Property Taxes - No elderly person, who has paid mortgage payments and property taxes for years, should lose his/her home due to becoming unable to pay property taxes.  Property taxes had escalated beyond reason before state legislators passed the property tax relief bill in March.  Many concerns remain about whether we taxpayers will actually see a reduction in overall taxes and whether local government will be adequately funded.  I will monitor the effects of this law and prepare to propose adjustments as needed.  And government should be more frugal with taxpayers' hard-earned money.   (Click here to read J.D.'s statement on thriftiness.)

Economic Development - Since projections show I-69 will generate $3.2 billion for Southwest Indiana during its first 20 years, the extension of I-69 from Indianapolis to Evansville is essential for economic development.  Low taxes will help attract businesses and skilled workers to our state.

Illegal Immigration - While illegal immigration is primarily a federal issue, it affects Hoosiers and should be considered a state issue as well.  Businesses in Indiana should be required to hire only people who are here legally.  We also need to review all taxpayer-provided services to ensure government benefits are not unnecessarily given to illegal immigrants.  And let’s not play word games – if someone migrates to this country illegally, let’s call it what it is.  Not all are “undocumented workers” because some have forged documents and some aren’t working.

Crime - We must provide a safe environment for Hoosiers by being tough on criminals.  Let’s also work better with church and other non-profit groups as they reduce the relapse rate by seeking to improve the transition of inmates to good citizens.

Gun Rights - I believe the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the individual right of law-abiding citizens “to keep and bear arms.”  If this right is ignored, the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly could be in jeopardy as well.  Requiring background checks before buying a gun is necessary to try to eliminate gun ownership among convicted felons.

 Religious Heritage - Our nation was founded as one nation under God.  Shortly after receiving my "In God We Trust" license plate, I proudly pointed it out to my Kentucky relatives. Our national motto should be able to be placed in any government buildings at private expense.  As the preamble to Indiana’s Constitution states, we are “grateful to Almighty God.”  We welcome people of other faiths in our state, but I will interfere with any attempts to rewrite our religious heritage.

Family Values - Marriages must be strengthened since the family is the basic unit of our society.  Since the high poverty rates of single, female-headed households cost U.S. taxpayers $112 billion annually in higher spending on welfare and criminal justice, we cannot afford not to do more to help marriages succeed.  And in this day when many judges and others are confused about what is a “marriage,” let’s let voters decide if they want to define it in our state constitution as 27 other states have done.  I also want to be a voice for the voiceless; children, the disabled and aged need not be voters to have me in their corner. As a pro-life representative, I would support efforts to require abortion clinics to provide women vital information before abortions are performed.

Expansion of Gambling – Indiana is already reportedly among the top five gambling states in the nation in terms of revenue.  We simply don’t need to expand gambling any further.

Education – It is a primary duty of state government to adequately fund public schools including colleges and universities.  We should never be content with the quality of our schools but should seek new methods to improve them. Since the education process should develop students into critical thinkers, science teachers and students should be allowed and encouraged to critique all scientific theories including evolution.  And teachers must be able to maintain order in their classrooms; we must not tolerate physical attacks and threats on teachers.

Time Zones - In 2005 the state legislature passed a law enabling Indiana to become the 48^th state to entirely observe Daylight Saving Time; let’s keep that law.  Later in 2005 Congress passed a law extending Daylight Saving Time by about a month.  In 1966 Congress passed a law giving the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) sole authority in setting time zone boundaries.  DOT has indicated they will only consider requests to adjust time zones on a county-by-county basis if petitioned by a county’s executive body.  Since the state legislature has no authority to adjust time zones, I don’t consider this a current issue for the legislature.

Government Reform - I will be open to considering a government reform if it would save taxpayers’ dollars and if government services would still be adequately provided to meet constituents’ needs.

Election Reform – People should be allowed to vote for all candidates of one party, but let’s not make it more convenient for them than others who split their ballot.  Let’s vote for people, not parties.  I will work to eliminate single-punch, straight-ticket voting. This reform will increase voting in judicial and school board elections and in referendums. And some politicians may love gerrymandered districts, but those weirdly-drawn, partisan districts are not in the best interests of voters.  Let an independent commission draw common sense boundaries.  I would support such an approach even if newly-drawn districts would hurt me politically.

Bipartisanship - District 75’s state representative needs to take a more bipartisan approach to legislation.  I will decide what bills to support or oppose based on their content rather than the party of the author.

Standards for Public Officials - Public officials should be worthy of respect and ought to be held to a high standard.  John Witherspoon, a Founding Father, stated, “The people in general ought to have regard to the moral character of those whom they invest with authority either in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches.”  No leniency should be shown to public officials who are convicted of crimes.

Term Limits - It is unbelievable that the incumbent legislator was first elected during the Watergate era 34 years ago and is seeking re-election.  President Lincoln’s concept of government “of the people, by the people, for the people” can partially be attained by term limits, which I will seek to enact if elected.  If my efforts to enact term limits are unsuccessful, I will limit my own term in the Indiana House to no more than 12 years.