THE ISSUES

JOBS

Good jobs are vital to a healthy economy. We need to place an emphasis on not only attracting new businesses to the district, but also on retaining and growing the businesses we have.

Lowering state spending and taxes across the board to create the confidence our private sector needs to start putting people back to work is vital.

Nothing makes me more frustrated then when a person graduates from a local college, but has to leave the area, because they cannot afford to stay. When they leave, they not only take their education, gifts, and talents with them, but they also take their tax dollars too.

The effect of this increases the tax burden on everyone. We need to work hard to attract employers that can afford to pay sustainable wages.  Lowering the burden government places on job creators is going to help get our economy back on track.

ECONOMY

We need to work hard to keep the economy of the district strong. The resources of the area are abundant.

We need to recognize that the people of the district are by far its most valuable asset.

They are hard working, dedicated, and committed to bettering our community and the area we live in. We need to assure them that Madison is not going to interfere with their success.

TAXES

Southwest Wisconsin families, farmers, and business owners understand all too well that the taxes in this state are too high. Wisconsinites know how to best spend their hard earned dollars and I will work to make sure they can keep more of what they earn.

ROADS & TRANSPORTATION

The folks in Madison are bent on creating passenger and commuter rail between Madison and Milwaukee but have no concern for the transportation needs of SW Wisconsin. Overtime these rail projects will become ever greater drains on Wisconsin’s limited transportation resources. The raids on the transportation funds need to be stopped so that citizens of Southwest Wisconsin can have good roads. Good roads are vital to our economic growth and prosperity and every dollar spent on a train no one will be using hurts our area of the state.

If elected, I will make it a top priority to fund and repair SW Wisconsin’s roads and will oppose boondoggle rail projects that will rob funds from and delay the road projects our area needs.

FARMING & AGRICULTURE

We need to recognize the value and the importance of the family farm. According to a study done by the University of Wisconsin Extension each cow in the state generates between $15,000 – $17,000 worth of economic activity. This is huge, not only to the farming population, but to the community in general. The study also found that agriculture as a whole provides $51.5 billion of economic activity and accounts for nearly 500,000 jobs in the state.

We need to work hard to maintain and strengthen the strong rural farming and agricultural economy.  One way to do this is by standing up for use value.

HEALTH CARE

The cost of health care is growing faster than most people’s ability to pay. Families are being forced to make tough choices without good information. Similarly, Wisconsin employers are having increasing difficulty competing with our neighboring states, given the burden that the cost of health care places on their businesses. We need to empower patients with more information and more options so they can work with their doctors to make quality decisions.

Government needs to get out of the way to ensure that Wisconsin families have access to high-quality, affordable health care. Free market health care, combined with tax deductible personal health care savings accounts and health and fitness education, are good ways to insure that the quality of health care we deserve remains available.

VALUES

I believe in the importance and prominence of the American family. Nothing is more important than what goes on inside the 4 walls of the American home. What goes on there shapes our leaders of tomorrow. I believe in the value of life and the sanctity of marriage and am committed to work for both.

I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment and received the endorsement of the NRA in 2008. Hunting and fishing are extremely important Wisconsin traditions that we must protect and past on to the next generation.

EDUCATION

We have great educational institutions throughout the district. Whether you’re talking about K-12 or higher education we have some of the best schools in the country. We have small class sizes and excellent teachers. We need to work hard to maintain this advantage and strive to make higher education more affordable for all.

The University of Wisconsin Platteville and Southwest Technical Colleges are extremely important parts of southwestern Wisconsin’s economy.  They train the next generation of farmers, small business owners, educators, and entrepreneurs that are vital to keeping our region and state competitive.  I am a big supporter of both institutions and will work with students, faculty, and staff to make sure that we continue to have two of the best institutions of higher learning in the state.