Education

As a professor at St. Cloud State University, I know the importance of a good education and how it can lead to higher salaries and an increased standard of living for our graduates. I am very concerned about the high cost of higher education and the increased amount of debt that most college students will encumber by the time they graduate. I am also concerned that K-12 school systems are unnecessarily burdened with excessive federal intrusion that decreases educational quality for our children.

Teachers perform at their best when the federal government steps out of the classroom. As a son of a retired special education teacher, I believe in local control of education. Research has suggested that children who attend all day kindergarten are much academically prepared than children who do not.

Healthcare

The rising costs of healthcare is cause for great concern. Some of our citizens are unwillingly placed in a position of having to decide between buying food or lifesaving medicine. Although there is no easy answers to solve the healthcare crisis, one area of healthcare that needs to be overhauled is tort reform. Regrettably, most trial lawyers are opposed to placing limits on malpractice settlements. As a result, outrageous malpractice settlements and frivolous lawsuits have actually increased medical liability premiums for all physicians. This event has affected even well respected physicians with no previous malpractice offenses to relocate or even close their practices.

Increased healthcare premiums from malpractice settlements are often passed down to the consumer. I will fight for healthcare tort reform.

Job Creation, Small Business Support & Development

I was stunned to see recently proposed legislation that would raise taxes on the wealthy to a point where Minnesota would become the HIGHEST taxed state in the nation. As an entrepreneur and a small business owner, I actually "thought twice" about initially filing LLC papers in Minnesota. Because of my love for this state, it was an easy decision.

State government should act as a positive change agent for small businesses and I will work hard to promote small business and economic development. When small businesses suffer, communities suffer as well. Small business is the backbone of Minnesota and I believe Minnesota's dubious distinction as a high taxed state is often a hindrance for new business or businesses looking at relocating to Minnesota.

Core Neighborhoods

The health and vitality of a city's core neighborhoods is essential to a vibrant community. I am very concerned about the deterioration of core neighborhoods over the years. I will support the Minnesota Historic & Community Re-Investment Tax Credit for homeowners who wish to live in a core neighborhood. I also support "This Old House" and other incentives for core neighborhood owners to make improvements to their home.

As I visit with core neighbors, I have also noticed that current laws make it undesirable for homeowners who wish to live in their home and run a bed & breakfast business. High insurance requirements, crime, combined with non-friendly business laws appear to create barriers to rebuilding our core neighborhoods. Hats off to the citizens who have beautified Barden Park!

A State's Responsibility: Protecting Minnesotans!

The Terri Schiavo right to die case was extremely sad on all fronts. Undoubtedly, the events that lead to Terri's death became international news and polarized many Americans. It certainly highlights the importance of a "durable power of attorney" document. Terri's case also illustrates the plight of terminally ill patients and the role of family members and physicians.

I believe that the state MUST ALWAYS take the position of protecting life of the mentally incoherent, the terminally ill, and the life of unborn children. As a spouse of a practicing family practice physician, I strongly believe that doctors should not be able to legally euthanize terminally ill patients. Because of the Terri Schiavo case, I will support legislation that places the state in a position of protecting life of mentally incoherent individuals that do not have durable power of attorney.