Issues
Coming from a family that is heavily involved in farming, sound agricultural policy is very important to me. We need policies that open up the playing field, so that our farmers can better compete in the national and international markets. It is unfair that American farmers face high tariffs when exporting their products to other countries while those same countries can import their goods to the United States tariff-free. I will continue working in Congress to enact policies that strengthen Ohio’s farming base and keep it strong.
The federal government spends six million dollars a minute, each minute, every day of the year. This unfettered spending costs each American family over $23,000 a year. Federal government spending is out of control, and it is the responsibility of Congress to fix the problem. If federal spending is not reigned in, we will find it more and more difficult to avoid the looming financial crisis posed by the retirement of the Baby Boomers and the tens of trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities their future government benefits represent.
A strong national defense is vital to the long term security and stability of our nation. We must continue to invest in cutting edge technologies that will preserve our military superiority and act as a deterrent against rogue states that would do us and our allies harm. Continuing our fight against international terrorism is also vital to long term security and stability.
Educating our children is vital to our nation’s continued prosperity and economic strength during this time of increasing competition in business and trade from abroad. Successful education policy almost always starts at the local and state level rather than the federal level, and I support policies that give parents the freedom to guide their children’s education.
America is far too dependent on Middle Eastern oil. Having suffered years of record high gas prices, the American people deserve greater freedom from Middle Eastern manipulation of the oil markets. We need to increase domestic oil and gas supply by exploring and utilizing more of the energy resources we have at home. We must also help keep our nation on the cutting edge by exploring alternative sources of energy and better ways to make use of them.
I agree with most Ohioans that our Federal Government spends far too much and is overly large, cumbersome and bureaucratic. Many of the roles currently filled by government agencies would be better left to individuals, private businesses and non-profit organizations. I take my government oversight responsibilities very seriously, and am well-positioned to work on this issue from my seat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
First and foremost, we need to get health care reform done right, not done fast. Passing another thousand-page bill without amendments or debate will do nothing to help the economy, create jobs, or reform health care.
I am steadfastly against illegal immigration and amnesty for illegal immigrants. My strategy for dealing with the many problems posted by illegal immigration is threefold: secure the border, robustly enforce our immigration laws and fix the system so that it works for those who want to come to our country legally—by working hard, learning the language and becoming Americans. Our country has always been a nation of immigrants.
Throughout my years serving in the Ohio General Assembly and now in the U.S. Congress, I am proud to stand and defend the lives of the unborn. I am committed to the view that life is sacred, that it begins at conception and that the Founding Fathers were correct in placing life first among the list of rights the Constitution was written to defend. This conviction informs all that I do in Congress, including the bills I sponsor and the speeches I give from the House floor. H.R. 618, the Right to Life Act, was the first bill I co-sponsored after taking office in January 2007.
Social Security was conceived so that FICA revenues from the current workforce would pay benefits for current retirees. This system has worked because the ratio of workers to retirees allowed it to do so. However, the numbers are now trending the other way. For example, in 1950, 16 workers paid into Social Security for every beneficiary. Today, there are only 3.3 workers for every beneficiary, and the ratio is shrinking. Current estimates indicate that Social Security will begin to pay out more than it takes in by 2017.
I am committed to the idea that the hardworking families of Ohio know best how to spend their own money and that more of it should remain in their own pockets. Low taxes foster a healthier economy across the board—encouraging entrepreneurship, job creation and improving the international competitiveness of our nation’s businesses.
Though it is important to fully support our troops in the field, it is no less important to support them when they return and in their times of need. These brave men and women have risked everything to serve and defend us, and we owe them our very best. Our veterans deserve excellent benefits and the best medical care that we can give them—particularly when they return home wounded. For this reason, I and my staff are available to help our Ohio veterans from the 4th District when they need assistance in dealing with the Veterans’ Administration or Department of Defense.