Spotlight on the WA 3rd Congressional District

• Native of SW Washington
• Bachelor of Arts, Communications, University of Washington
• Co-Chair, Event Coordinator for Victory 2004
• Legislative Assistant, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, 2005-2007
• Intern, State Senator Joe Zarelli
• Assistant Minority Floor Leader, Washington State House of Representatives, present
• Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, 2007-present

ISSUES:

• Our Number One Issue - Jobs. In the 3rd Congressional District, we have some of the highest unemployment in the country. Southwest Washington families are hurting today, and we need jobs.  Compounding the problem, the United States is the largest borrower in the world. Every year, we sink further and further into debt. For years we’ve been running up debt that our children will have to pay off. If we don’t act now, this debt will stop us from fixing our problems at home and erode our influence around the globe.
  
   
• Healthcare. There are two big problems in our health care system -- costs are rising too fast and a little over 10% of Washington's population doesn't have health insurance. More than anything, rising costs are causing families to lose their insurance coverage. The recent federal health care bill did nothing to lower health care costs. In fact, this $1 trillion bill is projected to raise premiums by 10-13% on families and businesses.  America still needs common sense solutions.
  
   
• National Security. In a post-9/11 era, we know that homeland security can never be taken for granted. Our country remains under continuous threat from radical Islamic terrorism, and complacency is not an option. I strongly oppose the Obama Administration's decision to close Guantanamo Bay and put terrorists on trial in civilian courts. That sends the wrong message to our enemies abroad. As your member of Congress, I will support a robust U.S. military to defeat terrorism and keep the world safe for liberty. That means our brave men and women in uniform have the resources they need to win on the battlefield. We must also care for America’s veterans and especially those warriors who have been injured in the line of duty. As a grateful nation, we can do no less.
  
   
• Government Accountability.For too long, the U.S. Congress has ignored the will of the people, expanding its size and power, increasing government spending, and racking up our national debt. That is unacceptable. The budget-busting nexus between Big Government, Big Business, and Big Labor needs to be broken. We need smaller, smarter government and a bipartisan commitment to balancing the budget without raising taxes. Federal spending should not exceed the rate of inflation. And the Federal Reserve, which controls America’s money supply, should be audited.
  
   
• Education. There is a growing consensus America’s future prosperity is threatened by an erosion in our educational capabilities. Compared to children in other countries, our nation’s students are underperforming, especially in the vitally important fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Rising powers, especially China and India, are bolstering their investment in education to attract the high-paying jobs of the future. America must rise to the challenge. We need to upgrade our country’s education system by enhancing flexibility, innovation, and accountability. Federal policies should reward schools and teachers that apply effective learning techniques, especially in the vitally important fields of math and science. Our global competitiveness and technological advancement depend on it.
  
   
• Immigration. The first step to meaningful immigration reform is to secure our borders, and as a Member of Congress, I will work to give law enforcement the tools they need to do their jobs.  Any real reform will start by stemming the flow of those entering this country illegally.  I do not support amnesty for illegal immigrants.  We must also make it tougher on those here unlawfully, which is why as a state legislator I have opposed this state’s practice of issuing drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants.