Agriculture

I support efforts to Expand Developing (Foreign) Market Import Loan Programs, renegotiate Fair and Firm Trade Policies including Tariff Reductions, require Country of Origin Labeling, and Expand Bio-Energy Research and Development.

I support efforts to provide developing countries, particularly those that do not have established agricultural economies and/or whose geographical conditions preclude traditional commodities production, Increased Access to Import Capital through subsidized, interest-only loan programs primarily funded by the World Bank with underwriting participation by the International Monetary Fund. Such initiatives would create and expand existing foreign markets for American agricultural products and provide opportunities to establish a wide range of integrated programs that would create Secondary Markets for farm equipment, information services, production material (seed, fertilizers, insecticides, etc.), storage and transportation infrastructure, and value-added processing facilities. Read More :: Watch the Video

I support Fair Trade not Free Trade. We cannot compete in global markets with countries that do not impose equivalent environmental regulations, product and workplace safety standards, worker compensation and benefit provisions, and corporate taxes. To suggest that American ingenuity and productivity can offset these disparities undermines the economic principals that support the American way of life and presents a false promise of global prosperity.

I support efforts to Eliminate Import/Export Tariffs on like commodities, or at least provide automatic mechanisms to maintain exchange currency equalization. Too often, our trade balances reflect dramatic fluctuations in exchange rates rather than growth or contraction in our exports.

I do not support government actions or sanctions that hold the American farmer hostage and sacrifice agricultural exports to enforce our foreign policy. Withholding access to basic commodities from populations controlled by oppressive regimes creates economic hardship at both ends of the exchange and only serves to instill resentment, anger, and hatred in the eyes of those we are trying to help. [Entered 12/18/09]

Economy

I support efforts to Expand Job Creation Tax Credits and Incentives, Extend Capital Investment Tax Credits for new equipment and facilities expansion, Reduce Corporate Income and Payroll Taxes, Expand Non-SBA Subsidized Small Business Loan Programs and provide Comprehensive Insurance Reform including general liability, errors and omissions, completed products and operations, and malpractice.

I propose an Immediate, Federal Hiring Freeze (in lieu of job eliminations) in conjunction with a temporary, across the board suspension of merit and cost-of-living increases for all government employees except those directly involved with homeland security and national defense . These actions would remain in affect until the national unemployment rate drops below 6.8%. I propose Mandatory, Federal Wage Reductions of 4% for salaries between $60,000 and $80,000, 6% between $80,000 and $120,000, 8% between $120,000 and $180,000, and 10% above $180,000. These permanent adjustments would include all branches of government and provide an equivalent, one-time income tax deduction.

I propose a mandatory, 10% reduction in all non-essential federal travel including Congressional overseas travel and elimination of ‘no bid’ procurement practices.

With so many Americans who have lost their jobs, their health care, their savings, and their sense of self worth, it seems inconceivable that not only would our government remain immune to such a severe contraction, it would have the temerity to justify any expansion at all. I believe now more than ever, it’s time to grow our economy — not our government. :: Watch the Video [Enterted 12/18/09]

Education

I support primary components of the No Child Left Behind Act including early literacy reading, core academic requirements (reading, writing, math, and science), performance based teacher compensation and programs that reward achievement beyond national, baseline standards, school choice options from open enrollment to home schooling, and parental involvement and empowerment.

I do not, however, support efforts to lower evaluation criteria, reduce performance standards, apply creative re-classification, ‘teach to testing’, establish non-English assessment exceptions, provide equivalent military recruitment access, and retain and provide professional development funding for sub-standard teachers. :: Watch the Video [Entered 12/18/09]

Energy & Commerce

I support aggressive efforts to significantly reduce our disproportionate Dependence on Fossil Fuels and our Reliance on Foreign Oil. I support sustainable efforts to Expand Off-Shore Drilling and rescind in-active production rights, Expedite Regulatory Reviews, Approvals, and Fast-Track Construction of Regional Nuclear Energy Plants, Expand Alternative Energy Sources through clearly structured, well defined Investment Tax Credit Programs, and rigorously Enforce Environmental Regulations.

