Call for Reform, Real Answers

I am running for Congress to make this a better country and restore the American Dream for all of us, especially our children. I refuse to leave my child, or anyone else’s, a world of crippling debt, drug-ridden schools and limited opportunity. I will work for reform and for real solutions, beyond partisan politics, to the everyday problems of all of us who are trying to raise a family and make ends meet.

I an 44 and a native Southern Californian. I live with my wife and daughter in Calabasas. I went to school at Berkeley, Harvard Law School and UCLA business school. I served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and as a White House fellow and special assistant to the Secretary of Defense. For three years, I served California as state director of planning and research and currently sit as the governor’s appointee to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Despite my public experience, most of my life has been in the private sector. I am a businessman and run a company that designs toys. We deal in children’s fantasies. The issues that face us, however, are very real, from education to public safety to taxes. Here’s where I stand and what I’ll fight for:

* A balanced budget that’s fair, and cuts fat and the Washington bureaucracy without destroying muscle. We can’t keep running up the family credit cards and leave it to the kids. It’s irresponsible.

* Lower, simpler and fairer taxes that are equitable to all and reduce waste and the Washington bureaucracy. I think it’s wrong that the average American family pays more in taxes than food, shelter and clothing combined.

* Tough public safety laws, including a redirection of resources to local police, swift justice for perpetual lawbreakers, including an effective death penalty, and getting serious about the war on drugs. I am proud to have been endorsed, among many others, by Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael Bradbury, the California State Sheriffs Assn., the California Peace Officers Assn. and victims’ rights groups.

* Making education a top priority. The two most important things government does are public safety and public education. Education expenses ought to be tax-deductible. We should abolish bilingual education and stop the illegal immigration that is crowding our schools. We should fire every bureaucrat at the Department of Education and start writing checks directly to local school districts, who can make better decisions. I also favor the breakup of the Los Angeles Unified School District, which is too big.

* Immigration reform that makes sense, treats legal immigrants fairly and upholds our proud tradition as a country built on legal immigration. We should do what every other country does and use our armed forces to protect the border and stop illegal immigration. I supported Proposition 187 and believe California must be compensated for the disproportionate impacts of illegal immigration.

* Welfare reform that makes work a priority for those who can, and provides a safety net for those who can’t. I don’t mind helping people who need it. I mind a lot seeing over half of all welfare dollars consumed by the Washington bureaucracy.

* Long-term reform of Medicare and Social Security that saves them from bankruptcy, expands choices (including keeping the current system for those who want it), and preserves these important programs for tomorrow’s generations. The key is incremental, bipartisan change that does not turn the world upside down.

* Helping small business by relieving unfair or ineffective regulatory burdens, reforming the tax code to favor investment, and spurring jobs and growth. I am endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business.

* At the same time, maintaining a quality environment with a focus on parks, open space, and clean air and water. I am proud to be endorsed by the prestigious California Environmental Roundtable.

* Reducing gun violence by keeping guns away from violent criminals and especially children, and by locking up career criminals.

* On abortion, whatever the arguments on both sides, in a free society everyone must be free to choose. The government ought to stay out of these kinds of private decisions, one way or the other.

* In foreign policy, I support a much more coherent assessment of U.S. national interests, which must include strong support for Israel and embattled Armenia, equal access to foreign markets in trade, and a consistent and firm approach to the growing menace of China.

* I support Proposition 209 because I believe discrimination of any kind is fundamentally and morally wrong, no matter for whose benefit.

* Last but not least, all of us in society, not just government, must find a way to reintroduce the notion of personal morality into everyday life.

Every government policy ought to be consciously designed to help Americans and American businesses succeed. Whether the issue is welfare, education or taxes, I favor taking money, power and influence out of Washington and returning it to local communities and families. We will make better, fairer decisions about what to do with our money and lives than any bureaucrat.

It is time to move beyond partisanship and combine compassion and common sense. I believe in a government that helps people who need it and leaves the rest alone. One person can make a difference, if they know the issues and work hard. I am not a career politician and am not going off to Washington to be anyone’s foot soldier. I will serve no one’s interests except our country and the people of this district.