Representative Government

• I will introduce a constitutional amendment calling for three-term limits for U.S. representatives and senators. The Founding Fathers intended for our government to be representative, which it cannot be when professional politicians--more loyal to their parties than to their constituents--place higher priority on voting along party lines than on truly listening to the people.

Returning to The Constitution

• I will introduce legislation requiring a department-by-department review of every program in the federal government to establish its compliance with the Constitution and to identify for cancellation federal functions not permitted by the Constitution. In particular, the legislation will focus on programs and functions that belong in the control of the States

Balancing the Budget

• I will introduce a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget except in time of national emergency declared by the president and ratified by a two-thirds majority of the House and the Senate.
• I will introduce legislation that, pending enactment of a balanced budget amendment, will reduce the pay of each member of the House of Representatives and the Senate by a percentage equal to the amount the federal budget is in deficit. In 2009, about one half of the federal budget is expected to come from deficit spending, meaning members of the House and Senate would have their $174,000 salaries reduced to $87,000.
• I will introduce an amendment to House rules to prohibit "ear marks," or off budget spending (pork). Earmarks are items introduced by congressional members that are not subject to significant debate or review, and are almost exclusively used to fund pet projects for legislators' constituents. They are often appended to irrelevant legislation as a means of further hiding them from scrutiny, and are generally traded as favors among our elected representatives. In 2009, over 10,160 pork barrel initiatives were pushed through, and they accounted for $19.6 billion in spending.

Free Enterprise

• I will oppose any legislation that proposes using taxpayer money to support or subsidize businesses, corporations, or industries that should compete openly in the free market.

Taxing Fairly

• I will introduce legislation to reform the U.S. tax code to introduce a fair flat tax in place of the existing structure of complicated and easily manipulated rates, schedules, and deductions.
• I will oppose any legislation that proposes to target any specific group of employees for punitive tax rates.

Immigration

• I will introduce legislation to stipulate that no federal funds may be used for those here illegally except to provide emergency medical assistance and basic subsistence (food, water, clothing, shelter) until they can be expeditiously returned to their countries of origin.
• I will oppose any legislation providing amnesty for those here illegally.

Veterans

• I will aggressively support legislation to honor all of our commitments to our veterans. They have given us the very freedoms we enjoy.

Becoming Energy Independent

• I will introduce legislation requiring the president to develop a comprehensive energy policy focused on reducing the approval time for planning, approving, and constructing safe nuclear reactors, substantially increasing domestic oil exploration (including off-shore drilling), and increasing the use of our vast reserves of domestic natural gas and clean coal.

Providing Access

• Access to me and my staff will never be based on whether a constituent has contributed to my campaign or any other group, and I will forbid any process that checks “donor status” before an appointment is made for any constituent.
• I will not accept entertainment, travel, or gifts from lobbyists. Nor will I receive visits from them in my office.