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• Stopping Illegal Immigration |
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Stopping Illegal Immigration Illegal immigration is one of the most pressing issues facing our state and our nation. The federal government has failed to meet its most fundamental responsibility to protect our borders. My priorities in the fight against illegal immigration include: • Authorizing the deployment of the military on the border to assist with controlling illegal immigration. Too often, border protection duties get shifted to local law enforcement agencies. • I will insist that Congress properly fund border protection so these costs are no longer shifted to local agencies. • Until Congress fully meets this financial obligation, I support federal reimbursement to local law enforcement agencies for the costs associated with dealing with illegal immigration. • Making Congress meet this obligation to defend our borders does not mean increasing federal spending, it means back-to-basics budgeting that requires these primary spending priorities, including border security and national defense, to be funded FIRST in the budget. • Construction of a complete border fence along the border between the U.S. and Mexico that extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Fence construction should be prioritized along the most heavily trafficked border crossings first. • Mandatory employer verification of worker eligibility to work in this country. • Stiff penalties for knowingly hiring illegal workers • An end to the current catch and release policy by making expedited removal of illegal immigrants mandatory and also requiring the completion of the US-VISIT entry/exit system. • Prohibiting illegal immigrants from any access to Social Security benefits. • Removing employer tax deductions for wages and benefits paid to illegal immigrants. • Limiting birthright citizenship to the children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. • A comprehensive border and immigration enforcement legislation package that closes the numerous loopholes that currently benefit illegal immigrants. This package must give law enforcement the tools and permission to enforce the laws and to compensate states for the financial impact of illegal immigration. Making clear that state and local authorities are authorized to apprehend illegal immigrants in the conduct of their routine duties.Family Values and Protecting Human Life Our country is at a pivotal point in its history. Over the last 50 years, our leadership and our culture have been trying to undermine the Godly foundation of this nation. America was founded on Godly principles and ideas, and I will fight for those principals each day in Congress.
Taxes and Balancing the Budget As a Santee Council member, I've been committed to keeping taxes low and balancing our city budget over the last five years. Our city has operated with a balanced budget every year that I have been in office. I believe in Ronald Reagan's philosophy that Americans are not taxed too little, but that government spends too much. I would like to get Congress back to the same basics we live by at the city level and in our own homes: balanced books with accountability. We must overhaul our current tax system. I support a fair tax system that will enhance our economy and reduce the burden on taxpayers. I also support making the current tax cuts permanent. I want to ensure that our taxpayers' hard earned dollars are used to meet our most important national priorities, not pork barrel projects. War on Terror We need to continue to provide the military with the resources they need to effectively fight this war against terrorism. We must have continued progress in Iraq. Failure in Iraq would be very damaging to U.S. national security. We must establish security in Iraq in order to have any chance at political progress and civil stability for that country. Our national intelligence and defense communities must be provided with the tools necessary to identify, track, stop and prosecute terrorists before they have the opportunity to strike. The fact that America has not been attacked since 9/11 indicates to me that progress has been made in making our nation safer. I know from my communication with the men and women who have served and who are now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan that the U.S. military is accomplishing a great deal of good work. I am confident we can continue that success by providing our intelligence agencies with the resources they need, while at the same time maintaining our commitment to the continued protection of our civil rights.Off-Road Recreational Areas As a fellow off-roader and business owner, I understand the federal issues impacting the use of our federal recreational areas. I am an off-road enthusiast and outdoorsman, having owned Jeeps and motorcycles for over twenty years. I am committed to:
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