Smarter More Efficient Government

Politicians in Washington are no longer getting things done for our families as is evident by out of control gas prices and the increase in food costs. We cannot let things just keep on going the same old way anymore.

As your Congressman, I’m committed to cleaning up our government and making sure that it can function in an economical and efficient manner so we truly can have smarter smaller government. Therefore, I support:

Line Item Veto
I will support a Constitutional Amendment giving the President line item veto authority over spending bills so he can reduce waste and eliminate earmarks.

Earmarks
Earmarks restrict America's ability to address genuine national priorities and interfere with fair, competitive markets. I have signed the Citizens Against Government Waste pledge on earmark reform.

Spending Freeze
I will support a one year spending pause to evaluate the effectiveness of all government programs. With the exception of military and veterans programs, we need a one year pause in spending growth to analyze the effectiveness of programs in our federal government. This top to bottom review will ensure that all Americans are getting their money’s worth from the Federal Government.

Eliminate Broken Government Programs
Programs that do not work will be eliminated. It is not fair to taxpayers or the people depending on the services to have a government program that is not efficient, effective, and making a positive difference.

Balancing the Federal Budget
I will work in Congress with the President to ensure that we have a balanced federal budget. Families have to live within constraints of reality and so should our federal government.

Reform the Budgetary Process
I support moving to a two year budget process. Currently, if a spending program is on the books, budgets assume that it is on the books forever – and continues to grow – even if the law says it expires. If low taxes are on the books, budgets don't assume that they last forever. When they expire, those taxes are automatically raised.

A Realistic Approach to Entitlement Programs
If we do nothing, entitlement programs will drive our country bankrupt in the near future. I will fight to save Social Security and meet the obligations to our retirees and disabled citizens both today and tomorrow without raising taxes.

I support supplementing the current Social Security system with optional personal accounts for future retirees. However this is not a substitute for addressing the real issues of benefit promises that must be kept. I will reach across the aisle in a post-partisanship manner and work with Democrats to find real ways that we can fix the problem now so that it does not threaten our families and seniors or bankrupt our country.