I propose an initiative to evaluate the merits of the following few components of a national Fuel Conservation, Allocation, and Production progam (Fuel CAP): a temporary 5mph Speed Limit Reduction for all posted limits above 50mph, a $25 Speeding Surcharge applied to all speeding citations, a 1% Gas Guzzler Sales Tax applied to all new vehicles that fall below 75% of the applicable CAFE Standard, a $100 Registration and Renewal Surcharge applied to new vehicles registered after 1/1/11 that fall below the referenced standard, and a Pump Price Adjustment Factor where the per gallon sale price is adjusted to a target (sale) price with the difference retained to fund Fuel Independence programs. Read More :: Watch the Video

I support efforts to significantly Strengthen CAFE Standards, Restore Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits, actively manage and Expand our Strategic Oil Reserve system, and Establish Regional Reserve Locations.

I support achievable, cost-effective, global efforts to limit Carbon Emissions and reasonable time frames to implement measures that will allow all of us to accomplish these goals, but I do not support any programs that allow Pollution Credits to be traded or purchased by entities other than governments. To create a mechanism to allow businesses to knowingly reject compliance and consciously violate pollution standards because it is cheaper to buy Credits than it is to improve the efficiency of their process, all at the consumers (additional) expense, is legislative insanity. The debate over whether or not we contribute to Global Warming is more about the sustainability of our behavior than it is about the degree to which our planet can respond to our indifference. To suggest that this issue is an unfounded, special interest hoax, that responsible policy should ignore the consequences of our actions, or that the family farm and our way of life will disappear is dismissive and belies the intelligence of the American people. Though we may never know with certainty the extent to which we contribute to Global Warming, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that we cannot continue down a path of selfish, irresponsible consumption, degradation, and destruction of our natural resources. [Entered 12/18/09]

Finance & Banking

I support more progressive tax structure revisions including a Vanishing Long Term Capital Gains Tax, a tiered Short Term Capital Gains Tax, a Specialized Market Trading Surtax, and a targeted Short-Sales Capital Gains Tax.

The Vanishing Long Term Tax would replace the current rate schedule set to expire at the end of 2010 and have a maximum effective rate of 15% for securities held 90 days to 1 year, a 12% rate for years 2 and 3, an 8% rate years 3 to 5, and a 0% tax if held 5 years and beyond. Mutual Fund sales would be included in these provisions with the minimum holding period equal to the greater of 90 days or the fund requirement. Read More

The Short Term Tax would be immediately and temporarily suspended until the ‘Misery Index’ drops and remains below 8.5% for two consecutive quarters at which time it would again replace the current rate schedule set to expire in 2010 with a maximum effective rate of 25% for securities sold in less than 30 days and 20% for 30 to 90 days. These rates would apply to individual security trades below $100,000 and would increase to 30% and 25% respectively for trades above $100,000.

The Specialized Trading Surtax applicable to derivative, option, and other risk shifting trading is currently being researched and under consideration. A .25% to .75% Surtax is anticipated for trades between $100,000 and $1,000,000.

The Short-Sales Tax would have an effective rate of 28% for individual security trades below $25,000, a 32% rate from $ 25,000 to $ 100,000, and a 38% from $ 100,000 and up. We should not continue to support financial strategies that not only anticipate the devaluation of a company, but often precipitate such action by nature of the trade. [Entered 12/18/09]

Health Care

I support efforts to ensure access to Affordable Health Care for all Americans, but I believe in Personal Responsibility and Accountability for our individual choices and behavior. To deny an individual coverage due to pre-existing, congenital conditions, disease, or physical injuries beyond their control is unconscionable and completely unacceptable, but it is unfair and equally unacceptable to create a health care system that re-distributes the cost of inactive, un-healthy lifestyle choices to the young and those that consciously strive to maintain good health.

I support efforts to allow and promote Interstate Health Insurance Competition, Eliminate Anti-Trust Exclusions, and Establish Regional, Non-Profit Prescription Drug Cooperatives. I do not support an extension of the patent protection period as a means to lower proprietary prices. Read More

I support the establishment of National, Uniform, Base Plan Requirements in order to achieve interstate competition as well as ala carte pricing structures for specialized services such as catastrophic care, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, psychological counseling, and reproductive care. I do not support any form of public option as a means to ensure market place competition as it represents an un-necessary expansion of yet another government run program that will eventually consume a disproportionate percentage of available health care dollars, inevitably lead to rationing of selective services, result in a reduction in the efficiency of health care delivery, and ultimately, lead to increased costs and insurance premiums.

