The budget may change, but common sense fiscal principles do not. If it doesn’t work on your table budget, then why would it work for Washington’s budget. We should cut wasteful spending, improve technology for greater efficiency, reform huge entitlements, and ensure that we fully fund our priorities in national defense.

In the time that you just read the above paragraph, the US national debt increased $100,000. (http://www.usdebtclock.org)

We must fight to rein in out of control spending.  We are leaving massive challenges to the next generation in the form of debt.

We must take hard looks at existing programs and cut out waste.

Here are some examples:

• We should conduct a review and find programs that should be at the state and local Governments rather than federal
• Programs that could be better performed by the private sector
• Programs that are outdated
• Duplicative programs
• Waste, fraud, and abuse

I support legislation that keeps bills online for at least 7 days with the exception of in extremis legislation, so the American people may review them.

As an entrepreneur I understand the struggles and rewards of small business. When you attempt this American dream you fall down many times, but you must get up. I started investing in real estate at age twenty, and managing those properties throughout the years while in the military was no easy task. I remember talking to lawyers and agents from the only pay phone for miles near the jungles of Panama, and calling the Virginia Beach City Planning Office countless times from a cell phone in Iraq. It is with this “can do” mentality that many American small business owners have that will lead us out of our current economic situation. Our government must match public policy in support of our current business owners and the next generation of entrepreneurs. Taxes must be kept low and regulation limited to ensure the ability for innovation, creativity, and prosperity. We need tax cuts for small businesses to spur jobs and economic activity.

We must unite as public officials and fight to keep carrier groups in the district. We must use the brainpower and influence of our local retired military leaders. We have a large amount of retired admirals, senior officers, and senior enlisted to tap from.

As your Congressman I will work with state and local lawmakers to hold the line on current district jobs and work to attract new business nationally and internationally.

Everyone understands that taxes need to be paid to run our Government and to deliver services. Taxes should be used as efficiently and cause the least economic damage as possible.

I support:

• Not raising taxes
• Simplifying the existing tax code
• Abolishing the death tax
• Not raising the capital gains tax
• Stopping tax hikes on businesses operating internationally
• Strongly opposing cap-and-trade

Freedom, economic prosperity, national security, opportunity, and quality of life are all threatened when there are not abundant affordable sources of energy. We must assure safety and environmental protection, but unshackle our own natural resources by reducing constraints and red tape. This will allow for far more innovation and production of energy.More energy in our district = More jobs in our district.

Every year we transfer over 700 billion dollars to other countries for foreign energy, some of the recipients undermine us. Some of these countries harbor, fund, and educate terrorists. This is clearly unacceptable. 66 percent of our crude oil is imported. Our policies need to thwart this threat and ensure that unfriendly regimes are not using energy as an economic weapon against us.

If you look south in Brazil, you will find that in 2006 they achieved energy equilibrium. They exported roughly the same amount of oil as they imported. They are now energy independent and will be a net exporter of oil, thanks to a great discovery of offshore oil. This process took them 30 years as they phased in alternative fuel and phased out gasoline. They also stepped up domestic oil exploration. We Americans can do the same, and it’s time that government stepped up to the plate.

I support:

• Safe offshore exploration and drilling off the Virginia coast for oil and natural gas
• Energy independence through increased domestic exploration and production, while developing alternative energy sources
• Nuclear energy facilities – 20 percent of our current electricity is produced by nuclear and 73 percent of our CO2 free energy is nuclear.
• Alternative forms of energy and their research for commercial viability such as biomass, algae to diesel, wind, solar, hydroelectric, & hydrogen
• Expedited permitting for energy facilities

I support the Reagan Doctrine of “Peace through Strength” America must remain alert and vigilant. We must be proactive in protecting our citizens and interests. Our military must be capable of acting anywhere in the world where our interests are threatened. As a NAVY SEAL and Iraq war veteran I understand what it means to fight for this country, serve, and sacrifice. I will always honor our military and veterans.

