The Economy – Small businesses need help to be more competitive. Allow businesses to join health care cooperatives across state lines. Health savings accounts and tax credits for individually-purchased health plans will also relieve the costly burden of health care from small business. Promote technical education and training to grow skill workers. Reduce taxes and regulations that discourage job growth.
Taxes – Connecticut families are paying too much already. Connecticut families pay two dollars to Washington for every one dollar returned in federal assistance. Connecticut families can do a better job of spending our money than the government can. Paying more taxes will only widen the “Connecticut family gap.” Joe Courtney voted for a budget that will raise the amount taken from Connecticut families by an additional one Billion dollars per year, $3,800 per family in Eastern Connecticut!. Tax laws need to change to protect our families and our economy. Standard deductions should be indexed for regional cost of living. The AMT should be eliminated. The tax cuts of the past decade need to be made permanent.
National Security – We need to reduce our presence in Iraq in a way that ensures the recent progress there is not surrendered. Iran must not be permitted to turn Iraq into its puppet state. Iranian intervention in Iraq would spark a wider Mideast war, costing us even more in the long run.
Immigration – The Government must enforce the law. No law is worth having unless it is enforced. No amnesty. Amnesty only sends a signal to would-be illegal immigrants that we will forgive them too if enough come here.
Health Care – No single-payer system. Federal government control of our health care system will only make things worse. Escalating costs are the real problem. Simply mandating insurance does nothing to control cost. To control cost, the consumer must be part of the decision making. Control cost through: expanding health savings accounts; tax credits for privately-purchased plans, tort reform to eliminate defensive medicine.
Free Trade – Support free trade agreements. We are in a global economy. There is no going back. Invest in education and technology. Americans can compete by making quality, high technology products.
Energy – Invest in alternative sources, including renewable energy, biofuels, fuel cells and nuclear power. Increase the tax incentives to help homeowners and businesses convert to more efficient and environmentally friendly systems. Standardize nuclear power plant design to speed regulatory approval of new plants.
Transportation – Invest in America’s infrastructure. Improve I-95, finish route 11. Increase rail. For Connecticut’s economic well-being, we must improve the ability of people and products to move about quickly and efficiently.