POSITIONS

I am always shocked that people will vote for a candidate who has a track record of putting other countries before our own. On the contrary, an elected representative should vote in the best interests of their constituents. Good governance that empowers the United States and her citizens benefits all countries. I will always put Colorado and our country first.

Recently, and perhaps for longer than we care to admit, our personal freedoms have been eroded. Politicians are seeking power for their own advantage rather than serving the people. But elected officials have a duty to protect the people from the overuse of government power, as specified by their oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution must always be upheld, regardless of any emergency—otherwise, we create a pretext for abuse by an overbearing government bureaucracy. This is why I pledge to protect the rights of the individual as laid out in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I will not support any legislation that violates the Constitution or extends the reach of the government at the expense of the individual.

I am personally Pro-Life and believe that all life is precious and should be protected. I agree with the United States Supreme Court for its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that incorrectly legalized abortion access nationwide. The authority to decide this profound moral question has been returned to the states, including Colorado. While the current law in Colorado is abhorrent to me, I believe that abortion is a states’ rights issue. This is the battleground we must succeed in to protect unborn children.

As a society, we should seek to prevent unwanted pregnancies whenever possible so that women are not in a position to have to choose to terminate a life. Therefore, I support widespread access to contraceptives. Many prospective parents are waiting to adopt children, often at great expense. There should be greater efforts to encourage finding homes for children through adoption programs. Children are precious and a vibrant country values its children as the future of its society.

Those attempting to enter our country illegally are not bad people. They are simply seeking a better life with greater opportunities for their families. We must treat them with compassion. However, the solution is not to rob resources from the American people to attempt to help the entire world. This only limits our opportunities at home and gives false hope to immigrants.
It is the Federal government’s responsibility to keep our country secure from external threats. Among other things, this national security mandate includes the maintenance of secure borders with effective processes to manage legal immigration.

We must first provide Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness to all Americans; then we can help other countries transition to the economic and political freedoms that create (rather than destroy) opportunity. Our country represents a phenomenal opportunity to become one’s best self. Let us not destroy the reasons people are trying so hard to get here.

Inflation and the rising cost of everyday life negatively affects us all, making it more and more difficult to survive or provide for our families. Many Coloradans are struggling, living from one inadequate paycheck to another, while inflation devalues every dollar. Washington’s policies are throttling the economy and making people dependent on the government.

Many of our economic woes are due to the destruction of opportunity. Instead, we need to create opportunity by energizing the economy. We need smart regulations and trade deals that put American jobs first while protecting the environment and private citizens.

Government spending must be carefully managed, with a consistent view towards reducing costs and waste. Money should be wisely spent to benefit Americans first. Unfortunately, current government spending levels are driving the present inflation crisis. We should not be printing more money to make up for gross incompetence or corruption, nor should we be sending significant funds overseas without cleaning up our own house. By taking these simple steps, we can empower people by keeping their money in their own pockets.

Peace through strength is my guiding foreign policy principle. War should always be a last resort. The American military should not be a world police force, although a global presence is necessary at times to dissuade bad actors.

Election integrity is a non-partisan issue. In recent years we have seen concerns raised on both sides of the aisle, and we must address them. It is essential that a Republic have secure elections where each vote counts equally, and none are cast fraudulently. Voter ID is a must and not an onerous requirement (a person needs an ID for nearly everything else). We must also make our elections efficient for all so that everyone may vote without hindrances.

The energy sector—including oil and natural gas, wind, and solar—is oneof the most significant contributors to the Colorado economy,employing thousands of high paying jobs (many of which are with small businesses). When federal policies strangle domestic energy production, the impact of those limitations is reflected in the price of gasoline at the pump.

Carbon Dioxide or CO2 emissions in the United States are down significantly in the last three decades. Fossil fuels such as Natural Gas provide clean energy, orders of magnitude more efficient and less harmful to the environment than many so-called renewables. The earth has generously provided these organic compounds in abundance, and we should use them wisely while also exploring efficient alternatives that can stand alone without government subsidies.

As a Congressman, I will advocate for balanced energy policy that meets demands for a thriving economy, achieves energy independence by eliminating dependence on other countries (especially those antagonistic to us), and encourages innovation while protecting our environment. The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) is in my district. I will support federal funding for NREL to explore more sustainable sources of energy like nuclear.

Term limits for federal legislators will have a beneficial effect on restoring integrity to our political process, ensuring sounder and more judicious representation for the American people. Colorado enacted term limits for its state legislators. At the federal level, we have term limits for the President. As with the presidency, we would need to amend the Constitution in order to codify this policy for all legislators. (Self-determined term limits are not a feasible solution as they serve only to cede more power to career politicians serving their own ends.)

