Ben on the Issues
Border Security
We need to secure our borders now. I believe ending illegal immigration and border security are national security issues. The federal government has failed utterly to fulfill its responsibilities. President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have made a greater effort to bring the masterminds behind the 9/11 attacks to the United States and to protect their rights than they have made to keep drug smugglers, human traffickers, and terrorists out of the United States and to protect our rights.
I support the Kyl-McCain plan to send the National Guard to our border now. A recent study by the Congressional Research Service shows that fences work. This is a problem we can solve, if we have the right leaders in Congress. The politicians in Washington are out of touch with the people of our State and our great country. I will fight to secure our borders and for real immigration reform, not an amnesty.
Jobs and the Economy
Our country is on the wrong track. I will fight to create jobs and get our economy growing again. We need to lower taxes and eliminate the unnecessary regulations that burden the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy, not more so-called stimulus handouts for congressional cronies or bailouts for Wall Street bankers. We need to make America the best place to do business in the world. If we create an environment where we can unleash the talent and industry of the American people – prosperity will follow. We need to get government out of the way.
Health Care Reform
Our health care system is broken and needs to be fixed, but the answer is not a government takeover of healthcare with bureaucrats making decision that doctors and patient should make. President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are out of touch with the American people. We need to repeal and replace Obamacare with real reforms that put people in charge of their healthcare and not the government or insurance companies. We need to make insurance portable and allow citizens to buy the coverage that fits their needs – not what the government mandates. We need to allow insurance to be purchased across state lines and expand health savings accounts. We need tort reform to stop frivolous lawsuits that raise the costs of healthcare for all of us.
Taxes and Government
As Ronald Reagan said, “The problem is not that we tax too little, it is that the government spends too much.” The Democrats in Washington have set us on a reckless course of spending and debt. Our national debt is now $12 trillion. Our unfunded liabilities are more than $60 trillion. President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have us on the path to national bankruptcy. I will fight to cut spending, lower taxes and simplify the tax code to encourage growth and avert the national debt crisis that is ahead of us.
National Security
Energy
We need a comprehensive plan for energy independence in America. Free market innovation is the only way that we will be able to create a future that is sustainable. Energy is a vital piece of our economy. While initiatives in so-called green-energy are well intended, these initiatives need to be market based; otherwise, we are just throwing money away. Roadblocks to clean nuclear energy are disastrous and need to be removed. We also need to open up exploration for energy on our own soil.
Education
Every child in America should have the opportunity to receive a quality education. Education is vital to democracy at home and our leadership in the world. Instead of creating more federal programs, we should have more state and local control. I am a strong supporter of charter schools and the use of new technology in the classroom.
Card Check
I oppose card check. Workers should have the right to a secret ballot and that right should be protected.
Environment
We need a responsible environmental policy that balances our need to conserve our environment for future generations with our need to grow our economy and provide opportunity and prosperity for them. We need to have a rational environmental policy, not one that is driven by politics and special interests or based on pseudo science.
Second Amendment
Our Constitution is the foundation of our country. The right to bear arms is a constitutionally protected individual right. I will always defend a person’s right to bear arms.
Life
I believe in the sanctity of life and am a defender of the Rule of Law. I believe that judges should interpret the law and not legislate from the bench.
