Current Issues
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SUPPORT FOR THE PRO-LIFE CAUSE: I have always been strongly pro-life and I always will be. This issue goes to the core of our values as a society—protecting those who cannot protect themselves... GOVERNMENT REFORMS: Nebraskans are sick and tired of Washington bureaucrats spending their tax dollars in private. Earmarks when done wrong lead to corruption. We must have transparency. The more the public is able to see the earmarks the better Congress will be able to eliminate them. In regard to entitlements, I've heard from several seniors who are worried about their future. They are worried about their Social Security and Medicare. We need to make sure these programs are secure for our seniors, yet modernize the systems so they are efficient. Finally, on ethics -- just like we clean up the mess in the yard, we need to clean up the mess in Washington. That's why I introduced the Public Trust and Accountability Act. STANDING WITH SENIORS: I am a strong proponent of policies that protect and strengthen Medicare. I want seniors to have the peace of mind that these vital healthcare services will be there for them when needed... GET THE ECONOMY GOING AGAIN: We can create new jobs in one of two ways: incent the private sector to do it, or have government hire people in public sector jobs. The current federal administration and my opponent advocate the latter approach. I believe this is the wrong track to take and that it will lead us to a stagnant economy with no real growth in private sector job creation and economic activity for years to come. We must change course and direction now... BALANCING THE FEDERAL BUDGET: Today, our national debt is $13 trillion, which works out to $118,700 for each taxpayer. If the politicians in Washington keep spending more than we take in each year, our children and grandchildren will be saddled with this growing debt. That just isn’t right. I have introduced legislation (H.J.Res.89) to amend the U.S. Constitution requiring the president to submit to Congress each year a budget that limits total outlays to revenue receipts – a balanced budget...
EDUCATION: Education is the key to America's future. We need our kids to be prepared to compete in the 21st century global economy. One of the things we have to do now is reform No Child Left Behind. ENERGY INDEPENDENCE: I have a plan that can make our nation energy independent. If we make the changes I am outlining here, we can displace almost 14 million barrels a day of imported oil. This is an American solution to our energy needs. I hope our country can unite behind a new energy strategy and then implement it with dispatch. The simple fact is we must move to develop and produce more of our own energy domestically...read more (pdf). IMMIGRATION: Illegal immigration must be dealt with by Congress. We can no longer afford to have open borders where anyone can come through unchecked. NATIONAL SECURITY & FIGHTING THE WAR ON TERROR: One of my jobs as your Congressman is to fight to keep our country safe. I support anti-terror laws that close loopholes in our intelligence laws and protect Americans' rights. Congress must modernize our intelligence laws that are out of date and hinder our ability to spy on foreign terrorists in a foreign land while protecting American citizens' civil liberties. We must have security, not uncertainty when it comes to terrorists. Finally, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are a concern for all of us. I've been to Iraq and I get weekly updates on the progress there and in Afghanistan. I do believe if we pulled our troops out today it would create chaos in the Middle East. |