Bringing fiscal responsibility to government and stop overspending

• Our state government is currently spending at twice the rate that revenue is increasing; this is both unsustainable and irresponsible.
• We must wisely manage our resources and eliminate unnecessary agencies and bureaucracy.
• The state must avoid falling further into debt and live within its means.

Creating new jobs and strengthening our economy

• Smaller government, lower taxes, and less regulation are the key to a business-friendly state.
• Our difficult permitting processes and high tax structure hinder business growth and increased employment.

Stopping unnecessary regulations and providing assistance to our small businesses

• Our state must ease regulatory burdens on employers, make obtaining permits easier, and ensure that agencies have clear legislative authority to change antiquated and ineffective rules.
• Before government imposes higher costs on employers, it should get its own fiscal house in order by balancing the budget without raising taxes, transferring funds or borrowing money.
• Tax exemptions that are offered to specific businesses as “economic incentives” should be tied to accountability provisions protecting other taxpayers in the state.

Preventing tax increases by prioritizing spending in Olympia

• We must prioritize spending, with a focus on education, public safety, and protecting the most vulnerable.
• We must demand transparency in the budgeting process.
• We must lower taxes for Washington families, employers and employees.

Easing the health care burden on employees and employers

• Too many employers, families and individuals lack access to affordable health care.
• The governor and majority party continue to take the state down a path of fewer options, higher costs, and more government control.

Protecting our education system from mismanagement in Olympia

• Fund education first.
• Provide full funding for core education services.
• Create a modern and flexible education system.

Realistic Transportation Solutions

Let me make myself perfectly clear: I oppose tolls.  I oppose the addition of light rail to the Columbia River Crossing bridge.  We can save 40% of the project's cost just by eliminating the light rail portion.  Waiting to do the off-ramp projects for a later date will also save on initial costs.  The bridge-only project should only cost 500 to 700 million dollars. 300 million from the Federal Treasury and 200 each from Washington and Oregon.

There is enough money to pay for the bridge without placing weighty tolls on the backs of our local community.  Our State and Federal gas taxes are being misappropriated and squandered by both local and national bureaucrats.  We need to de-rail elected officials who have set their one-track mind on the light rail agenda.  In this current recession, more-so than ever, we need to focus our tax dollars on real-world transportation solutions that match our local community, not on utopian light rail projects.