Issues

Economy and Jobs

America is the greatest example of free enterprise resulting in wealth creation and individual economic benefit in the history of the world.  But today government spending is sucking the oxygen out of the economy.   Until it is brought under control and dramatically reduced, the standard of living Americans have come to enjoy as a way of life will continue to diminish.   No variety of “prosperity” has ever been built on debt.  Until Americans discipline themselves and their government off this addiction and “live within our means”, we will continue to struggle economically, ultimately losing our personal and national freedoms.  I support an immediate cut in the payroll tax for all businesses accompanied by cuts in spending in government entitlement programs including slowing down the rates of growth in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.   I support the transitioning to a national currency backed with some form of intrinsic value so the federal government cannot continue to print money without restraint and create inflation.   I also support a balanced budget amendment to the federal constitution.

Re-Creating Educational Excellence

When it comes to education I am for choice.  I support public policies providing opportunities with educational excellence among the broadest number of children possible.  Parents are the most highly motivated participants in education and they must be given as many choices as possible in seeking the best for their children.  This means removing the monopoly of public education and creating a level playing field for them with the use of their taxpayer money.  With the establishment of common equivalency outcome metrics, parents must be allowed to choose among educational alternatives from public and charter schools to home schooling.  Teachers should be financially rewarded in an environment that acknowledges outstanding individual performance, not treated as a collective.  The role of government in education is ensuring a “level playing field” with commonly understood results based outcomes and rules for all participants.  The best must be allowed to rise to the top – parents, educators, and children.

Taxation

Today Americans are paying the highest taxes in the nation’s history.  Hawaii has long been known as a state with one of the highest tax burdens both for businesses and individuals.  That is why I have signed the Americans for Tax Reform “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” that says I will oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals or businesses; and any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.  I also support efforts to reform the federal income tax system by replacing it with a “Fair Tax” provided it coincides with the removal of the 16th Amendment to the federal constitution.  The establishment of the federal income tax in 1913 was abhorrent to the Founding Fathers because they believed taxing individuals on their private income was economic folly and it amounted to a tax on personal productivity.  By transferring vast financial power to the federal government, the federal income tax fostered a terrible imbalance in authority between national and state government.

Improving Our Health Care

Health care public policy must be framed in terms of improving people’s health, not simply debating the costs of various insurance options.  That is the fight I want to champion; encouraging and incentivizing a healthier nation.  Until that occurs an aging population will place even greater strains upon the nation’s health care systems; and consume a greater portion of the economy.  At the same time, I recognize that health costs are excessive and would sponsor legislation to allow interstate shopping for health insurance, and provide tort reform to reduce costs to physicians who have to practice defensive medicine.  I would also sponsor a panel of health care professionals to deal with fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid and then work to actually implement their suggestions.  I would support the idea of providing Medicare enrollees with vouchers and letting them choose a health plan of their choice.  This may be the only way to protect seniors from health care rationing which will come from the health care legislation recently passed.

Environmental Stewardship

I am a “constitutional conservative” in my commitment to carefully steward the environment which includes the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the oceans and lands we depend upon for our human sustenance. Only with diligent care will we continue to enjoy the produce of these “ecological gardens”.  I support common sense free market development of all natural resources in a manner that values long term consequences over short term benefits.  I believe that environmental abuses are best solved through legal means at state and local levels, not by “one size fits all” legislation from Washington.  A person’s property should not be seized without proper compensation, even when the best interests of the general population are considered.   I oppose national taxes of any kind on energy or mining activities upon which our economy is dependent.  I deplore recent conclusions by international government entities based upon political agendas rather than scientifically verifiable evidence.

Energy For The 21st Century

I believe the earth, oceans, and sky have an amazing capacity to continue to provide for the energy needs of this century through the wise and prudent application of continuing innovations in technology.   I support diversification of energy development technologies for reasons of economic growth, environmental protection, and national defense.  I support free market economic principles reflecting sound business practices as the best way to provide for our energy needs, not political agendas or federal mandates.  Energy public policy decision making must include proven economic feasibility, environmental impacts, and recognition that energy requirements vary greatly depending upon the application, e.g., transportation, home heating, power grid generation, etc., and include state level participation.  I support energy development that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and I oppose cap and trade (“tax”) legislation because of its false premise of global warming as well as the financial burden it places on our economy.

Akaka Bill

I strongly oppose the Akaka bill because it will divide the citizens of Hawaii based upon race and is contrary to the very spirit of aloha.  The current bill that has passed the House of Representatives is poorly written and will bring about unintended consequences for Hawaii due to its vagueness.  For example, it fails to explicitly define who is a member of the new “Native Hawaiian tribe”, thereby making them eligible for benefits.   It will establish an essentially parallel sovereign government (legally and economically) within Hawaii and this is virtually unprecedented in American history.  It also runs counter to the proclamations of King Kamehameha III when he declared in the Constitution of 1840, “God hath made of one blood all races of people to dwell on this Earth in unity and blessedness.”   Lastly, the entire legislative process to date has denied the citizens of Hawaii any vote in the form of a public referendum on the issue and has recently been cloaked in secrecy.  It therefore violates a basic premise in democratic government of “having the consent of the governed.”

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