By establishing term limits for U.S. Representatives and Senators, we curtail the massive advantage afforded incumbents and make elections more competitive; this leads to a more substantive exchange of ideas for better governance. A limited time in office is also conducive to the idea of citizen legislators who do not regard politics as a career, as it removes some of the incentives or temptations to turn away from representing the people in favor of personal agendas or special interests.

I have signed a pledge acknowledging the need for term limits, and I support efforts to enact them.

I want every child (and adult) to have the best education possible. We must empower our parents and educators to bring creativity and ingenuity into the classroom, rather than burdening them with red tape. I believe in an educational system that teaches critical thinking, and one that fosters more kindness for others as well as love for this country.

Education must be grounded in solid psychological principles. Harmony, kindness, love, and respect only exist in environments where the individual feels secure. (Public school systems currently do little to foster such personal security). I will stand for an educational environment that focuses on character and merit rather than superficial differences. I will advocate for education that develops wisdom and personal responsibility rather than a victim mentality. I support the right of parents to choose whatever educational opportunity best suits their child.

I want every Coloradan to have access to superb healthcare. We want the best doctors and practitioners to flock to Colorado. For that, we need a competitive health care system that is both affordable and efficient. We cannot rely on the government to create this outcome—their interventions are not affordable, efficient, or well-planned. We need to reform health care by removing present drains on the system, as well as increasing competition within the marketplace to drive down costs. I will advocate for transparency of pricing throughout the entire healthcare system so we can all see where our money is going.

Everyone has an inherent, unalienable right to defend themselves. And we know criminals will always find a way to possess guns. Yet, there are those who want to completely disarm our society while they simultaneously move to defund law enforcement. We must not only ask why but refuse to give up our ability to defend ourselves. The facts speak for themselves–firearm ownership is proven to deter crime. I will stand resolutely for our right to bear arms. Colorado has a spirit of independence and self-governance, and the Second Amendment is a key component of maintaining our individual freedoms.

It is heartbreaking that crime is skyrocketing here and nationwide due to radical policies that put criminals before good citizens. Coloradans no longer feel safe with Colorado now number one in the nation for auto theft and bank robberies, while Fentanyl is a leading cause of death, especially among young people.

A free and harmonious society is dependent upon just and fair laws, diligently upheld by elected officials and enforced fairly by law enforcement.

Unfortunately, radical Democrat policies have undermined the rule of law nationwide and in Colorado. Being soft on crime simply does not work and harms good citizens while allowing criminals to roam our streets.

We must address these failures through strong, moral leadership that honors and respects the laws of this country. In Congress, I will support law enforcement’s mission to protect and serve, hold the Justice Department accountable for any corruption or failure to protect American citizens, and be a strong voice for law and order.

Robust constituent services are the hallmark of a capable Congressperson. I understand that it is an honor and a privilege to serve all the constituents of this district, regardless of their political opinion or affiliation. We are all Coloradans and Americans, each of us deserving of compassionate and comprehensive attention to our problems. As a servant leader, I believe in the words of President John F. Kennedy: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer.” I pledge that my staff and I will always do the utmost to resolve any constituent’s issue, via the powers of my office or by connection to any other resources necessary. In fact, we are more than willing to get a head start on addressing your concerns. If you need our help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Water is the lifeblood of the planet, our country, and our state. Unfortunately, we are fast approaching a water crisis and it must be addressed now. We must protect this precious resource and manage it effectively. In seeking solutions to balance supply, demand, and conservation, I plan to draw on my experiences working in Israel. Israel is an extremely arid country that has nonetheless demonstrated how to preserve water resources with ingenuity and without onerous government involvement. I believe we can do the same here in Colorado.

I love the state of Colorado with all its natural beauty and grandeur. I will protect Colorado’s lakes, rivers, and streams, land, and air. We must effectively manage our forests so that we do not have to fear destructive wildfires. We can protect the environment with smart regulations without throttling industry and productivity.

Agriculture is critical to Colorado’s economy. We must protect it. Policies based only on questionable science are threatening to destroy the agricultural sector here. The proposed policies, such as dictating the length of time livestock must live before being harvested, are unconstitutional and overbearing. Such dictates will jeopardize many jobs and likely raise the cost of food in our communities. I will oppose the expansion of these policies at the federal level. We must seek balance between protecting the environment and supporting an industry which provides jobs and feeds the world.

We are very fortunate to live in a beautiful state which attracts people from all over the country and the world. We must keep our state beautiful and support small businesses which thrive on tourism and outdoor recreation. We want everyone who visits Colorado to leave knowing this is the most spectacular state in the Union.