Issues

Taxes

Californians suffer from taxes that are too high, be they income taxes, sales taxes, and taxes wrongly labeled as "fees". That is why I support a low, flat-rate income tax that contains allowances which protect middle-class families. I will also fight to preserve Proposition 13.

Spending

State government taxes so much because it spends too much. That is why I support solutions such as efforts to combine agencies and departments that have similar functions, like the Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization. By taking simple, common-sense steps, we can make government smaller, more effective, and less costly.

Education

Nowhere do the problems our government faces today make themselves more apparent than in our educational system. Bloated bureaucracies that inhibit innovation, excessive regulations that stifle true learning and creative thinking, and outdated operations that waste our tax dollars have all become norms in our schools. I will work to bring solutions such as objective tenure reform, quality-based teacher evaluation, and expanded school choice to the table.

Law Enforcement

If for no other reason, government exists to keep us safe. That is why I support measures such as "three strikes" and the death penalty. I believe the solution to prison overcrowding is to build more prisons, not to release violent felons back into our communities. Dumping offenders back into the public endangers all of us, especially those whose livelihood it is to keep us safe.

Reforming Government

Much has been made about how state government works-or rather how it does not work. That's why I support a two-year budget cycle, so that the Legislature can focus on long-term solutions for California's fiscal troubles. This will also allow time to review proposed and existing laws more in-depth, allowing operations to be streamlined and reducing confusion for business owners who are forced to follow the maze of regulations laid out for them.

Immigration

We must have an immigration policy that treats people with respect and dignity, provides a welcoming atmosphere for those who immigrate legally, and upholds American law. That is why I oppose drivers licenses and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants-it is a disincentive to follow the law and a slap in the face to legal immigrants and their efforts to come here.

Marriage

While I believe we as a society are called to treat others with dignity and compassion, we must also maintain those structures that promote and enhance a healthy society. That's why I support traditional marriage, and will oppose efforts to undermine it.

Environment

State government must necessarily protect California's ample natural resources. I support balanced, common-sense regulations that protect us both ecologically and economically, and oppose radical policies that put fringe beliefs ahead of the common good.