A Look At Issues That Matter

Thanks for checking out my issues page! My hope is that after you take a few minutes to look over this section, you will better understand my views on the key issues facing our nation. As your next United States Congressman, my job is to serve you the voter; not a political party, ideology or corporate interest. You are what matters.

Please review the list of issues below. I have tried to highlight my views on the issues that are most brought up on the campaign trail. However, if there is an issue that is not listed below that is important to you, please contact me.

As your next United States Congressman, my job is to serve you the voter; not a political party, ideology or corporate interest. You are what matters most. That is why I am giving out my personal cell phone number. It is 910 465 1919. Yes, that really is my personal cell phone. Please call me directly any time you have a question or concern. Thanks for your valuable time, and I look forward to hearing from you in the coming months!

TERM LIMITS

The biggest problem with our country today is that our government is run by men and women who see politics as a career, not a service. Some members of government have taken up space in Washington DC longer than many of us have been alive. This leads to corruption, a lack of understanding on how issues are affecting Main Street, and a general disdain and arrogance of the wonderful people you are privileged to represent. Our Founders intended service of country to be an obligation, not a career.

The answer to this is simple: MANDATORY TERM LIMITS. We have them for the President. Our state has them for the Governor. Congress should uphold themselves to similar standards. Creating mandatory term limits will remove the burden our county bears of being “served” by people who enter Washington as paupers and leave as millionaires. All of this being done on the back of the US Taxpayer. Upon being elected to the House of Representatives, my first order of duty will be to take a bill to the floor mandating that a member of each governing body (House and Senate) serve no more than three full terms.

As I have done my whole life, I am putting my money where my mouth is: Literally! This Fall, I became the first candidate in the history of this great nation to sign a bonded term limit pledge! In conjunction with www.bondedtermlimits.org, I signed a $250,000 note payable to Cape Fear Volunteer Center-Kids Voting if I break my pledge of serving no more than three terms in the U.S. House (six years). This money is paid from MY net worth, NOT your tax dollars.

My opponent has broken his term limit pledge twice….a pledge that helped him get elected for the first time in 1996. This is directly spitting in the face of the wonderful people of our district, and I believe my opponent should no longer be allowed to get away with it.

FAIR TAX

For far too long our government has operated under an obsession with punishing the successful. This is called income tax. What income tax in our country does, is tells people that you are doing wrong by working hard, earning your keep, and growing our great nation. In the United States, the more you make, the more Washington DC steals from you. You worked for the money, not them. Why should you have to give what is yours to someone who not only didn’t earn it, but fails in most every aspect on a regular basis?

The answer is you shouldn’t! In a country that is obsessed with “Fair and Equal” I say our federal government start acting that way when it comes to people’s pocket books. That is why I am a huge proponent of what is known as the Fair Tax. Under the Fair Tax, you are taxed not on what you earn, only on goods and services you purchase.

The Fair Tax does a couple essential things:

1) IT FORCES CRIMINALS TO ANTE UP: For many years, drug dealers and illegal aliens have been able to scam our system by dealing in cash. There is no paper trail of their criminal activities. Therefore they pay very little, if any taxes. You the legal, law abiding citizen are forced to carry their burden. This must stop. Under the Fair Tax it does. For every cash purchase these cheaters make, they will finally start contributing to paying down the US Debt and be held responsible for paying their part for the services they have previously scammed off the American People.

2) EVERYONE PAYS THE SAME PERCENTAGE: In the United States, our government has held a long standing obsession with the idea of class warfare. Pitting neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, around the guise of wealth distribution. It has created an entitlement society, one of the things that has caused the out of control spending that has led to our massive debt. Bottom line is that you shouldn’t have to give up a greater percentage of your hard earned income each year because you made more of it.

Under the Fair Tax, everyone pays the same percentage. On each purchase a federal sales tax will be added. However, this will be far lower than the current fare most middle income families pay in taxes, creating a boom of savings and wealth growth without you ever having to lift a finger. Inevitably, the more wealthy will still pay more taxes because they will purchase more goods and services. But they will pay only on the items they choose to buy. And they will pay the same percentage as their neighbor. Hence a FAIR tax.

