Important Issues

Like you, I am tired of the same old cookie-cutter politicians masquerading in both political parties. Their only guiding principle seems to be how do I get reelected. That isn’t how our nation was founded. It was founded by people with shared values and a deep seated sense of what was right and what was wrong. Too many of our elected public officials have lost that moral compass in order to be more “politically correct” in the eyes of a liberal media. They have become cardboard politicians.

Our founding father’s were willing to risk their lives and fortunes for what they believed in. They were unafraid to say “In God We Trust” while today’s leaders are afraid to mention the word Christmas for fear of offending someone. I believe our generation is being called to renew a compact with our nation’s founders and stand up for the true values on which our nation was founded and for which our Republican Party must stand.

Below are my positions on seven issues of substance:

Like Thomas Jefferson, I am for limited government intrusion in our lives. We don’t need a flood of social programs and government mandates eroding our way of life and basic freedoms. I strongly support our Constitution and will also oppose all efforts to weaken or destroy the right of citizens to bear arms under the 2nd Amendment.

Taxpayers are bearing the brunt of the government’s latest spending spree. The more elected officials spend trying to win votes, the less money you and I will have to keep from our hard earned paychecks. Individuals are the best ones to decide what charities or causes they want to support rather than government. I have consistently filed bills to relieve taxpayers and have voted against wasteful government spending. I will oppose all new taxes and am the only candidate at the start of this campaign to have signed the national no tax increase pledge.

We need to resist efforts by the Federal Government to turn to socialist programs and to mandate such programs be enacted by the states. Legislation that uses the “iron fist” of government to force businesses or citizens to comply or else is counterproductive. I believe in our free-market system and that government regulation of business is best kept to a minimum.
Working with business and industry Missouri can provide the climate that fosters growth and creates sustainable jobs, not just government make-work ones. Also, money promised by the Federal government for state programs usually has long strings attached and when the Federal money runs out, Missouri taxpayers will be stuck with the ongoing costs. We need to have the discipline to live within our means.

All life is precious. 62% of all women who get an abortion, later regret their decision. I have fought those who would coerce women into getting abortions. Last session our incumbent State Senator would not even allow debate on pro-life legislation which had passed the House. We need a pro-life Senator willing to stand up and be counted. As Chair of the Families & Children Committee of the Missouri House, I sponsored a parental bill of rights to help parents work with our schools to advance their child’s education. I also don’t believe government should be involved in rationing or denying life-saving procedures based on age or disabilities.

When parents divorce, the children suffer with lower academic scores and problems related to induced poverty. While there are instances of abuse and bad marriages that cannot be saved, my goal is to try to reduce the divorce rate in half to strengthen our society and reduce the long term costs to families, children, taxpayers and society.

Gambling is not a panacea for every government program. Gambling exploits the poor, siphons money away from local businesses and destroys families. But the big casinos are influential among politicians who have taken money from them. Unlike our incumbent State Senator, I will refuse to take campaign money from casinos so I can make independent decisions in the best interests of the people.

This year a member of the Missouri State Senate went to prison because he put his own self-interest ahead of the public interest. Rather than roundly condemning the actions of this politician, some of his colleagues expressed sympathy for him, wrote letters trying to get his sentence reduced and talked about how effective a Senator he had been. Some members look at the Missouri General Assembly as some sort of frat house and act like they are above the law. I believe we can restore public confidence in government when we elect men and women of integrity.