What do I believe?

I believe that in Illinois good people and a promising economy are being held back by bad public policy and out of touch elected officials.

I believe we need the strongest ethics reforms in Springfield, not window dressing and sound bites that sound good back home but do nothing to clean up the systemic corruption that plagues our state. Too many politicians prioritize special interests over hardworking Illinois families, and anyone looking at the legislation coming out of the capitol can see that clear as day.

I believe in term limits and citizen legislators, not career politicians who desperately cling to office.

I believe that life is precious and that we must stand up for the most vulnerable humans, the unborn. We also must stand up for the vulnerable victims of trafficking and violent crime, and we should lock up criminals who endanger our families and poison our communities with illegal drugs, gang activity, and other criminal activity. Too many politicians in Springfield prioritize criminals over their victims and that must end.

I believe we need to make sure our kids can go to safe schools that prioritize students, and when those students graduate they need to be able to read, write, and have the skill sets and knowledge necessary to hold down a job and be a productive member of society.

I believe in the #thinblueline and that we have to make sure our law enforcement personnel have the support and resources they need to protect our families and communities.

I believe in the Second Amendment because it is the cornerstone of all our rights and freedoms.

I believe we need elected officials who don't think government has the right solutions, should have the right solutions, or is the right solution to every perceived problem in the world.

I believe we must always remember that government is not a good replacement for loving parents and a loving family, and that parents and families come before government.

I believe Illinois families should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money. I believe property taxes, gas taxes, and many of the other taxes and fees levied on hardworking people should be reduced and, in some instances, eliminated.

I believe people and business spend money more effectively and more efficiently than government and that there should be serious penalties for politicians that misrepresent the financial condition of pensions, budgets, and how they are spending taxpayer money.

I believe we must create an economic environment that is conducive to growing jobs, growing opportunity, and turning around the Illinois economy. We need to lower the cost of doing business with workers comp reform, tort reform, and regulatory reform. We need to attract businesses and investment so that Illinoisans don't have to flee to other states to find work.

I believe optimism, opportunity, and economic growth will eliminate many of the social problems we are facing in this state, but that bad poor policies in the State of Illinois have reduced those three things for many Illinoisans.

I believe in small government and local control. I believe in the freedom of speech, including speech you may disagree with, and the power of the individual.

I believe that government is getting way too big, and we must reverse this trend before our rights, freedoms, and ability to reach our full potential are snuffed out by suffocating regulations, rules, expenses, and politicians with autocratic streaks.

I believe in transparent and accountable government that answers to the people, not the other way around.

Finally, I believe in God. I believe we are here for a reason and that it is our responsibility and duty to do good with what we have been Blessed with, and that we should endeavor to leave the world a little better off for future generations.

I promise you that my work in Springfield will reflect these beliefs.