Richard’s Issues

Accountability
In the last eight years, there has been no accountability in the federal government. Huge pork-barrel spending projects, an expensive and mismanaged war, and exploding entitlement expenditures have pushed our national debt to nine trillion dollars–and growing.
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Education
As a product of the public school system from elementary school through graduate school, and as a teacher, I have a deep understanding of the steps we must take to fix our educational system. We need to repeal No Child Left Behind, return control of our schools to parents and teachers, and make college more affordable.
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Energy
We need to end our addiction to foreign oil, secure our own sources of energy here at home, and provide the right incentives for energy conservation.
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Healthcare
It is disgraceful that 47 million people in this country have no health insurance. Through a combination of private and public services, we must guarantee that every single American citizen has access to quality, affordable care, while not forgoing the benefits of private research. Our district is poised to play a key role in this national discussion.
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Homeland Security
Despite the tough talk, six years after 9/11, our country is still not prepared for a terrorist attack. 9/11 has been used to justify countless infringements on our most precious civil liberties, while the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission have been ignored and underfunded. I believe we need more than rhetoric to secure America against terrorist attack – we need real leadership to achieve real results in Washington.
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Iraq
The war in Iraq has lessened the overall readiness of our military, and distracted us from Afghanistan and the real War on Terror. The war in Iraq has made us less prepared to respond to other potential threats around the world. It has sent our economy spiraling toward recession, shackled us with an enormous debt, and hijacked our energy policy.
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Jobs and the Economy
The last 8 years have seen some of the most reckless, irresponsible economic policies in American history. The Bush Administration and the Republican establishment have spent us deeply into debt through an ineptly managed, unnecessary war; obscene levels of pork-barrel spending; and unfair, ineffective, irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Meanwhile, they’ve turned their backs on those left behind in the new economy. To get us back on track, I’ve put forward a comprehensive pro-growth, pro-middle class agenda for the 21st century.
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Trade
Our trade policy over the last several years has been a huge detriment to our economy. As we move forward in trade with other nations, we must make certain that all provisions of trade agreements are upheld, that the trade deals we enter into are good for the American worker, and that free trade is also fair trade. As an economist, I am very much in favor of free trade. Free trade lets each nation pursue its own comparative advantages, and has an impact on human rights. But free trade must also be fair trade.
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