I support efforts to severely restrict, if not Eliminate Contingency Based Lawsuits, establish Loser Pays Litigation, and establish Malpractice Award Caps. Class Action litigation would be unaffected by these measures.

I support aggressive efforts to Identify, Prosecute, and Eliminate Waste, Fraud, and Abuse and support such efforts with Mandatory License Revocations and Minimum Sentencing Requirements. [Updated 12/18/09]

I support individual Health Savings Accounts with annual, tax exempt contributions of 12% of gross income. Additional, after tax contributions could be made up to a maximum of 20% of gross income. These non-vanishing accounts would maintain Lifetime Portability, accrue Tax Exempt Interest, and be Transferrable at death. [Updated 3/3/09]

I support Regional, Non-Profit Health Insurance Cooperatives and/or Insurance Pool Requirements for private health insurance companies that would create large, competitive group rates for individual policies. These would be blended pools comprised of a representative cross section of individuals with varying health profiles and include those with pre-existing conditions. This approach would make individual coverage accessible, affordable, and hold premium adjustments to annual industry inflation rates. [Updated 3/3/09]

Homeland Security & Immigration

I support aggressive efforts to Secure our Borders, Ports, and Points of Entry and Enforce Existing Immigration Laws, but I believe in strengthening Programs and Paths to Citizenship. I do not support any form of Amnesty for illegal immigrants: they should be detained when identified, documented, and deported. They should be denied access to all taxpayer funded services (excluding life threatening care); children born to illegal immigrants should not be granted automatic citizenship. U.S. employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants should be fined to the extent provided under existing laws; repeat offenders should have all licenses and permits required to operate suspended and/or revoked pending submission, review, and approval of employment compliance procedures. I do not support any Unfunded Mandates. Read More

I support efforts to establish a voluntary, National Identification Program within the Department of Homeland Security that would be operated and maintained by an independent organization with Congressional oversight to ensure compliance with strict data base controls. Fees collected from applications and annual renewals would provide a funding source for ongoing operations. This ID would allow among other possibilities, pre-clearance travel processing and expedited screening and boarding thereby allowing TSA screening functions to be targeted and performed with greater efficiency and accuracy. [Entered 12/18/09]

Labor

I support an immediate suspension of Guest Worker Programs designed to promote immigration applications for skilled foreigners until the national unemployment rate falls and remains below 6.8% for a minimum of four consecutive months. A rise in this rate above 8% would trigger a re-suspension of these programs. [Entered 3/2/10]

Legislative Reform

I support Congressional Term Limits. I propose a maximum of 2, 6 year, staggered Senate terms and 3, 4 year, staggered House terms. An individual could serve the allowable limits in both the Senate and the House and would be eligible to run for additional terms beyond the limits if he/she received 65% or more of the vote in the previous general election. I propose changing the current 2 year to a 4 year House term as it creates perpetual House campaigns and impedes Congressional work. Although I recognize the contribution and wisdom of experience, this country wasn’t built by career politicians and I don’t believe our founding fathers intended our government to be run by them either. Most of what’s wrong with business as usual in Washington is a direct result of career politics.

I support efforts to Restrict and Eliminate Amendment Attachments, often referred to as Pork Barrel Spending, to proposed legislation where administrative oversight, departmental regulation, and/or program funding sources are distinctly seperate from the primary resolution (i.e., prohibit transportation amendment attached to health care legislation).

I support efforts to restrict and Prohibit Authorship of Legislation Benefiting Political Action Committees that account for 10% or more of the author’s campaign contributions in any election cycle and require a majority of non-vested sponsors.

I support any measures necessary to require Congress to abide by the laws and programs they create.

I support legislative efforts to provide the president Line Item Veto authority.

