RUTHFULLY YOURS

“In Central New York, the Adirondacks and in the North Country, we know that protecting the environment is critical to both our economy and to our very survival. However, the House of Representatives last year passed the so called “Cap & Trade” bill that seeks to limit carbon dioxide and other pollution. Under the basic terms of the bill, Democrats want to force companies who emit pollution to buy permits to release more pollution than what they are allotted.  Those who emit less can sell their unused allotment to others who emit more.  Such a Cap & Trade system has been tried overseas, and the result has not been positive: little to no effect on CO2 emissions, while having a negative impact on the economy. China, Mexico, India and other rapidly developing nations would be the true winners if Cap & Trade would ever become law. They can continue to pollute without restriction, while U.S. companies get hit with a tax. That tax will ultimately fall to us – the consumer. Any family that uses a typical amount of energy would find themselves paying over $2,000 or more in energy bills each year.  It doesn’t make sense as a businessman and it makes no sense for the families of the 23^rd Congressional District”

HEALTHCARE: REPEAL AND REPLACE OBAMACARE

As the next Congressman of the 23^rd Congressional District, I will work to repeal and replace the health care bill passed recently by Congress. I have read the entire bill (and companion bill). It is not the right policy for our Congressional District nor is the legislation the right answer for this country. The tax increases, the cut to Medicare and the new, job and economic crushing mandates will harm our U.S. economy.  Instead, like I wrote about in the Watertown Daily Times (see link attached) America needs free market, common sense solutions. Starting with strong tort reform to get the litigation system out of the doctor’s office, and carrying on to allowing policies to be bought across state lines, there are many sensible measures to be passed. In addition, allowing providers to use of health savings accounts or pooling arrangements for businesses to purchase and negotiate policy coverage (just as unions and large corporations do) makes all the sense in the world. And with state-run catastrophic coverage exchanges, even those who are in the toughest circumstance will be covered. I believe that we need to help those who need it most, and give individuals choice. Too many families don’t have access to affordable, high quality health care, and this needs to change by using cost reducing policies that I have outlined..

NATIONAL SECURITY

Job number one of the Federal Government is to protect us and keep us safe at home and abroad. As your Congressman, I will continue to see to it that our fighting men and women – our heroes – will have all the funding, resources and equipment that they need to be safe and successful defending our great nation. I will support our troops and their families, and I believe our nation must remain the strongest and the best equipped in the world to meet the ever growing challenges. Such challenges include Al-Qaeda and their allies, who continue to be a force of hatred and violence around the world – by spreading an ideology that is anti-American and anti-western.

We must remain vigilant in our defense of freedom and democracy, and I believe we need to stand by our international allies who assist us and continue to fight the terrorist threats. We must have the strongest, most robust defense in the world, including nuclear deterrents.