Issues

Economy

Our economy is in such a fragile state that almost every American is feeling the pain. The staggering level of unemployment is a threat not only to our financial security as a nation, but weighs heavily on every hard working-family struggling to keep their heads above water. We need to return to the basic principles of economics that have proven to be effective; promote small business and consumer spending by lowering taxes and initiating pro-growth incentives to businesses throughout the country. Small businesses are responsible for approximately 70% of all jobs in America and by supporting those entrepreneurs we can take immediate action to get the unemployed back to work. History has proven that lowering taxes has increased revenue for the nation, so we must demand that our electorate stop playing politics with our children's future and stop indebting our grandchildren with a tax and spend ideology that simply doesn't work.

National Security

Since its inception, our country has been a bright beacon of hope and a symbol of freedom to oppressed people everywhere. The blood of our troops is spilled almost every day in the cause of liberty and democracy, and for this we ask nothing in return, except, in the words of General Colin Powell, "…enough ground to bury them in." We must never forget that many of the finest men and women in the world, the troops of the United States of America, are scattered around the globe, providing security and humanitarian aid to millions of people less fortunate than we. Not a day should go by without thinking of them and praying for their safe return – and I do both daily.

Energy and Environment

New Yorkers face rising energy costs and environmental pollution from an ineffective marketplace, aging infrastructure, inefficient buildings, and growing demand. That's why we must make smart investments in alternative energies offering clean power and energy-saving technologies to reduce our energy bills and our environmental impact. It is also important to ensure that our environmental goals coincide with our economic realities. I call this "conscientious environmentalism".

Afghanistan

We must accept both the kinetic, and non-kinetic requirements for stability in that region; also known as "hard" and "soft power," we must deal with the fact that a U.S. presence in Afghanistan will be needed for years to come. The bottom line is that Afghanistan is a long term project that will include building and teaching (soft power), but those builders and teachers will need to be kept safe by soldiers (hard power) and anything less will result in failure.

Our only chance of preventing the Taliban from waiting out our eventual withdrawal and returning to power is to teach the Afghan people that they have alternatives and options outside of growing poppy for warlords. If we do not provide education and economic options, then history is doomed to repeat itself.

Healthcare

Well, they went and did it. Despite overwhelming public opinion against their scheme, the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Democrats rammed the first step towards socialized medicine through Congress and into law. While there is some hope that lawsuits filed by Attorneys General from across the country may lead to the Supreme Court overturning the law, we continue our fight in Congress to stop this out of control program. You can count on me to lead the charge in repealing and replacing this legislation with common sense reform.

U.S. - Isreal

Relationship A homeland, a place to seek safe refuge, is not a luxury but rather a fundamental right. As Congressman for NY’s 13th Congressional District, I continue to be a steadfast and resolute advocate of that very basic principle which guides the special relationship between the United States and Israel. As a former Marine combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm, I have experienced the unique relationship that our countries enjoy and thus it is without hesitation that I support and promote strengthening the necessary bond between America and Israel; a bond that has been established through the common tenets of liberty, freedom and desire for peace. The Jewish State of Israel is an essential ally and partner of the United States that shares the ideals of democracy that transcends politics and physical borders alike.