I support:

• Funding and supplying the tools that are needed to fight and win the War on Terror
• Tough border enforcement
• Providing persistent homeland security in constant communication with military intelligence abroad
• Fully funding veterans benefits
• Continued research, development, and deployment of military technology to keep America safe

Education plays a vital role in our immediate and long-term prosperity. It is imperative for us to know we are doing all we can to ensure our nation’s youth get a first-class education. Spending per pupil has doubled in the last thirty-five years, while reading levels remain flat.

I support:

• Parents should be able to choose whether their child attend public schools, private schools, religious schools, charter schools, online learning or home schooling.
• Greater authority for state and local lawmakers to innovate and promote state-level education reforms
• Ensure we are not wasting tax dollars on ineffective, outdated, or duplicative programs
• Strengthening teacher quality through alternative certification and merit pay

Americans deserve a healthcare system that is reasonable, accessible, and affordable. This will help boost the health of our people and our economy. We must make sure that our system is realistic. We must build upon the strengths of the current system. We should be committed to healthcare reform through a private market solution. We need to provide better access to small employers and individual coverage at the federal level without taking the ability away for states to innovate. We must put forth solutions that actually drive down the costs of healthcare.

I support:

• TORT reform
• Portability of plans across state lines
• Wellness and fitness incentives – preventing illness, injury, and obesity
• Tax breaks for individuals whose employers do not provide insurance, or for part-time workers
• Equal tax treatment for those who are self-employed with S-corporations or are sole proprietors as C-corporations now enjoy
• Reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in our current public plans
• Increase the utilization of health information technology
• Healthcare savings accounts
• MEMBERS OF CONGRESS MANDATED TO USE THE SAME COVERAGE AS IN ANY HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION PASSED

I was raised by a single mother on the Eastern Shore.

According to the United States Census there are 10.4 million single mothers in America.

• 28% of White babies are born to single mothers
• 50% of Hispanic babies are born to single mothers
• 70% of African American babies are born to single mothers

These statistics are very alarming. Children who are raised in single-parent homes are more likely to not be prepared the first day of school, more likely to be involved in crime, and more likely to drop out from high school.

A traditional family unit is ideal for children. It is important to preserve that unit and show benefit in staying in lasting marriages. We must strive to create strong, supportive, and loving families for our children.

As shown above, the traditional family unit is ideal, but often not a reality. I was blessed to have a mentor from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. At age eleven I was introduced to Andy. Andy was retired with grown children; he had time and wisdom to share. I encourage mentorships from faith-based organizations, volunteers, as well as baby boomers with the time and wisdom to share.

I believe that marriage is sacred and should be recognized only between a man and a woman. I also believe life should be protected from beginning to end.

From a hunter’s safety course at age eleven through my military years and presently: I understand guns, their purpose, and will fight hard to ensure that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon. I oppose any effort to strip or redefine these rights by courts and legislatures.

In 2008, the U. S. Supreme Court, in District of Columbia v. Heller, struck down a Washington, D.C. ban on individuals possessing handguns in their homes. Writing for a 5 to 4 majority, Justice Scalia found the right to bear arms to be an individual right consistent with the overriding purpose of the Second Amendment, to maintain strong state militias.

I believe we have gone away from the tenth amendment and that the power grab by the federal government needs to be halted if not reduced.

“The States should be left to do whatever they can do as well as the federal government” - Jefferson

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

We must keep our barriers to trade low and encourage non-protectionist principles. Trade is a mainstay of the United States economy and accounted for thirty percent of the United States GDP in 2008. We remain the world’s top exporter of goods and services combined.
The United States buys more goods from China than any other country, and China buys more American bonds than any country. A major issue with China is the trade imbalance. China’s overall trade surplus grew from $32 billion in 2004 to $295 billion in 2008. This was mostly due to a non-market economy and subsidies for state-owned enterprises.

I support:

• We must create a comprehensive, transparent, and level playing field between the United States and China
• The encouragement of greater competition and easier movement of money in and out of China
• China has made progress, but we should give comprehensive response to China when it provides diplomatic cover to regimes such as North Korea, Iran, and Sudan. These regimes sometimes abuse their own people and/or threaten American security
• We must monitor China’s military buildup and ensure we are consistently maintaining and upgrading our own force
• Accountability from China when defective products are shipped into our country like Chinese drywall, toys containing lead paint, and tainted dog food