OUR TIME
We live in the most dangerous time for the American Republic since World War II. Our federal government has fallen into the hands of a President and Congress who are taking us into uncharted economic waters with incomprehensible spending and unconscionable deficits. To many people, it seems the government instituted to protect individual liberty has now become its greatest threat.
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THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT
The Declaration of Independence, states that the purpose of government is the protection of our God-given unalienable rights, which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  No other purpose can overrule this function.
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TAXES
My first order(s) of business in Washington D.C will include (a) sponsoring or co-sponsoring legislation that would require that members of Congress, the Executive and Judicial branches all live by the same laws as all citizens of the United States; (b) sign on to the Fair Tax comprehensive proposal (HR25) and work diligently to promote and adopt a simple and fair single-rate tax system that taxes us only on what we choose to spend on new goods or services, not on what we earn.

I’m look forward to joining with fellow conservatives that also favor eliminating the current Internal Revenue Code!
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NATIONAL SECURITY
The primary legitimate function of the Federal government is national security. I believe in a strong military that is well funded and second to none.

Terrorists and terrorism must be dealt with swiftly and severely. It is unacceptable that terrorists be given Miranda rights and tried in civilian courts.  With that said, there is one provision in our Constitution that follows the directive that congress shall have the power to declare war.  It continues with this:  “ … grant issue letters of marque and reprisal.”  I believe this was their answer to terrorists in their day – pirates – instead of fielding whole armies.  In other words, the hiring of mercenaries to hunt down renegades not tied directly to a particular nation.

George Washington warned about foreign alliances, interventions and entanglements. That was good advice to safeguard our national security and we should always consider it carefully. A foreign intervention is justified when it legitimately protects our national security, following a declaration of war by the congress.
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NSA, PATRIOT ACT, DOMESTIC SPYING
There is not ever a justification for the mass surveillance of the American citizenry that we have been subjected to since passage of the Patriot Act, including the unlawful acts of the NSA. This violation of our 4th Amendment rights is unacceptable, and must be stopped.  It infringes on our civil liberties, run contrary to democratic principles and chills our First Amendment right to free express.

I’ve taken action on this, signing on to a coalition letter to President Obama calling for an end to the mass spying, including the collection and retention of telephone records and Internet communications. We also call for a full public disclosure of the intelligence community’s mass surveillance practices.
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VETERANS
I stand behind our veterans.  The very least we owe each and every one of them is the absolute finest care for their wounds and service related disabilities suffered while in the service to their country. 
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AGRICULTURE
The American farmer is fully capable of feeding this nation. Excessive governmental regulation and micro-management threatens this capability. Farmers must be left free to innovate and produce without unnecessary and intrusive regulations.
As a second generation farmer, I know how the death tax infringes on the ability of farmers to pass on their family businesses to younger generations and has led to complete liquidation of agricultural assets accumulated through lifetimes of hard work just so farm families can pay the IRS. This tax burden undermines American farmers and our ability to feed ourselves. Protecting our farms is critical to our national security.

I also believe there is nothing government can do for us that we can’t do for ourselves.  That is why I stopped taking subsidy crop insurance 4 years ago.  I do not want to be on the hook and beholding to government.  I gave the proceeds of my last payment to a veterans fund.
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RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to keep and bear arms. Our founding founders stated in many different ways that an armed citizenry is the best defense against crime and tyranny. I will not support any legislation that seeks to undermine the right to keep and bear arms. Instead, I will propose and support legislation to repeal many of the unnecessary infringements already imposed on our law-abiding citizens.
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THE ECONOMY
I believe in the free market and free enterprise. Excessive regulation and taxation suppresses the private sector's ability to create wealth. Our economy works best when our citizens are allowed to keep the fruits of their own labor. With lower taxes, businesses have more money to invest and create jobs.  Government doesn’t create wealth or jobs.

I have signed a written pledge to you that I will oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes, or any budget – regardless of party – that increases the scope and size of government, so much as a dollar.  And, I will work with other real conservatives to find ways to begin slashing the runaway government.  I also will make every effort to decrease the regulatory burden on business.

We must stop handicapping American companies through one-sided international trade agreements that pick winners and losers.
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HANFORD CLEAN UP
Currently, the tangled bureaucratic web that reaches from the Potomac to the Columbia via the Department of Energy continues to stymie efforts for a permanent solution at Hanford.
The safety of our communities demand that we find a way to get this massive cleanup done effectively and within our lifetime. We can do this if we have the will.