3) IT ENCOURAGES SAVINGS: A dire problem with our nation (both in Washington and at home) is that we have lived off the credit card for far too long. Houses, cars, etc. All mortgaged and financed to the hilt. Under the Fair Tax, every dime you make will go directly into YOUR pocket. This creates a vast abundance of “new” income. Families can then best decide how to put that money to use. I believe you know how to spend your money, not the federal government. Hopefully this will lead to more people saving for college, paying off mortgages and credit card bills, and creating savings accounts that will allow us to someday completely remove ourselves from the “borrowed” society of today.

HEALTH CARE

We would be naïve to think we could wave a magic wand and this healthcare situation would all be solved. However, one thing that needs to be made abundantly clear is that the problem and the solution are intertwined. The Problem: Government intervention. The Solution: Removal of government intrusion.

Bottom line is that we are a compassionate society. And as a compassionate society we enjoy seeing people get the medical attention they need. However, that doesn’t mean we as tax payers should be responsible for footing someone else’s bill.

This is why I am proposing what is known as the “Fair Health” Plan. This plan allows every person to walk into an emergency room with some sort of insurance coverage, yet eliminates the ultra scary premise of government coming between decisions made by you and your doctors.

The plan is as simple as this: If you like your current insurance plan, GREAT! Keep it! However, the Fair Health Plan also ensures that even those who cannot obtain private insurance are still not denied care. But unlike current legislative proposals that are little more than handouts from the wallet of we the taxpayers, the Fair Health Plan still requires each American to pay their own way.

Every person that purchases private insurance is given a tamper proof “Proof of Insurance” card. Just like your current insurance card, you will need to carry this with you at all times. Those choosing not to purchase insurance, will pay a surcharge of 10 percent on all goods and services purchased. Those carrying the “Proof of Insurance” card will be exempt from any fees. The funds raised will be used to allow the federal government to negotiate the best deal with PRIVATE insurance companies.

IMMIGRATION

One of our staunchest concerns in America today has got to be that of illegal immigration. Immigration effects everything from our rising unemployment, to national security, to the identity of our society. We are a nation of laws and they need to be enforced. As we enter a new decade, we must decide whether the rule of law still matters? I believe it still does. That’s why I propose the following steps to bring an immediate end to illegal immigration:

All illegal immigrants will be given 60 days to voluntarily deport themselves back to their country of origin. Any person caught in the country after 60 days will not only be deported but PERMANENTLY denied citizenship in the United States.

An immediate commencement of the strictest border enforcement must begin. This operation is two fold: One is we must build a wall from Texas to California. This is the only way to fully ensure that dangerous criminals are no longer sneaking into our great nation. The second area of enforcement that must occur is man power. I would immediately bring to the floor legislation that would permit funding for 10,000 National Guard troops to be permanently stationed on the Southern border for a time of no less than two years.

Any business found to be harboring illegal aliens must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. No more fines. No more slaps on the wrist. People that are too lazy or too cheap to make sure that LEGAL Americans are performing American jobs must be prosecuted and sent to jail.

We must make ENGLISH the official language of our nation. Language defines our culture. And when we allow those that have illegally entered our country to force their beliefs on us, it belittles who we are as a people. One country, one language. Simple as that.

Finally, we must pass a Constitutional Amendment, redefining what it means to be an American citizen. Currently, any person born inside the United States (whether their parents are legal or not) is granted US Citizenship. This rewards bad behavior and entices adults to break the law. It is not fair for those who wait in line to be denied their dreams while others are granted citizenship because their parents were cheaters. A new Constitutional Amendment must be adopted that states in order to become a United States Citizen, one must be born to at least one parent who is of legal U.S. citizenry.

GUN RIGHTS

The only thing that keeps us from the tyranny of an out of control Federal Government is the right to bear arms. Your right to own a gun and protect yourself is among my most deeply held beliefs. I believe the 2nd Amendment was one of our Founding Father’s most sacred principles for a reason and I promise to always stand behind it.

I am sure that I have left some issues off the list that are important to you. If I have, I would love to hear from you and explain my positions. I welcome your phone calls or emails, but I always LOVE hearing from my future constituents via phone. So please feel free to call me any time with any issue you would like more information or further clarification on. My personal cell phone number is 910 465 1919. Thanks for taking the time to read through some of my deeply held beliefs and I look forward to chatting with you soon!