Support our Troops
Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines fight bravely every day. Our troops continue to flawlessly execute a flawed strategy. Both our nation and our troops deserve an effective plan for winning the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The human, financial, and global instability costs do not justify prolonging these conflicts. Absent a clear, concise mission and effective rules of engagement, Mike supports bringing the troops home. See more about Mike's stand on this issue.
National Security
Americans deserve nothing less than secure borders, ports and harbors. The uncontrolled nature of our southern border leaves San Diegans physically and economically at risk for terrorist attacks. Mike will use his extraordinary national security training and experience to achieve Congressional consensus and get us the protection we need.
Immigration Reform
First and foremost, America's immigration policies must be designed to serve the best interests of our country. America’s interests are not served by having laws on the books that we refuse to properly fund and enforce. Mike will work to create legislation that maximizes national security, facilitates orderly legal immigration, and respects human dignity.
Stop Runaway Spending
America’s record national deficit now exceeds $9 trillion dollars. We are recklessly gambling with our economic viability and mortgaging our children’s future. Mike will insist on a balanced budget approach to government. He is committed to accomplishing America’s priorities within the framework of common sense and fiscal restraint.
Honor our Mothers and Fathers
We must live up to our moral obligations to our seniors. We have a responsibility to keep our promises to these valued and vulnerable citizens. Mike is passionate about fixing our current Medicare and Social Security dilemmas. He is committed to creating bipartisan consensus and tackling the issues head-on.
Closing the Educational Gap
America’s future prosperity in a global economy will be determined by our ability to keep professional jobs at home. We must correct the current educational achievement gaps with international competitors like India and Japan. Underfunding “No Child Left Behind” was an “all talk, no action” disservice to our dedicated educators, to our children, and to the future of our great nation. Mike supports meaningful initiatives that provide greater resources and facilitate parental responsibility.
Made In America
Manufacturers have exported our jobs to capitalize on cheaper labor and fewer safety restrictions. The trade-off for middle class Americans is supposed to be “more bang for the buck.” But what we have so far is unfair trade practices, fewer job opportunities, poisoned pet food, poisoned people food, poisoned toys, and hazardous tires. Mike will advocate for fair, safe and sensible trade practices.
Conservation
"Of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us." One hundred years ago President Theodore Roosevelt knew this to be true, yet we continue to fail in our stewardship obligations. Mike takes human-generated climate change seriously. He will support global greenhouse emission limits and champion higher federal standards for clean air and water. See more about Mike's stand on this issue.
Reproductive Freedom
Despite Mike’s personal beliefs about pregnancy termination, the federal government must not intrude into the intensely private reproductive decisions women make with their doctors. The law is clear and should be fully supported. Mike supports programs aimed at making it less frequent, yet safe.
Marital Licensing
A marriage license is a states’ rights issue. Mike will not support a Constitutional Amendment to prevent same sex marriage. The forum for deciding social norms and mores is properly kept within the sovereignty of individual states. We must respect that what’s right for Massachusetts might not be what’s right for Texas.