The bureaucracies involved must provide government oversight, not interference. Count on Congressman Didier to effectively block the red tape and provide new energy to complete the task.
The Hanford facility and the good people that have worked there over the years have played an important role in defending the free world. Hanford's involvement in our national defense in years past make it a federal issue today. Sacrifices to our environment here in the Pacific Northwest remain a part of the collateral damage of World War II. It’s only right the entire nation steps up with resources to allow the Columbia Basin community to complete this undertaking. I believe, however, that it can and must be done utilizing existing tax revenues.
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ENERGY POLICY
A thriving economy requires energy, and plenty of it. This includes oil, coal, nuclear, and hydroelectric systems. Alternative energy sources like wind, solar and bio fuels should be encouraged, but not at the expense of our present energy resources. We need to continue to utilize our abundant and affordable fuel sources until free market technology and innovation provide realistic and affordable solutions to our energy needs.

I have grave concerns involved with the staggering costs of Cap-and-Trade regulations and their potential to cripple our struggling economy.

Reasonable safety regulations concerning the use and extraction of energy resources is appropriate and of benefit for both workers and the public.  Likewise, reasonable environmental regulation is appropriate. But striving for perfection must not become the enemy of good and reasonable policy, and regulation must not be allowed to stifle or shut down the U.S. economy.  I have not seen any scientific information yet which compels me to cripple our economy for the sake of those who believe otherwise.  So far, most scientific claims remain theoretical.

Our dependence on foreign oil is not only unnecessary, but unwise, and seriously undermines our national security. We need to drill for oil on American lands - and do it now. This will simultaneously defund our enemies and put Americans to work. We have huge oil deposits and the proper technology to extract oil responsibly. I fully support the Keystone Pipeline Project.
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FEDERAL SPENDING
The Obama administration and the liberals of both parties in Congress have driven the government's debt and deficits beyond imaginable levels. They have broken every rule of sound economic policy. Left unchecked, their policies will inevitably lead to a fiscal meltdown.

We cannot “stimulate” our economy by spending more than we’re taking in.  History and common sense instructs us we cannot spend our way out of debt.  The bailout and stimulus packages were failures in my view and portray political cronyism at its best.  We are courting long-term economic devastation and potentially enslaving our children and grandchildren to pay the incurred debt.

Our founders warned against a “welfare state” where the government undertakes to provide for every person from the cradle to grave. I look forward to opportunities to help reduce or eliminate bureaucracy, and shrink government growth and spending.
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GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT
Ronald Reagan said it best when he remarked: “The closest thing to eternity is a government program.” In 1960 there were about 100 government agencies. Today, there are well over 1,200. Give back control and power to the states and to local level governments – along with the money – that is what I will work for!
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HEALTH CARE
Several of my Republican opponents are saying they will repeal Obamacare and replace it with a Republican plan.  In other words, replace one socialist program for another.

I will work to repeal Obamacare, and leave healthcare decisions to people and to the states.  Only free market policies that increase competition and individual choice will achieve greater efficiency and affordability for all Americans.

A recent survey of our 4th District voters found 69% remain opposed to the federal health care mandate and they strongly oppose any government bureaucracy putting itself between patient and doctor.

I will fight for free market solutions that increase choice and accessibility.
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IMMIGRATION
We are a nation of immigrants. The debate and problems we have today are not about legal immigration, but illegal immigration! This debate is also a matter of national security. We must secure our borders first and foremost – before any other discussions. We are a nation of laws; therefore, we first need to enforce our existing immigration laws.

Second, we need to revamp and reinstitute our “guest-worker program” which offers temporary visas for those wishing to come from other countries to work as seasonal workers. Washington’s farmers have a need for seasonal agriculture workers. However, any guest worker program should never provide amnesty of illegal aliens or a fraudulent cover for those seeking to flout our immigration laws. 
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RIGHT TO LIFE
The Declaration of Independence states that our unalienable rights include "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and "That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men." Therefore, it is the express job of government to protect all innocent human life.  Once it begins to sanction murder at any level, then all lives are in jeopardy.
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MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
I believe that family begins with a marriage between one man and one woman. When we legally recognize the right of individuals to live freely outside the institution of marriage, we weaken the traditional family unit headed by a husband and wife, which undermines the very cornerstone of our society.
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