When I first began the huge undertaking that is a Congressional campaign, I knew that I would bring to the table much more than simple rhetoric or recycled talking points. I knew I could bring a solid, well formulated and thought out plan for this, the new 7th Congressional District. During my recent announcement tour I unveiled this plan. “Seven for Seven”, 7 Conservative Ideas for the 7th District. The name itself is short and to the point but the thought behind this plan runs deep to the core of what’s going on right now in our communities and in our lives. These seven goals I’ve set forth won’t be easy to tackle, especially as a freshman Congressman, but as I have told those around me, “You can always measure a man’s success by the sweat on his brow.” If you do me the honor of electing me as your next Congressman, I will continue to use that tireless work ethic to succeed on your behalf in Washington.

1) Growing our economy We have to make America the best place in the world to do business again. We must make the Bush tax cuts permanent, eliminate the capital gains tax and dramatically reduce the corporate income tax. We need an education plan that ensures our workers are the best in the world; put an end to China’s currency manipulation and make sure products sold to Americans meet the same high quality standards as those made BY Americans; and above all get government out of the way of the small business owners that built this country. The bailouts took care of the businesses that were too big to fail, but it’s the small businesses that do most of the work in America and it’s time we start putting them first.

2) Healthcare Repeal Obamacare. With the election of more conservative congressmen during the last election, the repeal of Obamacare can now become a reality. Then we have to get to the hard work of actually lowering healthcare costs by stopping fraud in the system, giving Medicare participants choices and creating competition that will lower costs. That is a process that I gained valuable insight on as I led the state’s Office on Aging.

3) Securing our borders Not only has the Obama Administration failed to take action on illegal immigration, they have launched an assault on state’s like South Carolina that have taken matters into their own hands to try and protect their citizens from the ills of illegal immigration. The first step in any crack down on illegal immigration must be to stop the problem at its source by sending more resources to the border, including border patrol agents and electronic surveillance (drones and fencing) to reduce the number of people who cross our border under the cover of darkness every night. Then we must reform our visa process, make it much less tempting to illegally cross the border by placing American citizens in jobs currently going to illegals, and crack down on illegal immigrants already in our country.

4) Developing an American energy plan As a matter of national security, America must become energy independent. We must develop our own country’s resources on land and offshore. Here in South Carolina, an estimated $28 billion dollars worth of oil and natural gas are sitting off our coastline, but we can’t touch it because President Obama has issued an executive order banning future development. Developing our own natural resources would add over 8,000 new jobs and over $1 billion dollars to our economy.

5) Cutting taxes and balancing the budget America’s deficit now stands at over $15 trillion dollars… and President Obama says we don’t need a balanced budget amendment. I say we do and if elected, I will make this a top priority. Families have an automatic balanced budget amendment, it’s called a paycheck, and when it’s gone, it’s gone — government shouldn’t be any different. By placing strict limits on spending, we motivate Congress to fund the things that are truly important — like homeland defense — and cut the things that were never meant to be the responsibility of government in the first place.

6) Fundamentally reforming welfare and entitlement programs Our old welfare and entitlement model is failing. It has created generational dependency and has not reduced poverty in America. Our current system has a way of taking good, hard-working people and stripping them of their pride by giving them handouts. We need to help folks find jobs by investing in education, retraining and placement instead of a lifetime of dependence.

7) Overhauling the federal government It’s time to return common-sense to our federal government and shrink the overgrown bureaucracy. Term limits should be instituted on all members of Congress, and we need to get rid of government agencies and programs that aren’t working. On my very first day on the job I will introduce a bill to shorten the session of Congress. I will also offer legislation to cut Congress’ pay by 10% with each two-year term, and enact a retirement plan based on pay during the final two years of service. By cutting Congress’ pay and sending them home as soon as possible we can force them to stop dragging out discussions to the very last second. They need a strict deadline to do the people’s business and get out of Washington!

7 for 7  …   The Plan