Traditional Family Values

As a husband and father of five children, I believe Oklahoma's parents know what is best for their families.  I will fight to prevent the legislature from enacting laws that abridge parental rights and will take a stand to protect our families.  Too much ground has been conceded to those more concerned with a position that will protect their political advancement rather than taking a stand for our families. 

I know what it is like to raise a family in tough times.  As a soldier that has moved 15 times in 21 years, I am familiar with the pressures faced by families today and have raised our family of seven on a soldier's income.  Now that I am a self-employed businessman, I see the tax burden faced not only by families, but also by our business community as they provide needed jobs to allow parents to provide for their children. 

We should at least have the same consideration for our families at the state level as we already get at the federal level when filing our taxes.  Our state provides incentives for raising corn and switch grass but not for raising children.  This needs to change.

 

The Culture of Life

I am unapologetically Right to Life.  If we cannot defend the defenseless, then everything beyond that is open to someone's interpretation about who should live and who should not.  I believe we have a moral responsibility to defend those who cannot speak up for themselves.  

I also believe that our children deserve homes.  Too many foster children are strung out on a state system that fails them when parents, adoptive or foster, are available and willing to provide them the permanent home they desperately need.  Orphans deserve parents as well.  Three of my own children are adopted.  But for the grace of God, it could be any of us.

I will fight to make the Oklahoma Department of Human Services more accountable.  While we have wonderful workers that truly care, we cannot continue to sustain a failed system.  Something needs to change and I learned as a commander in the army that if a unit was running poorly, it was rarely the soldiers who were respnsible and almost always the leadership. Oklahoma children--all children--deserve our protections.  I believe a government that fails to care for the widow and the orphan is a failure indeed.

 

 

Taxes and Government Growth

There was a day when lower taxes and smaller government was synonymous with being a Republican.  Sad to say that our legislative spending since the Republicans gained the House in the Oklahoma legislature has only increased the growth of government in our state at rates similar to when the Democrats held the House.  Now is the best opportunity to lower our taxes, while the state revenues are high.

I believe that families should get the same tax break for dependants at the State level as we currently get at the Federal level.  I believe our small businesses should get the same consideration for tax relief that the big corporations get. 

I believe that revenues collected by the state over and above the Rainy Day fund should be called 'overcharges' to taxpayers rather than a 'surplus' to state government.  You would demand a refund at a store or restaurant if overcharged, so why not state tax overcharges?  They should not be automatically used to grow state government.

 

Education

I have an uncompromising commitment to improve public education.  My wife Cindy is a former school teacher.  Investing in Oklahoma's children is critical because they are the future of our state.  But I also believe that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children.  Parents not only have the right to participate in their children's education, but also to choose the best school--public, private, parochial or home based--to provide a quality education for their children. Two of my children are in public school, two are home schooled and one is at the University of Oklahoma. 

I am greatly concerned about the administrative growth in our public school system, which only competes with classroom dollars, teachers' pensions and teachers pay.  I support the concept of consolidating administrative services where it makes sense and where it improves the quality of education. 

I also think that teachers that do the best job need the best pay. As a former commander in the army, I could promote those doing the best job.  All teachers are not equal and I believe the good ones should be rewarded as incentive for their commitment and service.

 

Illegal Immigration

I swore an oath to support and defend the constitution as a soldier and defended our nation in Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.  I know that 'Freedom is not Free.'  Neither should our freedoms be free to non-citizens. 

Immigrants here legally are a wonderful part of our national history.  Three of my own children came here legally on Green Cards when they were adopted, later gained their citizenship, and learned to speak English without taxing Oklahomans with unneeded programs.

I do not favor giving away our benefits and weakening our nation.  While Illegal Immigration is a national issue, it is important that we do not violate the rule of law here at home.  Proof of citizenship for any real American is an honor.  If I have to produce a Driver's Liscense to board an airplane, then why not at the voting booth? 

We must defend our American values for our American citizens and those that came here legally.

 

 

Constitutional Freedoms

I believe the constitution's Bill of Rights applies to individuals--as did its authors and ratifiers.  I risked my life to defend freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression and will not waiver on these issues at home.

I support the recent Supreme Court decision in Heller v District of Columbia where they sustained an individual right to bear arms.  I do not believe that if your gun looks scarier than your neighbor's then the government has a right to take it away.  As an avid gun collector for over 25 years, I will not waiver on support to own firearms and will fight restriction intended to curtail Oklahoma's Right to Carry laws.

I have been endorsed by most of the district's gun vendors and gunshops because they know I can find the muzzle of a rifle and will safeguard our defense, sporting and hunting laws with regard to firearms.

 

 

PLEASE SUPPORT ME ON JULY 29TH!  Thanks for studying my positions on the issues. 

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