I support a Balanced Budget Amendment and implementation of a Mandatory Debt Reduction Plan. I propose that approved, annual budget expenditures do not exceed in total, 90% of projected revenues with all revenues beyond expenditures applied toward the national debt. To burden our children, our children’s children, and their children’s children with such an incomprehensible, insurmountable, and shameful national debt is Taxation without Representation in its most egregious form. Read More

I support efforts and programs, including faith based initiatives to Protect All Life, but I do not support any government intrusion and/or intervention in matters that would require an individual to accept the consequences of actions beyond their control. I support expansion and funding of family planning education, reproductive counseling services, adoption tax incentives and credits, and foster placement programs. I support Parental Notification and Mandatory Waiting requirements. I do not support the use of taxpayer  dollars for any abortion related programs and services.

I support reasonable efforts to maintain a Separation of Church and State, but I believe in freedom of religion — not freedom from religion.

I support efforts to protect the Institution of Marriage between a man and a woman, but I believe in the fairness of Civil Unions. I believe “Liberty and Justice for All” means just that.

I support efforts to protect the intent of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution regarding the ‘right to keep and bear arms”, but I do not support the manufacture, importation, distribution, and/or sale of automatic weapons, assault rifes, and armor piercing ammunition to the general public. I support ballistic fingerprinting of firearms when manufactured, registered and/or sold, and the creation of a national firearms data base operated and maintained by the ATF.

I do not support Capital Punishment under any circumstances. Any meaningful measure of a civilized society, regardless of explanation or justification, precludes the taking of another’s life. [Entered 12/18/09]

Military

I propose an immediate freeze in the defense budget in conjunction with a complete review of all military programs and spending. This review would be performed by an independent panel comprised of an equal number of members from a military command committee representing all service branches, a bipartisan congressional committee, an executive branch committee, a private (business) sector committee, and a governors appointed citizens committee. Their tasks would be to complete this review within a year, establish and implement specific measures that would achieve an immediate  7% budget reduction followed by annual reductions of 3% until the military budget falls below 5% of GDP. Service pay and pensions would be exempt from these measures but would remain frozen at current levels until reallocation of compliant budgets allow for annual cost of living increases.

I propose an immediate elimination of No-Bid Procurement procedures and cancellation of all unrequested programs and spending. [Entered 3/2/10]

National Security & Foreign Policy

I support an aggressive expansion of our Off-Shore Freight Screening Programs and facilities, a substantial increase in Un-Manned, Border Surveillance Drone Deployment, and fast-track construction of Virtual Border Fencing (infrared, motion, and other high technologies).

I support all efforts to prevent Iran, North Korea, and any other rogue nations from acquiring Nuclear Weapons and/or nuclear weapons capabilities. If all diplomatic efforts and bi-lateral sanctions were to prove unsuccessful, I would support the use of non-occupational, non-nuclear, military strikes to prevent their acquisition and/or development. Read More

I support efforts to require as a condition of Foreign Aid, that recipient countries comply with international election standards, independent monitoring and certification, and contributory participation in political, financial, and military involvement. I do not support foreign policies that require U.S. military involvement as a primary condition for success. [Entered 12/18/09]

Natural Resources & Conservation

Positions development pending, check back soon.

Social Programs

I propose a comprehensive evaluation of all primary social programs including Food Stamps, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Income, and Welfare with the goal of establishing updated Eligibility Guidelines, Performance Standards, and Evaluation Criteria that demands Personal Responsibility and Accountability and achieves a 20% reduction in annual costs within a maximum of 3 years from implementation.

Updated Eligibility Guidelines would take effect immediately for all new program participants, provide a transition window of 2-3 years for existing participants to comply with the new requirements, and limit the frequency and number of application attempts.

Revised Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria would be designed to identify, prosecute, and eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and ineffective administrative oversight as well as acknowledge, promote, and reward targeted achievement.

Components of these revisions would integrate meaningful Torte Reform provisions that would prohibit contingency based casework, eliminate retroactive benefits and payments, and establish Participation Requirements designed to train and transition participants into a productive, contributory employment setting. [Entered 12/21/09]

I support provisions that would exempt the first $25,000 of earned income from taxation upon Program Participant Transition to full time employment and apply a 10% flat tax rate to additional income up to $50,000. Any income beyond the cap would be subject to a 15% flat tax. [Entered 3/2/10]

Taxes

Although I support a permanent repeal of the Federal Estate and Gift Tax, I am willing to propose and support reasonable and achievable revisions to the adjustments set to take effect in 2011, specifically a reduction in the Exclusion Amount to $675,000 and in increase in the effective Taxable Rate to 55% as an interim step to achieve this end goal. In other words, I will fight to gain as much ground as possible but I will not take an all or nothing approach at the risk of ending up with nothing.

