Our national debt of over $9 trillion, and growing by over $1.5 billion per day, has weakened our economy and created a monumental tax burden for future generations. While the Bush administration has squandered billions on an unnecessary war and government mismanagement, Congress continues to be controlled by special interests.
I am beholden to no special interests and am strongly committed to putting our fiscal house in order. I will reach across the aisle in an honest effort to cut unnecessary spending and will pursue a “pay-go“ policy that requires new programs to be paid for by other cuts in spending.
Our world is being challenged as never before by escalating demand for energy, food and other vital commodities. Of particular concern is the urgent need to develop alternatives to high priced oil. The Bush administration and my opponent Darrell Issa continue to call for more oil drilling to solve our energy problems while Germany, Brazil and other nations develop better solutions.
During the last seven years, our government has disengaged from programs to reduce global warming, ridiculed the need for conservation, undermined attempts to reduce oil consumption, and paid huge subsidies to oil companies while cutting subsidies for development of alternative sources of energy. I will work to reverse these misguided policies.
It is time to invest in the repair and replacement of our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Our aging bridges, dams, water supply conduits, power generation and distribution systems all threaten us with catastrophic loss of money and lives when they fail. Dealing with these problems before disaster strikes saves money in the long run and produces jobs during an economic downturn .
We must also repair and expand our overburdened national rail freight transport system and encourage public/private investment in our rail passenger system as a viable alternative to air travel. Recent overwhelming bi-partisan Congressional support (opposed by my opponent Darrell Issa) for the renewal of Amtrak funding is a step in the right direction.
Our economy can never be sound when individuals cannot afford health care. It is imperative that we provide portable health insurance for all Americans, regardless of preexisting conditions, and ensure that no person is vulnerable to catastrophic loss from an unexpected illness or hospitalization. Here, also, I will reach across the aisle to find a foundation on which we can build a solution over time to our current health care dilemma.
Small businesses account for the majority of employment and the transfer of goods and services, yet have been short-changed by the Bush administration and my opponent in favor of large corporations. For example, the offices of the U.S. Trade Representative do not have a single person dedicated to serving the needs of small businesses in respect to international trade despite the fact that those firms make up 97 percent of America’s exporters. I will work to ensure that the interests of small businesses are supported in Washington.
