The Role of the Federal Government

The role of the federal government is limited by the Constitution. We need to reign in the size and scope of government towards those constitutional limits. I fully support Downsize DC and their Read The Bills Act and the One Subject At A Time Act. With the combination of these two acts, Congress will not only have to know what they are voting on but would not be able to sneak in legislation unrelated to the primary subject of the bill before them.

I also support the Liberty Amendment and Ron Paul's Campaign For Liberty.

Revitalization of Greater Cleveland

Let's face it, the Greater Cleveland area has been mis-managed economically, at all levels, for decades. People need to keep more of the money they earn to spend or save as they see fit. Towards that end I propose turning the 10th District into a Federal Income Tax Free Zone. Through legislation, we can bring every dollar paid in federal tax back to the district, boosting the economy at every level. See my FIT Free Zone for more details.

Energy

While I support Drill Here, Drill Now, I am a proponent of thermal depolymerization as well as other alternative energy sources. I am particularly interested in thermal depolymerization since it creates fuel that can be used by our current technology, utilizes our waste products, and is carbon neutral.

Health Care

Congress should stop meddling with health care. From the 1940's when government forced wage controls but allowed employers to offer health care insurance as compensation, to the establishments of HMO Act of 1973, to the largest entitlement program ever authorized by Congress, the Medicare Modernization Act, every time Congress has stuck their proverbial nose in health care to fix a problem or “improve access” they have succeeded in making the problem larger, more expensive and more complicated. There was a time in this country when a Doctor actually came to your house to treat you. Imagine how good our health care would be without government interference.

To help improve access to health care, as your Congressman I would introduce a bill to allow you to get a tax credit for every penny you pay in health care, including the premiums deducted from your payroll check and to remove any over burdensome government regulations which decrease care and increase cost.

More Information

For more information on the issues, please visit my answers to Project Vote Smart's 2008 Political Courage Test. Both Jim Trakas and Dennis Kucinich "repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff. "