Sustainable Energy Independence

Energy opportunity, not energy crisis

It is vital that we find ways to increase our domestic energy production and efficiency, including expanding coal production for 'coal to liquids', developing renewables and nuclear power, and extending our power grid and energy storage capacity. Instead of our current haphazard approach to energy policy, I believe we must create a 50 year comprehensive energy road map that targets an end to our dependence on foreign oil within 10 years.

Increasing domestic energy production means additional stress on our environment unless we plan ahead and diligently focus on stewardship. We must implement a ‘cap and trade’ program for CO2 emissions, ensure minimal impact resource development, support carbon capture and sequestration programs, and encourage development and use of energy efficient technologies to reduce the environmental impacts that occur as a result of our growing energy needs.

Constitutional Rights

Equality, privacy, and freedom

The United States Constitution should be supported in its entirety. All U.S. citizens must be exactly equal in the eyes of the government. Discrimination of any kind, regardless of intention or plurality of support, is unacceptable.

The Federal Government has been assaulting our privacy rights. I am not willing to accept the heavy handed argument that ‘if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about.’

Each of us has the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to defend ourselves and the lives of others without fear of reprisal. The government, at all levels, must respect and preserve the 2nd Amendment, even in times of crisis.

Fiscal Responsibility

Low taxes and lower spending

The strength of our economy in the coming decades will depend on sensible economic policy and effective government spending. We don’t need more taxes; we need to use our money more wisely. Regardless of political party, Wyoming believes in small government, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility.

We must return to the days of federal budget surplus so that we can formulate and execute a long term plan to eliminate our national debt. I would like to hand our children a zero balance when it is their turn to run the country. I wish the previous generation had felt the same.

War on Terror

Get out of Iraq & take the battle to the terrorists.

I strongly support the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. We have now been there for 5 years at a cost of over 4,000 American lives and a trillion dollars. We have no clear objectives or exit strategy. There are no realistic accomplishments on the horizon that would be worth trading even a single additional American life. It is time for the Iraqis to stand up and take control of their own destiny. 

But we should not be soft on global terrorism. We must take a proactive approach, bring the battle to the terrorists and systematically dismantle their entire operation. While military action will be necessary in the coming years, diplomacy is the only long term solution.

Healthcare

Decrease the costs, increase the coverage.

All Americans must have access to adequate and affordable health care services that highlight preventive medicine.   I believe that health care decisions should be made by doctors and patients, not insurance companies. Costs have been skyrocketing in recent years. Any national program must focus on reducing costs before spending taxpayer dollars on inflated insurance premiums.

Doctors, hospital administrators, health insurance providers, malpractice insurance providers, and consumer advocates must agree upon a solution that would dramatically reduce costs and end the upward spiral of healthcare expenses. Until we control costs, all national coverage solutions will simply shift the expense from our insurance premiums to our income tax or the national debt.

Education for the 21^st Century

Inspire inquiry and innovation.

I want our education system to be the best in the world, rather than a modest top 20. ‘No Child Left Behind’ should be repealed. We need legislation that enables, rather than punishes, our educators. We must inspire inquiry. We must continue to produce the world’s brightest individuals, creative thinkers, and explorers.

We are the innovation engine of the world. We may not be able to make things more cheaply, but we can make them better. That’s why we have the most productive economy in the world. Education is the key to maintaining that leadership. We need to pay our teachers more, keep them highly trained, have them develop curricula for the 21st century, and bring national experts from outside of the educational system into the system to share their experience.