Issue Position: Iraq

Issue Position

Issue Position: Iraq

Our involvement in Iraq should always be based on American security, its vital interests, and the safety and protection of the troops we have committed. Under no circumstances should we not give our troops all the necessary tools to protect and defend themselves while they are there. As we discuss our participation be drawn down.

However, our effort cannot be open-ended. Our commitment must have an equal or greater commitment from the Iraqis themselves. The liberties and freedoms won for Iraq, paid for with American blood and treasure can not be sustained unless reinforced with political solutions by the Iraqis themselves. Iraq must achieve a political compromise. If they are unable or unwilling to set aside their own sectarian differences, we must move our American soldiers out of harms way.

Along with a greater commitment from Iraq should be an equal or greater commitment from our neighboring friends in the region. Countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Dubai and The United Arab Emirates all have a vested interest in having a Democratic and peaceful neighbor in Iraq. Their desire for peace and stability, if it exists, must be met with a comparable commitment that we have given. Unless the region s nations share that view, long-term sustainable peace in Iraq would be difficult. If Iraq and our surrounding friends do not commit themselves as we have done, then our commitment should reflect a commensurate level of support.

Lower Taxes and Stop the Spending

I firmly believe the best judge of how to spend one's hard earned money is the person who earned it. Besides signing the Americans for Tax Reform's "No Tax Pledge," as an elected official, I have consistently voted against tax increases at all levels of government.

As a state legislator, I sponsored legislation to lower the State's sales tax and eliminate our newly increased 'Death Tax'. My pro-business, pro-growth stance has consistently earned high marks and endorsements from the business community. I believe that rather than sending money to Washington and complaining that we do not get "our fair share" (and we certainly don't), it would be in our best interest not to send it down there in the first place. I know that as tax dollars travel further from home the less you get back, and the less accountable and responsible the government becomes with those tax dollars.

In Washington D.C., I will continue to fight for the taxpayer here at home. I will fight against the expansion of the Death Tax when it is due to expire at the end of 2009. I will fight to repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax, also known as the AMT. The AMT is particularly harmful to the New Jersey taxpayer. Like Ronald Reagan, "I believe that we don't have a tax problem, we have a spending problem" and that we can never tax and spend ourselves into prosperity. In fact, increasing taxes and spending more will only guarantee the opposite.
Immigration - The "NOW" Plan

No other issue in American politics seems to frustrate and increase cynicism among our people as does our government's ineptness or unwillingness to control and secure our borders.

Any discussions about Homeland Security lack credibility with the American public, if our government cannot do something as fundamental as securing and protecting our borders. There are many issues that we can debate when it comes to the issue of immigration, but there are some which American are vastly in agreement:

1. Secure our borders using any means available. NOW.
2. Construct the fence: NOW!
3. Deport illegal aliens who have committed crimes against our citizenry. NOW!
4. Enforce existing employment laws. NOW!

The issue of what to do with the 12 million illegal aliens must be framed by future policies must not be base on Amnesty for those who broke our laws by entering our country illegally.

American is a nation of immigrants and will continue to be so, however those who wish to be part "our huddled masses yearning to be free", must wait their turn and enter through the front door not some dusty back door in the desert of the southwest.

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