Fix Washington:

Washington is at the heart of our nation’s problems. Whether it’s spending, healthcare, energy policy or immigration, Washington has ignored the will of the people and has this country heading in the wrong direction. We are at an important place in our nation’s history and we must start thinking about the next generation, not the next election. We can fix this country, but first we must fix Washington.

Jobs:

Small business is the backbone of our economy. A small businessman himself, Rick understands that small business is the engine for economic growth and the struggles of over taxation and burdensome regulation imposed by big government. He will take that business mindset to Washington to create an environment that lends itself to job growth. We did this in North Dakota, and as a result while the rest of the country slid into recession, North Dakota led the nation in job growth and created a budget surplus.

Taxes:

Rick opposes the raising of any federal income taxes. He believes that taxes are a drag on our economy and that increasing taxes would undermine our ability to get our nation back to work. The money sent to Washington was created by the hard work of Americans and it must be treated as such. In order to get our economy back on track we must first stop the current House Leadership from raising our taxes, and then look for ways to lower the tax burden on families and small businesses.

Additionally, Rick has pledged his support for the permanent repeal of the Death Tax.

Spending:

The taxpayer-funded bailouts and out of control spending coming from Washington must stop. Families and businesses have to make tough choices in this economy, Washington needs to as well. The state of North Dakota balances its budget and is one of the few states with a surplus. Rick will bring that same blueprint to Washington with the message that government must empower the individual rather than continue to grow, saddling the next generation with a $13 trillion debt.

Rick fully supports the concept of a Balanced Budget Amendment, as it has become abundantly clear that Congress needs failsafe measures like this in order to control spending and stop mortgaging our children’s future.

Healthcare:

Healthcare is not something that the government can effectively takeover. The Obama-Pomeroy nationalized healthcare bill does nothing to lower our costs, but it does add another $569.2 billion in tax increases and cuts $523 billion from Medicare.

Interstate insurance competition, regulatory reform, streamlining the system to eliminate waste, increased fraud enforcement, elimination of defensive medicine, and tort reform must all be part of the solution. Lower costs will improve access, help America be more competitive in a global market and help business grow and add the jobs our country desperately needs. Means tested tax credits can also be used to help make healthcare more affordable for those most in need.

Social Security:

Generations of Americans rely on social security as a supplement to their income and continued financial stability as they age, yet for decades, Washington has ignored countless warning signs rather than tackling this important issue. We made a promise to our seniors that Social Security would be there for them, and Rick is committed to keeping that promise. However, clearly the system is broken and must be addressed. Working together, we must find a way to preserve and strengthen Social Security without raising payroll taxes, reducing benefits, increasing the retirement age, or privatizing the system so it is available to all Americans for generations to come.

Energy:

Rick supports a comprehensive energy policy that moves America away from our dependence on foreign oil and capitalizes on our own vast resources. North Dakota has massive reserves of coal, oil, and renewable energy, and has proven that we can develop these sources at competitive rates while using environmentally sound methods. Additionally, he believes we must streamline the approval process for building nuclear power plants using the latest technologies and provide the regulatory oversight necessary to ensure their safe operation.

Veterans:

We must never take lightly the sacrifice that our servicemen and women and their families make when we move down the course of military action. They are willing to sacrifice for our country, and we must ensure they receive the medical attention and benefits they earn.

Agriculture:

The current farm bill keeps food prices low and helps ag producers during tough times. Additionally, Rick believes we need to continue to expand the open markets for the American farmer, and that we can make crop insurance more comprehensive so that when our farmers go into the field they will know they’re covered by both field and input cost if they choose.

Immigration:

Illegal immigration is yet another issue where Washington has failed us. This is not a problem that happened overnight, but rather, it is an accumulation of years of neglect. Year after year, Washington has ignored the people and continued to kick the can on this important issue.

First and foremost, Rick opposes amnesty. Congress needs to pass meaningful legislation to secure our borders from illegal immigrants, terrorists, and drug traffickers, while rejecting amnesty and giving businesses the tools necessary to verify citizenship.

Family Values:

Rick is a strong social conservative and will protect traditional Judeo-Christian values which have made this country strong. He is pro-life and believes that marriage is between one man and one woman.

Gun Rights:

Rick is a proud gun owner and avid hunter. He believes the second amendment protects and ensures the other amendments. In Washington, he will vote to protect our second amendment freedoms for lawful gun