Issues

Cut Taxes, Create Jobs

Tax cuts and investment incentives create jobs. I’m a former small business owner who has experienced directly the negative effects of government regulation and taxation. The difficulties and obstacles placed on business by government are real; and, I will pursue well-reasoned, responsible, long-term economic policies that focus on reducing our tax burden and encouraging investment, spurring innovation across all sectors of our economy. Specifically, I will work to:

• Provide immediate tax relief for working families by reducing the lowest individual tax rates from 15% to 10% and from 10% to 5%.
• Provide immediate tax relief to Small Business by reducing its tax rate from 35% to 20%.
• Oppose any tax increase for new spending.
• Make unemployment benefits tax free.
• Implement a new above-the-line tax deduction for Americans who do not receive tax-preferred employer sponsored health insurance.
• I oppose the Value Added Tax (VAT) - a national sales tax that is being promoted by the Obama Administration and the Pelosi led Congress.

Read my full plan here.

Government Intervention

Government cannot solve our problems. We must not abandon the free market principles that carried our great nation into prosperity. I believe it is vital to our future economic growth that we return to private sector solutions. Specifically, I will work to:

• Stop the distribution of TARP funds.
• Eliminate government bailouts.
• Keep our government out of the business of seizing private companies.

Transparency in Legislation

Saddling our children and grandchildren with insurmountable debt is unacceptable. Deficit spending in form of 1000+ page legislation—for any reason stimulus, health care, or otherwise - violates all sense of transparency, prudence and fiscal restraint. Specifically, I will work to:

• Read and understand each piece of legislation before casting my vote.
• Oppose legislation that is rushed through congress without deliberation.
• Inform my constituents of the intended effects and repercussions each piece of major legislation before it comes to the House floor for a vote.

Health Care

I do not support the legislation recently passed by Congress. As a cardiothoracic surgeon of 14 years, I understand the need to lower health care costs and provide for better accessibility. To do so, we must focus on the fundamental issue of health care costs. By doing so, we will increase health care coverage and accessibility to those who cannot now afford it. Cost is the issue here, and I will work to lower cost specifically by working to:

• Pursue meaningful Tort Reform
• Expand Healthcare Savings Account eligibility
• Employee pooling to create larger, more competitive buying groups
• Remove denial of insurance based on preexisting conditions
• Protect Seniors from Medicare cuts
• Apply the following principles to our health care solution:
  • Expanded choices of doctors, hospitals, and health plans
  • Greater tax fairness and simplification
  • Remove barriers to choice and competition by allowing individuals and companies to purchase health insurance across state lines
  • Demand greater transparency insurance price disclosure

See my full position on healthcare reform.

The impact of defensive medicine.

Putting the District First

Constituent interests come first. I will never place the interests of my party over the interests of my constituents. Specifically, I will work to:

• Be your Citizen legislator.
• Implement a responsive and responsible constituent services program that promotes an ongoing conversation between taxpayer and representative.
• Listen to the district by constantly making myself available to every corner of the district.

Life

The unborn child has a fundamental right to life that cannot be infringed. Roe vs. Wade should be overturned. I am anti-abortion, but do believe an exception should be made in a rare and extreme circumstance to save the mother in a truly life-threatening pregnancy or delivery. As a surgeon who has operated on babies as young as 22 or 23 weeks, I oppose all late-term abortions. As your Congressional representative, specifically, I will:

• Oppose using public revenues to fund abortions and continue to implement the restrictions of the Hyde Amendment and its legislative offspring. This includes any new federal health care insurance authorized by the current Congress.
• Deny federal funds to domestic or international organizations that promote abortion as a method of birth control.
• Deny federal funds for research or therapies using embryonic stem cells (derived from embryos) that take a life in the hope of enhancing or saving a life. I do support ongoing research and therapies from adult stem cells (derived from fat cells or blood cord tissue) that show great promise in many difficult medical conditions.
• Support and promote the interests of organizations that provide encouragement and resources to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Veterans

Too often the sacrifices of our veterans go unnoticed. During my residency from ’88 to ’95, I worked at the VA Milwaukee, and saw firsthand the inadequacies and limitations of our veteran’s healthcare. I will work tirelessly to implement programs that ensure veterans receive the benefits and care they deserve. I support allowing veterans to receive healthcare at private facilities if they chose to do so, and have these services covered under their benefits through the VA.

2nd Amendment Rights

The right to bear arms will not be infringed on my watch. I’m an ardent supporter of protecting the second amendment.

Border Security/ Immigration

I am against amnesty for illegal aliens. We need to strongly enforce the immigration laws that already exist. Provide funding for stronger border fencing and control along the U.S./Mexican border. We need to hold employers accountable who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Energy

We must work towards energy independence, for both economic and national security purposes. I support new exploration for sources of oil, clean coal technology, the expanded use of nuclear energy, and solar and wind energy technology.

Cap and Trade Legislation

I am opposed to the current legislation being promoted by the Obama Administration. The bill is about control of our industries. It is based on very poor data that is available concerning global warming. The data does not support the premise that carbon dioxide emissions are playing a significant role in the world temperature variations. The temperature of the Earth has been changing over centuries with warmer and colder periods throughout history. This legislation will be devastating to the Southwestern and Wabash Valley areas of Indiana. It will lead to job loss and the loss of industry in the 8th district. Also, energy costs may increase three fold. 

I have also signed the No Climate Tax Pledge.

Employee Free Choice Act (Card Check)

I am opposed to this piece of legislation. Elimination of the private ballot and government arbitration of disputes will be damaging not only to business but to rank and file employees. The legislation will lead to intimidation of employees and possible retribution towards employees by the leadership of the large unions.

Protecting Social Security