It is remarkable how little has been accomplished over the past year, especially given the fact that one party had an overwhelming majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  President Obama chastised the Republicans for the lack of progress, but failed to mention that the Democrats could not be stopped by the minority party just by the sheer weight of numbers.  In health care, the Republicans had ideas, but President Obama and the Democrats would not listen.

It appears that President Obama is also not listening to “We the People.”  For example, he still insists on health care reform, despite the people’s overwhelming objection to it.  He wants another stimulus bill, despite the failure of the first and despite the people’s objection to it.  He is not listening to the people – he just doesn’t get it.

I do “get it.”  I will listen to you when I represent you in Congress.  I will fight for what you want, including limited government and reduced taxes.  I will fight to increase jobs, but that fight will be by allowing private businesses to keep more of their money.  More money will allow companies to grow, thereby providing capacity for more jobs.  I need your help and your support for this to happen.  Vote for me in the Primary on March 2^nd.  I want you to have a real representative in Congress.

I agree that the trial should not take place in Manhattan, but for different reasons.  Non-U.S. enemy combatants have no right to a U.S. trial.  Their cases should be heard in military tribunals.  They should not be given a platform on which to spew their hatred for this country.  The likelihood is that the trial will become a public arena where these haters of this nation will be given a high-profile forum to vent against this country at home and abroad.  I condemn the government’s decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a civilian court where he will be given the rights of U.S. citizens.

…Do what I Say
…Respond to your concerns
…Be Accountable to you
…Not accept earmarks; No Pork

I Will Fight for…

…protecting the Constitution.
…term limits.
…developing American energy; no Cap & Trade.
…restricting government involvement in our lives.
…privacy; stop efforts to inventory our lives.
…a “Fair Tax”; abolish the income tax.
…a strong national defense.
…protecting our nation’s sovereignty; no submission to a global government.
…protecting our nation’s borders; no amnesty for illegal aliens.
…defending the right of life.
…treating foreign terrorists as “the enemy”; no rights of U.S. citizens.
…enhancing the quality of  military and veteran services.

Why I Want to Serve You

I am not a career politician.  I am a career businessman.  I love our country, and want it to remain the same land of liberty and opportunity our Founding Fathers established.  God has blessed me with a wonderful family and a successful business career.  My experiences have given me a multifaceted point of view on which I can make critical decisions in Washington.  My job requires me to travel around the world and I am very aware of how truly blessed we are to live in America.  America is a great and compassionate country.  We need make no apologies.

Over the years, expansion of Government has taken America in the wrong direction.  Our dollar is worth less.  Government is busy placing limits and mandates on our lives and businesses.  They have even placed limits on our right to pray.  The Federal Government has moved far outside of Constitutional limits of power and out of control.

Our elected officials do not listen to us and forget our Constitution.  They are no longer servants of “We the People.”

I am committed to fight them – to put my life on hold – to go to Washington and say “Can you hear us now?”

“Political correctness” has become so entrenched in our society that it is dangerous.  The report’s silence on Islamic extremism is an example of how ingrained this thinking is.  The reason why Hasan killed is an important aspect of the event, but it was not even looked at in the investigation.  Motives were not part of the report.  Under the philosophy of “political correctness,” it was thought that someone would certainly have been offended if the report looked into motives.  Such an offense had to be avoided.

“Political correctness” in government must come to an end.  We must say what is necessary to be said without figuratively having our arms tied behind our backs.  Understanding people’s sensibilities is important, but this cannot stop us from doing our job.  One of the reasons for the Fort Hood report was to make sure no similar action happens in the future.  This cannot be done effectively if an important part of the report is missing.

When I am in Congress, I will do what I have to do, and not be stopped because of “political correctness.”  I know that truth is vital and will do what is necessary to get the truth to the people.

The free market is the answer to creating more jobs.  Reduce taxes so that businesses can have money to invest in their capital.  Take away the many monetary uncertainties that government is now imposing on business (for example: How much will health care cost in the future?  Will businesses be burdened with additional energy costs of “Cap and Trade”?  What additional environmental costs will businesses have to pay?).  The private business sector is where jobs must be created.

When I am in Congress, I will work hard to limit government size and scope of power.  Congress votes on all government spending.  The size of an agency, or even whether an agency can exist at all, can be determined by the amount of money that funds that agency.  I will work hard to use the “power of the purse” wisely so that government will have less control in our lives.

There is a close relationship between earmarks and unethical behavior.  “Earmarks” are the appropriations inserted by almost every member of Congress into all spending bills to fund special interest pet projects at home with federal tax dollars.  A number of Representatives and Senators are likely under investigation for misconduct (many of the proceedings are secret so an exact count is not possible).  Many of these investigations are the result of legislators allegedly exchanging earmarks for political contributions.

The system of allowing earmarks must be stopped.  Not only do earmarks result in irresponsible out-of-control spending, but they also facilitate misconduct and corruption.  I have publicly pledged to propose no earmarks when I am elected to replace Rep. Lloyd Doggett in the 112th Congress (see my Press Release dated January 9, 2010).  This irresponsible spending must end.

In Washington, I will ensure that all of my decisions and votes are grounded in the Constitution.  I want to take a leading role in taking our country back to its roots.  I know what public service should be.  Public service is not self-service.  I will never forget that and will remain accountable to you, the people.

I will take a stand in Washington to stop using politics to solve problems.  Decisions must be made based on sound reasoning and fairness.  All legislators must be accountable for their votes.  I will be accountable to the people.

The destruction of the World Trade Center was an act of war, not a criminal act.  The 9/11 conspirators should be treated as war criminals and prosecuted in a military tribunal.  The current special military tribunals were created by the 2006 Military Commissions Act, a law adopted with bipartisan Congressional support.  Before the proceedings at “Gitmo” were stopped, the military tribunals there had earned a reputation for fairness and independence.

Pre-9/11, terrorism was seen as a law-enforcement issue (note that the 1993 World Trade Center bombers were tried in criminal court).  The current administration is going back to pre-9/11 thinking.  The key question is whether trying these men in a criminal proceeding will make America safer or place the country at greater risk.  The answer is obvious.  Not only the courthouse, but all of Manhattan, will become a potential terror target – again.  Discovery proceedings could lead to classified information becoming public.  The judicial proceedings could become a platform to promulgate an ideology of hate.  These proceedings could also inspire more home grown terrorists.  All this could be avoided if the men were tried in a military setting.

As your U.S. Representative, I will always work to keep the consequences of 9/11 in focus.  I know that pre-9/11 thinking is dangerous.  When determining how I will vote, I will respond to your concerns and opinions and I will always consider whether an action will make America safer or place the country at greater risk.

The government is encroaching in more and more areas of our lives.  As this trend continues, more decisions will be made by the government, rather than individuals.  What health care procedures we can have, what medications we can take, what materials we can use to build our houses, what type of cars we will be allowed to drive, are just a few of the questions that government is trying to make for us.  This government intrusion must be stopped.

New government programs come with a price that must be paid.  Federal spending has more than doubled since 1965, and taxes have grown.  Even with increased taxes, the nation’s debt has increased.  In 2005, our debt was below $8 trillion.  In 2006, the debt was $9 trillion.  In October, 2009, the national debt was $10 trillion.  Now it is over $12 trillion.  Our debt increased over $2 trillion in just one year!

In Washington, D.C., I will work to stop government encroachments in our lives and the loss of our personal freedoms.  The U.S. Constitution limits government involvement in our lives.  I will follow the Constitution.