Our legislative process has been co-opted by special interests. Bad legislation is passed because it is tied to unrelated bills that must be passed in the interest of national security or other critical issues. Leadership of both parties is responsible for this practice, and this “soft corruption” must be brought to an end. Bills must stand or fall based on their individual merits, and not because they are combined with unrelated legislation that will bring enough support to pass them.

As your Congressman, I will:

• Introduce legislation and changes to House rules requiring every bill to be voted up or down on its own merits, and banning the attachment of non-germane amendments.
• Oppose and expose members of Congress who misuse earmarks.
• Use the earmark process only to appropriate funds to deal with serious disasters in our state which are beyond the state’s financial capability to address.