What I Stand For

Veterans

As a Marine veteran of twenty-two years, I know how important it is for Americans to respect and honor the sacrifice of all Veterans. As long as I am in office, I will do everything in my power to ensure that our troops, our Veterans, and their families, receive all the benefits and support that they have earned through their honest and faithful service to our nation.

Security

The defense of the United States and the physical security of its citizens are the paramount functions of government. We must have a strong military appropriately deployed by our Commander in Chief, an effective intelligence branch, a National Guard available for deployment in state emergencies, and local law enforcement that can perform all community functions. As your Congressman, I will use my experience to provide oversight and funding to address these complex issues.

Rule of Law and Rights

On January 11, 1944, at the beginning of his fourth term, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his State of the Union address. After the sacrifices of the Second World War and the Great Depression, the President sought to enshrine in American law the four freedoms; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. In his speech he defined a second Bill of Rights. I support, in addition to our explicit constitutional rights; the right to affordable health care, the right to education, the right to housing, the right to a living wage, the right of every businessman to trade in an atmosphere of freedom, and the right to a dignified retirement. Comprehensive health care reform must be enacted at the federal level.

Prosperity & Opportunity

The middle class is the backbone of the American economy and is, in fact, the backbone of America itself. Rebuilding the middle class is my foremost economic concern.

Quality of Life

Our society has an obligation to care for those who sacrificed to protect us, to care for our children and to care for those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We must rehabilitate those who have done wrong so that they can become productive members of society. And we must protect the privacy rights of all persons, including a woman's right to choose.

Ethics in Government

We, the people, must elect ethical and principled officials to provide the leadership, action and results that are critical to our future. Upon taking office I will abide by the principles and definitions contained in the Ethics Pledge issued by President Obama, as an Executive Order, on January 21, 2009.