Our top priority must be fixing the economy and creating jobs. Our government is building a national debt at a rate that we can’t afford – we’re leaving our children and grandchildren with a bill for which they shouldn’t be responsible. The first step is to balance the budget. Then, we must grow the economy and hold spending in line in order to bring down the national debt.

Growing the economy requires dedication to traditional American economic values. We must remove barriers so that small business owners can do what they do best – create jobs. We must innovate, as is our heritage, and compete in the global economy. We must create wealth, not distribute it. And we must reduce taxes. Today’s Federal tax code penalizes the wealthy and incentivizes the poor to subsist on entitlement programs. Reducing taxes at all levels of income will stimulate the economy both from the top down (allowing more investment in business and job creation) and from the bottom up (giving people more purchasing power).

Seniors

With more seniors than teens in the workforce for the first time in our nation’s history, it’s clearer than ever that our nation’s retirement system is broken. Instead of retiring in good health to enjoy time with children and grandchildren, people are forced to work longer and harder than ever.

That’s the reason I firmly believe that social security should be protected and the retirement age shouldn’t be raised. But we need to do more. The out-of-control spending by the Democratic Congress puts our entire nation – seniors, hard working Ohioans, children, even those not yet born who will be asked to pick up the tab – in danger. We must cut spending to protect social security.

And we must strengthen what’s offered to seniors, such as ensuring every senior is assured access to their doctor. Medicare policies are making a physician shortage worse, and we must work to ensure a high-quality, prepared, pool of physicians to advise and treat Medicare patients.

The capture of Osama bin Laden was a long time coming, but it symbolized progress is being made in the War on Terror.  Unfortunately, the war was not been won, as evidenced by the shooting down of a heliocopter with over 20 brave soldiers in Afghanistan.  We must continue to be ever vigilant both here at home and overseas.

Keeping our citizens safe will be one of my top priorities. That means depending on military, not political leaders, for strategy. It means that we must fight the war without artificial measuring sticks. And it means treating our enemies as enemies – not as Americans with constitutional rights. I wholeheartedly oppose the prosecution of terrorists in civilian courts.

No country on the planet has ever spilled as much blood of its young on foreign soil for the cause of freedom as has the United States. America’s military is a microcosm of its society at large, and the fact that America’s young are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom and liberty is a testimony to the heartbeat of America. We must support our troops while they’re being recruited, while they’re on active duty, and once they become veterans. That means honoring their commitment by compensating them with quality health care, educational opportunities and benefits.

Gun Rights

Second amendment gun rights are a fundamental right that should and must be protected. Over the last two years, the U.S. Supreme Court has protected gun rights in two substantial cases, but those decisions were close 5-4 victories. We must be unrelenting in our defense of law-abiding citizens to own guns. Furthermore, for Ohioans, we should protect concealed carry laws and expand state-to-state reciprocity.

Pro-life

Strongly pro-life, Bill Johnson is proud to be endorsed by the Ohio Right to Life PAC.

We must move towards the goal of making health care affordable and available for all Americans. This can be done, all while ensuring that patients and doctors – not bureaucrats – are making health care decisions. Instead of “controlling and providing healthcare”, the federal government should be enacting policies that will stimulate competition and innovation through our existing free enterprise system. Steps in this direction include making insurance portable from job to job and state to state. It means tax incentives so Americans can create robust health savings accounts. And it means tort reform to reduce the cost of service by good doctors.

The Cap & Trade bill is bad - for our region and for America. It was rushed to a vote, and could result in higher consumer costs and lost jobs. Experts predict that it will raise the average cost of utilities by $1,100 per year for families across Ohio; and, that the cost of living will increase by approximately $7,000 per individual annually.

Research into alternative forms of energy (and production) such as clean coal, natural gas, solar and wind power should be fostered, but that research requires private investment and years to develop. America has our own natural energy resources, and we should begin using them. Absolutely we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil, perhaps oil all together, but we shouldn’t penalize Ohio families in the meantime.

Ohioans have faced scandal after scandal. Every officeholder must commit to a higher level of ethics. Elected officials have an awesome responsibility; and, they should willingly accept accountability as well. That means holding officeholders to a higher standard than private citizens.