Rebuilding the Economy and Creating Jobs
The most important issue facing Rhode Island right now is the lack of jobs and our stagnant economy. Rhode Island has a unique opportunity given both its small scale and advantageous position between Boston and New York to be a magnet for business so we must find a way to attract and retain good businesses both large and small.
On a local level, state officials must cut taxes, streamline regulation and reduce costs to all Rhode Island business. At the federal level, we need to take steps to get government out of the way of innovation and allow Americans to achieve again wherever their business takes them. This means lowering their overall tax burden and allowing them to expand their business without the specter of excessive regulation and government mandates.
Protecting Rhode Island's Environment
As someone who grew up in the Blackstone Valley and has since settled in the East Bay, I’ve had the opportunity to truly appreciate the full range of our state’s natural beauty and historic heritage. It’s no coincidence that “conservation” and “conservative” share the same root and I’m proud to say that I am a conservative with a strong record on conservation issues.
Achieving Energy Independence
Achieving energy independence is critical not only because it will strengthen our economy, but also because the greatest threat to our national security remains our dependence on foreign oil. To reach true energy independence we need to invest in developing domestic sources of energy like wind, wave, clean coal, hydroelectric, solar, and nuclear energy. We also need to assess each region’s energy needs so that resources are deployed appropriately in response to a real need for energy development.
New technology will allow us to begin exploring the OCS (Outer Continental Shelf) and other previously unexplored areas for additional resources with little to no environmental impact. These untapped domestic resources can serve as the bridge fuel until we develop reliable sources of renewable power.
Keeping LNG Out of Our Bays
I stand firmly in opposition to the “in-bay” berthing facility that Hess-Weaver’s Cove Energy has proposed for Mount Hope Bay. Construction of this facility and allowing LNG tankers to transit our waters 140 times each year would cause irreparable damage to our environment and our way of life. The specter of an accident or act of terror looms large and this proposed LNG facility is a danger to all of us who would live in its shadow.
If elected to serve this district, I will work tirelessly to ensure that this facility is never constructed in Mount Hope Bay and that any future facilities are sited appropriately – away from population centers and fragile ecosystems.
Creating an Affordable Health Care System
I believe that empowering consumers to make their own choices and bringing free market forces to healthcare is the key to lowering costs and getting insurance to more people. But Washington took the wrong course. Congress raised taxes and cut care to seniors in order to pay for a new healthcare entitlement that will end up adding to our national debt burden.
With new leadership and true bipartisan cooperation, the next Congress should fix this blunder and come up with a better way to get health insurance to more people, without raising taxes and without expanding the role of the federal government in our lives.
Maintaining Security at Home and Abroad
As a retired Lieutenant Colonel (USAR) and helicopter pilot, I will bring a unique perspective and unmatched experience to the Congress. War should only be used as the last resort, and when we commit our men and women to conflict, we need to give them clear, achievable goals and the tools they need to accomplish the mission. While the focus has been on health care, we have men and women fighting wars on three fronts and terrorists who would like to see our great nation crumble. We must continue to support our troops and be vigilant at home.
In recent months I have become particularly concerned about the current administration’s lack of commitment to Homeland Security. When a terror suspect tries to blow up a plane, he should be treated as an enemy combatant, not a U.S. citizen. We are definitely on the wrong track when terror suspects are read their Miranda rights and given a lawyer while our men and women in combat are scrutinized and court-martialed.
