain our high quality of life and rebuild in the current downturn, we must encourage small and medium-sized businesses to sprout green shoots and grow.  This means reducing burdensome regulations on businesses and preventing government from intimidating or displacing private sector actors.

Self-Determination

The American dream still exists.  In no other country is there such opportunity to go from “rags to riches,” to receive a first-class education, and to start a happy family.  It is essential that our system of governance continue to allow individuals to succeed based on their merits.

Environmental Stewardship

Eagle Scouts are taught to leave every place better than it was found.  The United States should embrace the same motto.  Collaboration between our business and environmental communities must be facilitated to ensure the preservation of our ecology, but not at the expense of our economy.

Robust Civil Society

Government doesn’t help people, people help people.  Financial and social assistance should come from individuals, communities, and non-profits – not bureaucratic government agencies that are ineffective at identifying and addressing need.

Pro-Growth Taxes

To preserve our country’s spot atop the economic ladder, we must reward, not punish, small and medium-sized businesses.  If we continue to burden our hardest working earners with excessive taxes, we will discourage entrepreneurship and economic advancement.  We have already seen businesses move to locations with lower capital gains tax rates, such as Ireland and Southeast Asia.  This cannot continue.

Affordable Healthcare

As Americans, we must strive to provide high quality and affordable healthcare to all of our citizens.  To achieve this goal, we must utilize market forces to drive down costs and allow doctors to focus on what they do best: help people.  Bureaucratic barriers to competition must be removed, tort law must be reformed, and we must develop a technological infrastructure that allows data sharing between healthcare providers.

Energy Independence

We must be energy independent in the next 20 years.  This is of critical importance to our economic, security, and environmental interests.  Government prizes and tax incentives should be used to advance technologies that increase energy efficiency.  No potential energy sources should go unexplored.  Only in this way can we free ourselves from reliance on Iran, Venezuela and other hostile, oil-rich regimes.

Strong National Defense

In 1903, Theodore Roosevelt invoked a West African proverb when describing the United States in international affairs – “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”  In today’s world, we must remember these words.  In this era of nuclear proliferation, cyber attacks, and increasingly aggressive authoritarian regimes worldwide, we must remain constantly at the ready to defend ourselves against any threat that may emerge on the horizon.

Strong Diplomatic Relations, Global Outreach

Critical to our strength and place in the world are the bonds we share with our allies as well as our efforts to engage and persuade those with whom we have differences.  It is not enough to be powerful.  We must recommit ourselves to improving our relations abroad and enhance our global outreach initiatives.

Reform Of Washington

Not all is well in our nation’s capital.  Corruption is commonplace; waste is everywhere, and competence is an increasingly scarce commodity.  More than ever, checks and balances are needed to ensure fresh blood and thinking consistently flow through the halls of Congress.  As your representative, I will fight for checks and balances, transparency, and accountability.