Budget:

Currently there is sufficient revenue to meet all the needs of a constitutional government in Minnesota and yet the legislature has failed to allocate funds to core projects. Instead funding is focused on efforts such as unconstitutional social engineering projects.  A balanced, but bloated budget is not a solution! Tax cuts without spending cuts are not a long term solution. We need to cut spending, reduce taxes, and reallocate funds to constitutional obligations.

Don’t take my word for it:

http://www.budget.state.mn.us/budget/index.shtml

Education:

Local school referendums are a critical aspect of our tax system. Some school boards and administrators oppose local referendums. Their stated reason is that it makes collecting taxes more difficult. That the children will suffer unless the State and Tax Payers meet their financial demands without hesitation.

Taking another persons money should, in fact, be difficult. Schools should justify each and every expense to their local community. The best mechanism to ensure a high standard of education and the efficient spending of money is by returning the funding of schools to the local community.

The School Board and its relationship with the local community is the best checks and balance system that could be designed. Studies have clearly shown that it is not the amount of money that is spent on education, but the dedication of the teachers, the leadership of the Administrators, and the envolvment of parents. The success of a school district can best be steered by the parents and school staff working together.

Energy Policy:

A free market economy needs an abundant supply of affordable energy; as such I strongly support revocation of statutes prohibiting the building of nuclear power plants in Minnesota. Nuclear power is the safest, most environmentally friendly and economically efficient form of energy.

Self proclaimed environmentalists have worked to prevent the expansion of this vital source of energy by using deception and fear mongering. To these activists the idea of nuclear power is less preferable than other green energy sources. They cling to this belief despite the numerous proven advantages of nuclear power over other forms of energy. They cling to their beliefs because they have refused to take the time to check their facts.

A truly informed activist would not advocate for wind turbines if they stopped to consider the effects of Wind Mill fields. Endless fields of Wind Turbines that scar our pristine landscape and slay hundred of thousands of aviation life every year, or the destruction caused by water turbines, that although far more efficient than wind turbines, reek environmental devastation upon aquatic life.

Don’t take my word for it:

http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed103007a.cfm

http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/bg2087.cfm

Illegal Immigration:

Illegal Immigration is an affront to every lawful citizen and legal immigrant in the United States., criminal immigrants are not Immigrants, nor are they Undocumented Residents, nor are they Undocumented Citizens. They are individuals violating the laws of the United States every single day they are here.

However, we should recognize the contributions illegal immigrants bring to our States economic success. We should also recognize the strength many of these illegal immigrant families bring to the communities they dwell in.  Immigration reform is required, a streamlined form of temporary worker visas should be established, but this reform can not take place until the security of our border is first achieved.

The Republican Party is not the party of wall builders; we are the party of removing barriers, we are wall crashers, and ceiling smashers.  I am opposed to the idea of a wall scarring the southern border of our nation.  In the words of Ronald Reagan “if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” We must secure our borders, while protecting the Sovereignty and Spirit of the United States of America.

Health & Wellness:

According to David Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States the Social Security and Medicare programs are hopelessly wrecked! The government has promised more than the tax payers can delivery.

Yet, even facing this impending financial collapse, the Democrat Party has proposed adding another entitlement in the form of Universal Health Care (UHC). Sadly, it is left to the Republicans the role of being the bearer of bad news; these flawed programs must be dissolved and UHC is not feasible. 

In Minnesota I favor limiting Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) and phasing out Minnesota Care. Instead we can replace these broken systems with Universal Catastrophic Health Insurance (UCHI) with an inflation adjusting deductible of $5,000 per year, coupled with a state tax deduction for medical expenses up to $5,000 per year.

Any financial assistance must be time limited and accompanied by demonstrable effort made by the recipient, in the form concurrent work and education requirements.  

Don’t take my word for it:

http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?rptno=GAO-07-1101&accno=A75753

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/60minutes/main2528226.shtml

Marriage Protection Amendment:

What a shame that government has become entangled in the institution of marriage! As a nation we have morphed a sacred rite into a government entitlement program. By taking marriage out of the church and putting it into the court house; by taking marriage out of the home and embedding it into our tax codes; we have cheapened this union.

Government interference in marriage is a heinous example of gross political overreach. Now we must reap the consequences of this intrusion, which include skyrocketing divorce rates, single parent families, and the contentious same sex marriage debate.

There are proponents of a constitutional amendment to deny, forever more, the right of marriage between same sex individuals based solely upon the vilest of bigotry. Just as certainly there are opponents of such an amendment that seek to debase the concept of marriage for political gain and spite. However, it is my belief that the vast majority of participants in this argument bring honorable, honest, and truthful advocacy to this issue.

There is empathy in my heart for both sides of this debate, but I must be vigorously opposed to any constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. The government has intruded into our homes, into our bedchambers, and placed our most sensitive life choice under legislative scrutiny.

Liberty ensures our right to espouse our opinions, but in our zeal to advocate our own viewpoint we must be on guard, lest we trample our own freedom as we trample that of those we are in opposition to.

Truly marriage is under siege, but not from same sex couples, our stance must be against further government regulation. Marriage should not be reduced to a line on our tax forms, the practice of judicial ceremonies should be abolished, and marriage license requirements stricken from our laws.  These are the acts that will protect Marriage.