Bring Government Spending Under Control
Our state auditor has repeatedly warned our lawmakers that spending is out of control. He stated that Iowa is projected to face a $1 billion shortfall each of the next 5 years! State spending routinely outpaces inflation and household income. Our Governor and legislators ignored these warnings, which sent the state into the worst financial crisis it's ever faced. Such spending cannot continue forever. We need to limit spending or we will need even more drastic cuts in the future.
With such rapid increases in government spending, one only has to roll back our budgets to match levels from a few years back to see tremendous benefits. This reins in spending from the things that have grown out of control, and rewards departments and programs that held the line on spending over the years by not cutting them back as much, if at all.
Many lawmakers try to do everything for everyone, rather than letting the people do the good works they are capable of. There are plenty of services provided by the state that businesses, non-profits, and individuals can provide, and do so at a lower cost. Even Linn county government found programs that non-profits performed better and at a lower cost. Now it's time to apply this approach at the state level.
I'm willing to say "no" to excessive spending, and bring the state back into balance.
With such rapid increases in government spending, one only has to roll back our budgets to match levels from a few years back to see tremendous benefits. This reins in spending from the things that have grown out of control, and rewards departments and programs that held the line on spending over the years by not cutting them back as much, if at all.
Many lawmakers try to do everything for everyone, rather than letting the people do the good works they are capable of. There are plenty of services provided by the state that businesses, non-profits, and individuals can provide, and do so at a lower cost. Even Linn county government found programs that non-profits performed better and at a lower cost. Now it's time to apply this approach at the state level.
I'm willing to say "no" to excessive spending, and bring the state back into balance.
Making Iowa Competitive By Lowering Taxes
Iowa ranks 4th in the nation for the worst tax environment. This needs to change.
I believe in cutting taxes while cutting government spending. This allows the people to donate, spend, or invest their money as they see fit.
High taxes hurt the economy and can actually result in lower tax revenues as well. The federal tax cuts in 2003 resulted in a sudden boost to the economy. This boost actually allowed the federal government to collect MORE tax revenues than before the cuts. Increasing taxes would hurt the already fragile economy and push businesses out of the state.
Too many businesses move away from Iowa or avoid Iowa in the first place because of our high tax rates. When businesses leave the state, so do our most talented students and workers.
To make Iowa competitive with other states, we should lower and simplify taxes.
I believe in cutting taxes while cutting government spending. This allows the people to donate, spend, or invest their money as they see fit.
High taxes hurt the economy and can actually result in lower tax revenues as well. The federal tax cuts in 2003 resulted in a sudden boost to the economy. This boost actually allowed the federal government to collect MORE tax revenues than before the cuts. Increasing taxes would hurt the already fragile economy and push businesses out of the state.
Too many businesses move away from Iowa or avoid Iowa in the first place because of our high tax rates. When businesses leave the state, so do our most talented students and workers.
To make Iowa competitive with other states, we should lower and simplify taxes.
Prepare Ahead For Disasters
F Ave & 13th St NW during 2008 crest
When terrible floods swept through Cedar Rapids in 2008, I was greatly disappointed in the government response. I knew we were headed for trouble when the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported a record-tying flood approaching, and the city felt like it could do everything using city workers. I lived in Fargo during the Fargo Flood of 1997, and saw a community pull together to prevent disaster. So in 2008, I knew the need to get everyone involved in Cedar Rapids, so I contacted the city urging them to request volunteers before most people even knew a flood was coming. The city acted upon my request, and I showed up to volunteer that same day.
Each time massive natural disasters strike Iowans, the government springs into action. This happens during periods of chaos, and lawmakers feel pressures to act quickly. Mistakes often result.
I favor well-thought out laws that take effect upon the Governor's declaration of a disaster area resulting from a natural disaster. For instance, if the state required local governments to assess properties in a timely manner following a disaster, we could adjust property taxes for affected properties before the normal adjustments occur. This provides relief quickly, and spares the need to vote on tax abatement. The state could compensate county and local governments with the difference to ensure that local governments don't have to struggle with lower tax revenues while facing their challenges.
Lawmakers often focus on disasters while they make the news, but fail to prepare ahead. I propose that we develop policies that help prepare and respond to future disaster before they occur.
It troubled me that I did not see my own representative at the numerous post-flood meetings. After talking with people in the Time Check neighborhood, many of them had the same concern and it was clear they did not feel represented. Other lawmakers would show, since the flood was the biggest thing ever to hit this city, and it's important to know what the path ahead includes.
