Issues!

Pro-Life and Pro-Family – I’m a pro-life conservative.  I believe the family is the backbone of our society and must be protected.

Small Business Growth – Small business growth is very important to our community.  The state needs to create an economic environment that is friendly to small business growth.  The better our small businesses develop the more local citizens they employ.  I’ve talked to small business owners from across Saline County and the state.  One of the things almost all of them mentioned was the lack of support they received when they were first starting their business.  They didn’t mean financially, but simply information.  I will work to make sure the state, through business labs, provides the kind of help that these small business owners need to be successful. 

Taxes – We must lower taxes.  Arkansas taxes our money as it comes in (income tax), as it goes out (sales tax), and as we own our property (property tax).  Lower taxes will encourage business growth and economic development.  I propose we need an immediate reduction of the income tax.  There was a bill introduced in the last legislative session that would reduce the income tax every time there was a budge surplus.  This makes sense to us the taxpayers.  If the government has more money than what it needs, then the government should take less from us the taxpayers.  However, many of our “tax and spend” friends in the legislature must be disconnected from the everyday taxpayer because this bill never gained traction.  I pledge to support this bill 100%. 

Cost of Education – I, like many other students, supported my way through college by working at low paying jobs and by taking out loans.  I saw first hand how the financial burden of paying for college is a deterrent to many students and forces others to drop out.  The cost of college should never keep someone from attending.  We need to make sure low-interest loans are available to everyone who needs them to pay for school.  To help alleviate that burden, we should create a state income tax credit to help offset the student loan interest.  If you go to college at any 2 or 4-year university in Arkansas, you will be eligible for this tax credit.   This is a credit, not a deduction!  This will help to keep Arkansas’ college graduates in the state. 

Immigration – If an illegal immigrant commits a crime in Arkansas, the local authorities should be obligated to turn that criminal over to Federal Authorities.  We also must stiffen penalties for businesses who hire illegal residents.  With unemployment at 5.7%, there are too many Arkansans without a job for businesses to be hiring illegal immigrants.  In addition, illegal immigrants should not be eligible for state benefits.  Arkansas spends over $70 million a year on illegal immigrants.  There are tax paying, law-abiding citizens in Arkansas who need our support more than illegal immigrants.

Education –I understand how our education system works and what the schools are doing to prepare our students for life after graduation.  I’ve been around it my whole life.  I’m the son of an elementary teacher, grandson of a former school board member, and the fiancée of a middle school teacher.  We need to do a better job of giving students the skills they need to compete in the job market, provide local employers with skilled dependable employees, and better prepare students for college. There is no better investment in our future, than an investment in education. 

Ethics – Arkansas has never been a hotbed of government ethics.  We should expect the same values from our elected officials as the citizens have.  We need more transparency and should hold our state officials to a higher standard. 

Crime – It is time that reducing crime became a focus of our government.  One place to start is to continue fighting drug use in our communities.  Meth labs are continuing to pop up all across Saline County.  These drug hot spots are arising in both rural areas and suburban communities.  These labs are not only a danger because of the deadly drug they produce, but are a hazard to the community which they’re in.  We need to make certain that our local law enforcement has all of the tools necessary to take down these labs. 

Rural Fire Departments – Every citizen is entitled to quality fire protection.  Just because you might live in a rural area does not mean your fire protection should be insufficient.  One of our government’s responsibilities is to protect its citizens. One way of ensuring this happens is to make sure our rural fire departments have the staff and resources necessary to provide adequate protection.