Sustainable Energy Independence

Energy opportunity, not energy crisis

Wyoming must become a national leader in energy policy – not just energy production. It is vital that we find ways to increase our domestic energy production and efficiency, including expanding coal production for 'coal to liquids', developing renewables and nuclear power, and extending our power grid and energy storage capacity. Instead of our current haphazard approach to energy policy, I believe we must create a comprehensive energy road map that targets an end to our dependence on foreign oil.

Increasing domestic energy production means additional stress on our environment unless we plan ahead and diligently focus on stewardship. For Wyoming, that means exploring minimal impact resource development, supporting carbon capture and sequestration programs, and encouraging the development and use of energy efficient technologies to reduce the environmental impacts that occur as a result of our growing energy needs.

As a Chemical Engineer, I know this can be done, and it can be done in a manner that stimulates our economy, reduces the trade deficit, and benefits U.S. and Wyoming industry, the environment, and our national security.

Constitutional Rights

Equality, privacy, and freedom

The people of Wyoming have a deep respect for individual rights, personal privacy, and universal equality. The United States Constitution should be supported in its entirety, not taken a la carte.

All U.S. citizens must be exactly equal in the eyes of the government. Discrimination of any kind, regardless of intention or plurality of support, is unacceptable.

Each of us has the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to defend ourselves and the lives of others without fear of reprisal. The government, at all levels, must respect and preserve the 2nd Amendment, even in times of crisis.

Healthcare

Decrease the costs, increase the coverage.

All Americans must have access to adequate and affordable health care services that highlight preventive medicine. I believe that health care decisions should be made by doctors and patients, not insurance companies or governments.

The Affordable Healthcare for America Act went a long way towards increasing national coverage, but did very little to decrease total costs. These costs have been skyrocketing in recent years. The lack of cost cutting measures at the Federal level provides an opportunity at the State level to find innovative solutions that are appropriate for the people of Wyoming.

Doctors, hospital administrators, health insurance providers, malpractice insurance providers, and consumer advocates must agree upon a solution that would dramatically reduce costs and end the upward spiral of healthcare expenses. Until we control costs, all national coverage solutions will simply shift the expense from our insurance premiums to our income tax or the national debt.

Education for the 21^st Century

Inspire inquiry and innovation.

I want our education system to be the best in the world, rather than a modest top 20. ‘No Child Left Behind’ should be repealed. We need legislation that enables, rather than punishes, our educators. We must inspire inquiry. We must continue to produce the world’s brightest individuals, creative thinkers, and explorers.

We are the innovation engine of the world. We may not be able to make things more cheaply, but we can make them better. That’s why we have the most productive economy in the world. Education is the key to maintaining that leadership. We need to pay our teachers more, keep them highly trained, have them develop curricula for the 21st century, and bring national experts from outside of the educational system into the system to share their experience.

Fiscal Responsibility

Low taxes and lower spending

The strength of our economy in the coming decades will depend on sensible economic policy and effective government spending. We don’t need more taxes; we need to use our money more wisely. Regardless of political party, Wyoming believes in small government, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility.