PUBLIC SAFETY
As an elected official, I have a moral obligation to ensure the safety and security of our citizens. Our state and nation are facing challenging times when it comes to public safety with rising crime at home and threats from abroad. We need to be sure our police, fire & rescue, and other public safety organizations have the personnel and the materials needed to protect our citizens. When faced with the tough choice between an investment in public safety and virtually any other investment, you can be certain that I will never make a choice that I believe would put citizens at risk. I will always prioritize public safety and protecting the brave men and women in police, fire, and rescue jobs.
We cannot let growing demands on the judicial system and crowding in our jails prevent us from fulfilling our obligation to remove criminals from the mainstream community. We must increase funding for prosecutors and court personnel to ensure criminals are tried and prosecuted.
If you commit a serious crime, you must go to jail and you must serve your sentence. However, there is also an important need to prepare these offenders for reentry into society. Effective prevention and rehabilitation programs will save money and strengthen our communities.
I have been impressed with some of the Restorative Justice programs as supported by Prison Fellowship. The new prisons we build should include design adaptations that would facilitate those programs which have a track record for decreasing recidivism.
HEALTH CARE
Americans have witnessed great advances in health care coupled with rapidly rising costs in recent years. Increased affordability and accessibility are two important goals I believe we should be working towards when considering legislative remedies. I don’t believe in a government run healthcare system.
On the cost side, skyrocketing insurance premiums are pinching family and business budgets. Liability insurers are leaving the market or raising rates to a level that people just can’t afford. In addition, more physicians, hospitals and other providers are limiting their practices or simply leaving the practice of medicine due to increased costs and liability risks.
I believe we can lower costs, insure more people, and increase quality, by working together on the following ideas.
| Preventative Care |
We need to review government healthcare programs to ensure they don't just treat health problems, but they help prevent health problems. "Prevention is worth a pound of cure" and could save millions in tax dollars |
| HSAs |
I support Health Savings Accounts so that folks can plan ahead and get ahead, HSAs allow individuals to place money in an account and pay medical expenses with tax free dollars |
| Association Health Plans |
Small business owners should be able to pool their resources to buy cheaper group healthcare for their employees |
| Individual Deductions |
I support individual tax deductions for healthcare premiums. This will lower costs and encourage individuals to own their own policies |
| Freedom to Shop Around |
Individuals who need private insurance should be allowed to shop across state lines to find the best and cheapest plan that matches their healthcare needs. |
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