A $6.3 billion budget which relies on stimulus money from the federal government, a one-time source of income, is simply setting Iowans up for a tax increase in the future. While the current governor and majority party wrapped borrowing over $700 million in the cloak of jobs and flood relief, the truth is this: Borrowing from our children, increasing taxes on future generations (and by attempting to end federal deductibility), and spending our way to prosperity is misguided policy. Let's make government leaner, more efficient, and fiscally sound. State government policy should grow business in Iowa for high-paying jobs rather than spending taxpayer money in order to supposedly create them.

Sioux City is in a unique position whenever legislation is passed, especially when it concerns businesses and taxation. Any time a tax increase or business regulation goes into effect, legislators representing Sioux City must ask themselves, "How will this affect Sioux City's competition with neighboring South Dakota and Nebraska?" What is the bottom line? The tax increases and regulations being made in Des Moines hurt Sioux City. Iowa's has nine income tax brackets (higher than any neighboring state), the single highest corporate tax rate in the nation, and unemployment insurance tax which is over double that of South Dakota's. Legislators have missed a simple rule. When you increase taxes, you lose revenue because fewer payers stay. We have evidence of that again and again as Sioux City residents and businesses decide to locate elsewhere. We all then shoulder an increased burden. Commercial property taxes are the third highest in the country, the Tax Foundation ranks Iowa 45th in business climate, and legislators continue to take aim at Right to Work Laws. These policies drive businesses into neighboring South Dakota and Nebraska, which are Right to Work states. Legislators must have policies that grow high-paying jobs especially given our state's unique position as a border city.

Iowans should have a chance to weigh in on the marriage issue by a vote of whether or not to amend the Constitution to protect traditional marriage. The people, rather than the judicial fiat of the Iowa Supreme Court, have the right to decide this issue. I am also pro-life and believe that a culture of life should be upheld and protected. As Iowans who help our neighbors in need, we ought to come alongside women who wish to give their children life and support them. Finally, while the issues of marriage and life can be contentious, I believe we ought to stand for truth while doing so in the most respectful and civil manner. In doing so our political discourse, rather than simply turning up the heat, can help shed light on the issue.

As a public school teacher, I believe we have an obligation to ensure a first-class education for every child. Currently, our educational funding is disproportionately spent on wasteful overhead. To ensure that funding is focused on our kids, the legislature should mandate that 65% of education funding be spent "in the classroom" rather than on administrative overhead. Schools must also have the opportunity to become more diverse in terms of offering opportunities for students to explore vocational trades in partnership with area community colleges. Schools must be taken back as academic institutions where teachers are respected and our resources are spent primarily on students who are there to learn. Iowa must move towards a state standards based education with written exams and content knowledge being tested as a prerequisite for graduation instead of the current, seriously-flawed ITED tests which are easy to score but woefully inadequate as a measure of a child's educational achievement. The truth is that education is an integral part of reaching a student's potential, helps to drive a creative economy, and, done well, teaches character and integrity. Read On

Every public leader should recognize that a strong and vital economy rests on the backs of its workers. Without skilled tradesmen and professionals--mechanics, plumbers, construction workers, firefighters--cars don't run, shipments are delayed, hotels cannot function, homes and businesses aren't built, and disasters loom. To that end, I am a friend of the working man. Good legislators keep in mind equity, fairness, and respect to all stakeholders which include workers. Legislators must work in such a way that all sides feel there is a balance between hard-working men and women trying to make a living and raise families and cities and school boards who attempt to keep within budgets and hold the line on raising taxes.

Iowa's Right to Work Law, which Iowa has had for 60 years and shares with 22 other states, is vital for three reasons: 1) The law states that one cannot be excluded for employment for being in a union and neither can one be forced to join a union. This is moderate and reasonable, especially given that unions promised to represent non-union members in exchange for the awesome power of collective bargaining. Read On

The immigration issues get mired in misunderstanding. My great-grandparents came from Italy, my wife is from Vietnam, and I believe that our economy and culture has been vibrant because our founding fathers took the Latin phrase E pluribus unum ("out of many one") and made it a reality. I am pro-immigrant, but in order to be one American culture, the official language of government must be English. The state must uphold its own law and keep schools and government institutions in compliance with the law.

They called it "the greatest generation" because of their level of sacrifice. One of my greatest honors in being a teacher at North High is to have introduced our freshman students to veterans and to honor them. Each year, they have seen veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's important that our young people appreciate the sacrifice and patriotism of those who would put their lives on the line and be separated by a painful distance for months (and even years) from their families. Colonel Bud Day inspired many of our students earlier this year by sharing his life story which included his incredible story of surviving in Hanoi by with his deep faith in God and country. Our veterans deserve to have a mandatory mechanism for their funding of health care. They deserve to know that a livelihood will be here when they return from duty. And they deserve the promises we make be delivered upon after they return home. Honoring our patriots is never discretionary. It is fundamental to a healthy and honorable democracy and a state which has throughout history answered America's call of duty.

Roads and infrastructure are an integral part of a vibrant economy, especially in western Iowa. Highway 20 must become a priority both as a safety issue and in order to boost Sioux City's economy. While legislators continue to raise fees and entertain the idea of putting more of a burden on families trying to fill up at the pump, roads must be a priority. The Legislature should not have ended the Vertical Infrastructure Fund but should have been making road funding a priority instead of growing the size of government. With this kind of spending, why weren't roads a priority? Let's send a message to the legislature that with this kind of spending, they don't need to raise more revenue-- representatives need to allocate it properly.