Steve on the Issues:

SECURE BORDERS: 

Whether your primary concern is national security, eliminating wasteful spending, improving education, relieving overcrowding in our jails and hospitals, or fighting crime, the most important thing that we can do is to secure our borders.  The cost of illegal immigration to our state is nearly $2 Billion every year and you, the taxpayer, are paying the bill. We must eliminate sanctuary city policies that encourage illegal aliens to come to Arizona, and we must ensure that only those in the country legally are receiving government benefits. By securing the border we are protecting America not only from illegal immigration, but from peril. Securing the border is also a matter of national security.  We live in an era where men led by evil ideologies who seek to destroy our way of life.  Terrorism is a threat that besieges us, and we must secure the border to ensure terrorists don’t exploit this deficiency. Securing our borders will also help stop the flow of weapons and drugs, as well as child and human trafficking.

LOWER TAXES & SMALLER GOVERNMENT: 

In the last 50 years the tax burden on families with children has increased dramatically while taxes on other households have remained fairly constant. History has shown that when nations have taxed their people beyond 30% of their income that government revenue is ultimately reduced and the nation itself experiences significant decline or ultimate economic disaster.

Our State’s budget has grown more than 62% over the last five years  It is an incredible sum that is much greater than needed to account for inflation and increases in our population.  The wasteful Governor Napolitano and big-spending legislators have forgotten how to say “No!” to the lobbyists and special interests that come to the State with their hands out.  Now we face a budget Deficit of nearly $1 Billion and their solution is to raid the Rainy Day Fund and borrow hundreds of millions of dollars, increasing the debt burden for years to come.  As always, they will refuse to cut out the waste or postpone programs that are luxury items.  Enough is enough.  I will stand up to the governor and big spending legislators.  We need to refocus on those programs that serve vital interests and get government back to doing those things that only government can and should do.  Instead of borrowing, we must cut spending, get rid of wasteful and luxurious programs and balance our budget.

A QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM: 

The greatest indicator of someone’s future success is the quality of education they have received.  As such, we have an obligation to give our children the very best education that we can.  Unfortunately, our public school system is failing to do its job and it is failing our children.  Whether because of a lack of competition or because of waste in a system that spends less than 60% of every dollar in the classroom, our schools are not getting the job done.  It is not the fault of teachers, but rather politicians and their bureaucratic allies who put unions and administrators ahead of students.  Unless we fix this broken system, we will not be able to compete in the world and improve our standard of living and quality of life.  We need to better educate our students and give merit pay and other incentives to our better teachers.

IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE: 

The West Valley continues to grow and much of the growth is happening in our own District 12. The need for improvements in our transportation and infrastructure is imperative for the healthy growth of the state. I will fight to ensure that the West Valley receives its share of transportation and infrastructure dollars.  We pay our fair share of the taxes and we deserve equal treatment when it comes to providing for our citizens.

CRIME: 

Crime is a problem that affects all of us.  We need to recognize that strong families and neighborhoods really do make a difference and we need to rise up and reclaim our streets and our neighborhoods from the criminals who threaten us.

I believe strongly in the “Three Strikes And You’re Out” laws that provide for life imprisonment for individuals convicted of a violent crime a third time. Those convicted for a second offense of criminal rape or child sexual abuse should face life imprisonment, for the sake of society and for the sake of the offender.  Studies have consistently shown that those convicted a second time of a sexual crime have more than a 95% chance of continued recidivism.

SECOND AMENDMENT

Our founding fathers left us a clearly defined right in the core of the bill of rights.  They ingrained in the Constitution the American citizen’s right to own and bear arms.  I strongly believe in the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution.

PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS:

I am a strong supporter of property rights. I was proud to support the 2006 effort to protect private property rights from abuse of eminent domain laws.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: 

Whether it is the quality of our air and water, our utility generation, or issues that relate to growth, dust, and pollution, we must find a reasonable balance that protects our environment and our state.  Whenever possible, we must design and allow free-market solutions to fix these problems, reserving the heavy hand of government regulation for only the most desperate of situations.

FAMILY AND TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE: 

Throughout my life I have learned and understood the importance of the institution of the family. In my experience with young people and my service to many families around the nation I have come to see how a strong family benefits the rest of society. I believe marriage should be protected and defined as between one man and one woman.  The decisions we make as a State should be done with the best interests of families and children in mind.

SANCTITY OF LIFE:

I believe and hold a deep conviction that the right to life is an inalienable right endowed to us by our Creator.  As a legislator I will be an advocate for the innocent, the elderly and the infirm.