Stimulating the Economy -- Creating Jobs

America is facing some of the most significant economic challenges since the great depression.  I am committed to advancing policies that will allow the private sector to flourish and, consequently, for our national economy to recover.  This includes lower taxes on individuals and small businesses, reasonable regulation of businesses, and a pro-American trade policy that promotes American products and workers.

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and the best way to end the recession we are currently experiencing and create private sector jobs is by creating an environment where small businesses can thrive.  The success of these organizations is tied directly to individual tax rates. According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, 75 percent of small businesses are organized as pass-through entities, meaning their taxes on business income are based on individual tax rates. In the state of Oklahoma, small business accounts for 97.4 percent of the state's employers.

When uncertainty exists in any market, business is reticent to build capacity or additional jobs. Over the past year, the Democrat-controlled Congress has completely rewritten the rules for the financial services and healthcare industries, with years of rulemaking left to go. This, in addition to the looming expiration of the Bush tax cuts, certainly creates an economic environment of uncertainty.

To get the economy moving again, Congress should permanently extend all of the tax cuts due to expire at the end of this year. Raising taxes on businesses while the economic recovery is still fragile could have disastrous consequences for job creation. The American people deserve -- and economic conditions require -- a straight up-or-down vote on extending tax cuts.

Providing the Best Educational Opportunities

While education is, and should remain, primarily a state and local issue, I am committed to making sure Oklahoma parents and teachers have the tools necessary to provide a world class education to our children.

I also believe strongly in the authority of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. Unfortunately, recent court decisions - as well as legislation pending before Congress - could severely impede a parent's ability to do so.  I am committed to fighting for the rights of Oklahoma parents to educate their children in ways that best suit their individual households - including vouchers, charter schools, opportunity scholarships and home schooling.  For these reasons I am proud to be a co-sponsor of The Parental Rights Amendment, which would amend the U.S. Constitution and confirm the right of parents to raise their children as they see fit. 
 

Reducing Our Dependence on Foreign Oil

Like most Americans, I agree that our country must do more to achieve energy independence and to produce cleaner sources of energy.  There are steps we need to implement over time to change the way we use energy and reduce our use of some types of carbon-based fuels.  But the radical proposal being promoted by the President and liberals in Congress - known as "cap and trade" - would have disastrous consequences for both the producers and the consumers of energy.

If this misguided policy were to be adopted, it would cause the average family to pay more than $3,100 in additional energy costs each year.  And the hardest hit will be low income families.  Experts agree these families spend a greater percentage of their income on energy consumption than any other income category.  So while every American family will pay more in energy expenses, struggling households will be disproportionally impacted.   

Fortunately, there is a common sense alternative known as the American Energy Innovation Act.  This approach promotes the use of cleaner energy resources, such as natural gas, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and encourages greater efficiency and conservation.  In addition, this proposal creates jobs and promotes clean energy made by American workers without calling for tax increases.   I am convinced that this is both the environmentally, as well as economically, responsible way to proceed.

Working to Protect Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base

My father was a master sergeant in the Air Force and later worked as a civilian at Tinker Air Force Base. From a young age I came to understand the importance of supporting the U.S. military and the critical mission that Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base play in Oklahoma and in the defense of our nation.

Protecting our Values

I strongly support the right to life, traditional marriage, and strong family values. I have voted to end partial birth abortion, I am a cosponsor of the Constitutional amendment to protect marriage. And I also voted to pass a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the desecration of the U.S. Flag.

Eliminating Wasteful Spending

I understand that if families have to live within a budget, Congress should too. Spending in Washington is currently out of control—that is why I am fighting to root out wasteful, duplicative, and unnecessary spending and return us to balanced budgets.

Securing Our Borders

While it is true that America is a land of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws. And those laws must be enforced in order to maintain our social compact with one another as citizens of these United States. Consequently, it must be a top priority for our nation to secure our borders and stop the flood of illegal immigration.

I support legislation that will protect businesses and American workers by calling for verification systems that instantly check the legality of a worker's status. I believe that employers need to be given the best tools to check eligibility for their employees quickly, accurately, and efficiently. I also believe that tough penalties need to be enforced on employers who knowingly hire illegal workers.

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