As the underlying concern of Iowans regarding these provisions relates to their affect on transferring ownership of the Family Farm or Small, Family Owned Business, I believe that establishing an exclusion amount that will protect such transfers is primary to an equitable adjustment of this tax. With the average Iowa farm size at around 331 acres, an average cyclical, high land value at $4,250 per acre with an average cost basis of $1,160 per acre, and an average, net capitalized value (equipment and facilities) of $ 985,000, the average Iowa farm (estate) value would be approximately $2,000,000. For reference, 90% of all Iowa farms have annual revenues less than $250,000, over 50% are owned by people 65 years and older, and 21% are owned by out-of-state individuals – typically adult children who have inherited the family farm.

By government definition, 99.7% of Iowa’s 83,200 businesses are small businesses (less than 500 employees) and employ over 800,000 Iowans. The average Iowa small business (less than 20 employees) represents 91% of all Iowa businesses and has an average annual payroll of $ 785,000. The average, net value of a small Iowa business is approximately $2,500,000.

Utilizing the average net values of either a family owned farm or small business, a Federal Estate Tax Exclusion of $3,000,000 would protect more than 90% of all Iowa owned business operations from taxation upon transfer at death. For valuations above this threshold, I would propose a progressive tax rate of 5% between $3,000,000 and $5,000,000, 10% between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000, and 15% for all estates above $10,000,000. I would provide a 5 – 10 year, federal funds rate interest window to pay any tax liability carried forward. [Entered 12/28/09] [Revised 4/26/10]

Transportation & Infrastructure

I support accelerated efforts to Re-build and/or Upgrade Existing Transportation Systems such as rail lines, interstate highways, bridges, airports, subways, and seaports that substantially improve the safety, security, and economic vitality of the nation. I do not support any programs or projects that benefit a few and/or serve isolated districts.

I propose an Interstate High-Speed Rail System initiative similar to the Interstate Highway System. I support expanded research, development, and phased construction of a high-speed rail line network initially connecting major manufacturing, export/import, and metropolitan transportation centers across the country; ultimately stretching from coast to coast. Read More

I support fast-track efforts to upgrade, expand, and protect our National Power Grid including the construction of nuclear plants, wind farms, and solar array facilities.

I support efforts to Limit Foreign Interests in transportation systems and infrastructure sub-systems to non-controlling ownership positions. [Entered 12/18/09]

Veterans’ Affairs

I propose a Veterans’ Employment and Transition Service program, VETS, within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that would recognize their sacrifices and contributions to the security of our Country and promote their successful re-integration into the American workforce. Cornerstones of this initiative would include a Veterans Income Tax, a Veterans Employment Tax Credit, Veterans Small Business Incentives, and Veterans Exemptions.

The Veterans Income Tax component would exempt all income from taxation the first full year following honorable discharge, exempt the first $25,000 of taxable income thereafter and apply a 12% flat tax rate to additional income up to $150,000 per veteran. Income beyond the cap would be subject to a 18% flat tax with no cap. Social Security, Pension, and Disability income would be exempt from any taxation. These items would be lifetime exemptions. Read More

The Veterans Employment Tax Credit component would provide employers with the greater of a one-time, $5,000 new hire tax credit after the first full year of employment or 125% of any current program credit and an exemption from Federal unemployment and Medicare tax contributions. Subsequent year employer credits would begin at $ 1,000 per veteran and increase $ 500 per each year of additional full time employment up to a maximum of $ 3,000 per year per veteran.

The Veterans Small Business Incentives component would expand the MBE (8a) Program to include veteran owned businesses thereby providing Federal Procurement Contract Preferences, provide Subsidized Business Loans similar to SBA programs with the addition of local lending fee waivers and deferred principal payment start-up windows similar to the Stafford Student Loan program.

Veterans Exemptions would include identifiable, POS Federal Excise Taxes such as transportation ticket purchases, National Park and Monument User Fees, and Passport and National Identification Fees and Renewals. These items would be lifetime exemptions. Entered 12/18/09]