I helped organized volunteer efforts in the past, I look forward to representing us, and I will continue to call on Iowans to work together during difficult times.
More Specifics:
Each time massive natural disasters strike Iowans, the government springs into action. This happens during periods of chaos, and lawmakers feel pressures to act quickly. Mistakes often result.
I favor well-thought out laws that take effect upon the Governor's declaration of a disaster area resulting from a natural disaster. For instance, if the state required local governments to assess properties in a timely manner following a disaster, we could adjust property taxes for affected properties before the normal adjustments occur. This provides relief quickly, and spares the need to vote on tax abatement. The state could compensate county and local governments with the difference to ensure that local governments don't have to struggle with lower tax revenues while facing their challenges.
Lawmakers often focus on disasters while they make the news, but fail to prepare ahead. I propose that we develop policies that help prepare and respond to future disaster before they occur.
It troubled me that I did not see my own representative at the numerous post-flood meetings. After talking with people in the Time Check neighborhood, many of them had the same concern and it was clear they did not feel represented. Other lawmakers would show, since the flood was the biggest thing ever to hit this city, and it's important to know what the path ahead includes.
I helped organized volunteer efforts in the past, I look forward to representing us, and I will continue to call on Iowans to work together during difficult times.
More Specifics:
Education
I want more local control of education. Although there are things I would like to see in the curriculum of our schools to improve reading and math, I trust school districts and teachers to establish curriculum. Millions of dollars are wasted each year paying to do nothing but administer federal and state programs. This said, the state controls much of education, including funding. I want the best for our students, whether in public, private, or home schools.
You can see what someone values by looking at how they spend their time and their money. The primary recipients of the money I donate are educational in nature. By growing up in a family of educators, both administrative and teaching, I saw the varied facets of the educational system from parents employed by the educational system. As a student, I experienced everything from preschool and Title I to advanced and honors classes in high school and college.
I value education, and will push for greater local control, while ensuring quality education.
You can see what someone values by looking at how they spend their time and their money. The primary recipients of the money I donate are educational in nature. By growing up in a family of educators, both administrative and teaching, I saw the varied facets of the educational system from parents employed by the educational system. As a student, I experienced everything from preschool and Title I to advanced and honors classes in high school and college.
I value education, and will push for greater local control, while ensuring quality education.
Protecting Life
The most fundamental right is the right to life. Without life, all other rights are meaningless. In recent years, the government has treated life without dignity.
Views on abortion divide this nation more than most things. Most people think we should have fewer abortions. There are rather simple things we can do to accomplish this goal. For instance, when abortion-minded women get an ultrasound, 9 out of 10 of them decide not to have the abortion. We can stop funding organizations that promote or perform abortions.
Organizations that offer abortions continue to close across the country as they are cited for health code violations and their abortionists lose their licenses from malpractice. The largest abortion provider provides contraception that ranks as the worst when compared to same type of products provided by others. They are in the business of abortion, and everything they do aims to strengthen that business. The more I've learned about abortion providers, the more it's clear they don't deserve government funds. Women deserve better care.
Lawmakers clouded the terminology when they suggested that stem-cell research has produced dozens of cures. Those cures do exist, but in every case the cures came from adult stem cells and not from embryonic stem cells. I do not oppose adult stem-cell research. However, I do oppose letting our government squander millions of dollars on embryonic stem-cell research, not to mention the countless lives.
Our children are our future; it's about time we focus on protecting ours.
Views on abortion divide this nation more than most things. Most people think we should have fewer abortions. There are rather simple things we can do to accomplish this goal. For instance, when abortion-minded women get an ultrasound, 9 out of 10 of them decide not to have the abortion. We can stop funding organizations that promote or perform abortions.
Organizations that offer abortions continue to close across the country as they are cited for health code violations and their abortionists lose their licenses from malpractice. The largest abortion provider provides contraception that ranks as the worst when compared to same type of products provided by others. They are in the business of abortion, and everything they do aims to strengthen that business. The more I've learned about abortion providers, the more it's clear they don't deserve government funds. Women deserve better care.
Lawmakers clouded the terminology when they suggested that stem-cell research has produced dozens of cures. Those cures do exist, but in every case the cures came from adult stem cells and not from embryonic stem cells. I do not oppose adult stem-cell research. However, I do oppose letting our government squander millions of dollars on embryonic stem-cell research, not to mention the countless lives.
Our children are our future; it's about time we focus on protecting ours.
My Pledge
I pledge to refuse voting in favor of any bill I have not read in its entirety.