• Economic Growth through Jobs Promotion, Small Business Supports, reduction in needless regulations and Tax Reform to help citizens.

• Affordable and Accessible Healthcare with Public and Mental Health Supports including Malpractice Reform.

• Educational Options focusing on adequate academic preparation and Drop-Out Prevention.

• Home Place Security making a difference in the lives of citizens through Immigration     Reform, Eminent Domain Protections and Equal Justice for all citizens.

 10 Home Remedies

1. Balanced Budget - As now conceived, the state of North Carolina too often robs Peter to pay Paul.  The Highway Trust Fund should only be used for vital infrastructure repairs such as our bridges like the one over the Yadkin River.  A study examining how to protect the historic nature of the Ellis St. Bridge adjacent to the Rowan Schools General Administration Building should be done so that it can be repaired and made safe.
        Tolls and highway tax monies should be used to make us a Good Roads State again. The Highway Trust Fund money should be used exclusively for its projects.  The move to take the transfer tax from the Highway Trust Fund and place it permanently in the General Fund should not be supported. 
        This state has too many roads, bridges and other substantive infrastructure in critical need of fixing to dare tamper with the Highway Trust Fund.  Building a toll bridge over the Yadkin River will divert too much traffic through the town of Spencer.  The criticality of fixing this structure says we may need to consider a bond for this and address other pressing environmental safety issues ASAP.
    

2. Educational Reform – If we are to truly leave No Child Behind, we must allow for educational options which place children in the most efficient and effective learning environments.  I am a big supporter of the public school system. We must however look at the needs of children who learn differently. We should be committed to finding what works best all children, measure its effectiveness and use it whether alternative schools, home schools or specialized magnet and charter schools. 
        Programs such as the Workforce Investment Act offer great insight into how we may better serve and help our dropouts.  Second Chance Initiatives must be done to allow displaced workers without a diploma and felons (who have served their time and committed non-violent crimes) an opportunity to complete the equivalent of a high school education (Guilford County does this) as well as be employed.  This should be viewed as an optional source of labor for that work people in this nation illegally are doing. Incarceration without any measure of rehabilitation is going to cost more than we have to spend.
        The focus in North Carolina is on those who are going to college which affects less than 40%. Others need some career choices from vocational education to technician training to service aides.  Military service should also be consider an option for those needing discipline and training.
        Education already consumes 60% of the tax revenue for this state.  Teachers deservedly earn every dime and nickel they make.  Though we would all love to spend more here, we must get more efficiency from the system so that our pledged entitlements and retirement funds are adequately maintained and the shameful borrowing from their pension fund halted.  For more information, see my extended Position on Educational Reform here.
    

3. Eminent Domain – Property owners should be secure in knowing that their property will not be taken from them to be given to a private party for that party’s personal gain.  I would support a State Constitutional Amendment protecting property owners from this infringement on their rights.
        I believe that forced annexation to increase adjoining communities tax bases should not be had without a hearing and vote from those to be annexed.
    

4. Energy Development/Environmental Stewardship – North Carolina can lead the way in “Green Technology.”
    

• The NC Office of Sustainability has begun the effort with porous asphalt for roads to decrease catchments basin run-offs, oil and tire recycling, and other creative ways of looking at our environment.

• Our seasons make us the right place for solar and wind energy.  Our engineering schools give us a competitive edge in hydrogen fuel cells, water power, and other future focused options.  The potential for new jobs in energy is limitless.

• Recycling must be a part of our energy plans.  On a larger scale we should give tax breaks and dividends for building, mall and land conservation as we reuse what we have cast aside as fertilizer for regentrification of our state.

• Desalination technology is already being applied in Israel where the deserts blossom.  As we struggle with issues of drought and our neighbors begin to consider borrowing or diverting water for their purposes, the legislature needs those of us with training in environmental concerns.

5. Health Care—Affordable and Accessible Health Care for all is a must with responsible malpractice tort reform, preventative directed public and mental health services and a focus on restoring the patient and health care provider to the center of the health care bureaucracy.  Medicines can and must be made cheaper for all citizens not just the elderly.
        Every county in this and other states have public health departments which could be expanded to provide baseline services in preventative care, immunizations, screenings and mental health services.  In rural areas homemaker care could provide rehabilitative services allowing people to remain at home with their families rather than be placed in nursing care facilities.  The refocusing of public health departments would arm us to additionally deal with bioterrorism or outbreaks on a state and local level as well.  For more information, see my extended Position on Health Care here.
    

6. Illegal Immigration – Our system of dealing with those in this country illegally is broken and “The Rule of Law” must be followed.  Securing our borders is a priority as is compliance with laws on hiring for employers across the nation.  Those imprisoned who are in this country illegally must be deported.  For more information, see my extended Position on Illegal Immigration here.
    

7. Marriage Amendment –Marriage should be the union of one man and one woman at one time.  This type of provision is not about discrimination against any one person or group, but is seen as an attempt to protect the children of such a union.  This amendment would negate common law, bigamous and other marital arrangements.
        The much publicized fiasco involving renegade Fundamentalist Mormon sects has clearly demonstrated the failures of genetic kinship tracing which makes it difficult to tell kinship ties and determine who the true parent is of children so involved.  In this same vein, I have long advocate a constitutional amendment making 18 the legal age of adulthood which would criminalize marriages to underage girls and the resultant sexual abuse which may occur.  For more information, see my extended Position on Marriage here.
    

8. Second Amendment/Right To Bear Arms—The constitutional right to own and bear arms is an individual right.  I trust that the US Supreme Court in its present deliberations will uphold this.  For more information, see my extended Position on the Second Amendment here.
    

9. Taxes -- Taxes should be used mainly for those things they were collected to do.  The borrowing from other designated and targeted funds to balance the budget avoids taking a look at excess spending and requiring performance accountabilities before continuing funding on existing program.
        A flat tax in which all bear the cost proportionately is fairer than increasing property taxes which may force those with fixed incomes or low incomes from their home.  A National Sales Tax disproportionately hits the poor since it is really a consumption tax.  I do not favor a tax on food.

• Require that any any cut in taxes must be accompanied by a cut in spending.
• Redeploy any federal tax savings to protect and secure Social Security.
• Continue the elimination of dual taxation starting with that on Social Security, which will pay dividends for more Americans than other proposals.
• Exempt first responders and licensed teachers making less than $35,000/year from federal taxes.
• Give businesses a tax break for hiring those in need of a second chance, e.g. those on public assistance, the long term unemployed, those over 50 unable to find work, those laid off, and those released from the penal system.