What's the single best thing you can do with regard to the health care legislation passed in 2010?

As a nurse, I have seen firsthand how broken our health insurance system is and doing nothing was not an option. I do not think the law is perfect. In Congress I will work to properly implement the parts of the law that are good policy, providing the appropriate oversight and accountability, and work to repair or eliminate the provisions of the law which are flawed. Providing the oversight and accountability that is necessary to makes sure the law works in the best interest of the American people is the single best thing I can do to support the health care law. We must look forward and work with the law. What we don’t want to do is turn back the clock by supporting the Republican agenda of giving power back to the insurance companies and once again deny our families health care.

The best single thing I could do with regard to the health care legislation is not fund it. I do not support the Federal Health Care Program. People should be able, without any tax penalties, to purchase their own health care and have the same tax deductions for insurance premiums that companies have when offering health insurance to their employees. Health insurance should be completely portable. The Health insurance companies should have the option of creating a risk pool from some of their premium funds from the individuals. Many of them are already doing this. The individual State High Risk Pools are funded by insurance company money so this may be a redundant recommendation, but more could be done to make these pools less expensive. The Insurance companies should continue to give financial incentives, like lower premiums, to encourage people to be healthier and proactive with their health. We should allow private health co-ops to be formed for those who want to do so. Healthcare is not the responsibility of the government – it is the responsibility of the individual. Further, if Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are all in financial dire straits, how in the world can the government expect to pay for a national health care program? We need to focus on our current obligations before we take on additional responsibilities that we as a nation are unable to fund.

Should we focus on cutting the deficit and reducing the national debt? Why or Why not?

Yes, we should focus on paying down our national debt and reducing government spending. Finding savings within the national budget should be taken seriously and done with deliberate consideration. The budget needs to be looked at carefully, eliminating wasteful spending, and making cuts across multiple areas that are fair and necessary. Eliminating unnecessary spending is imperative to reducing our national debt and providing offsets for future spending.

Should we focus on cutting the deficit and reducing the national debt? Why or Why not?

We need to reduce it. The current line of thinking and plan of action is that if the government spent money they did not have (deficit spending) then the extra money pumped into the system would make its way around to the individual and they would eventually spend it. This would bring us out of the recession. However, this is assuming that Americans want to continue on their spending binge, and I don’t think they do. In fact Americans are shedding debit. In July, debt reduction was at 10.3%, the largest annual amount since 1975. All the current strategy is doing is taxing the system further and extending the recession. Americans are balancing their budgets, so does our government.

Earmarks: Do they do more help or harm to the government spending process? What changes — if any — would you want to see to the earmark process?

Any excessive spending by the government hinders our ability to pay down the deficit. Although earmarks make up less than 1% of government spending, it is important to assure any spending by the government is efficient, necessary, and in the best interest of the American people. In Congress, I will work to fight wasteful earmark spending, and support responsible use of taxpayer money.

Earmarks: Do they do more help or harm to the government spending process? What changes — if any — would you want to see to the earmark process?

We currently have one of the largest deficits in memory and we need to balance the budget. That means making the hard choices between what we need and what we want. We cannot fund anymore earmarks. I would like to see earmarks disappear.

What can you personally do, if elected, to help improve our economy?

Reduce taxes to allow people to have more of the money that they earned, reduce spending to show that the government needs to be as responsible with their money as they are. We are recovering from an overspending binge. We haven’t lost our taste for the good things, just not willing to insert our hands into the bonds of debt to get there. In 2006 the savings rate was actually less than 0%, now we are at 7%. Our economy is not just made up of banks and financial institutions; it’s made up of people and their attitudes. No one can successfully force someone in a box and assume they will spend because you dangle enough carrots. We have realized as a nation that the cost of long term future pain is simply not worth the short lived joy of immediate gratification. The best thing the government can do at this point is stand back and let the economy right itself.

Although our economy is recovering, it is not recovering fast enough. In Congress I will be a strong advocate for small business and closing tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas. Americans want good paying, secure jobs, that cannot be outsourced to foreign countries. I will fight to see that jobs are created in America, and stay in America. I will also continue to support the middle class tax cuts and tax breaks for small businesses.

How can you improve the atmosphere in Washington, with regards to elected officials from both parties working together to find the best solutions for America?

One thing I hear over and over during my campaign is that the people of the 3rd District, and the American people as a whole, are tired of the partisan bickering in Washington. In Congress, I will work across the aisle on bipartisan issues. Even if legislators sometimes disagree, progress is not achieved by constant fighting between parties. Civility needs to be restored in Congress, and I represent the civility and moderate voice Washington needs.

How can you improve the atmosphere in Washington, with regards to elected officials from both parties working together to find the best solutions for America?

We need to take the anger out of politics. Anger generates a lot of energy and is a terrific motivator. Both parties have been using this and fear to get people to vote. Educating the voter can be tedious and let’s face it not many people get fired up listening to well thought out rationale. I hope I have demonstrated throughout the campaign I don’t get involved with needless mudslinging or knee jerk slogans, I have just answered the question asked. One of the keys to working well with your coworkers is not insulting them constantly.