|
This information is provided by the candidate
Platform of Candidate Scott Orren
Winning Voters Trust...through positive and proven leadership; a track-record of integrity, honesty and humility; and through being held accountable for proposals which will always have measurable objectives.
Winning the War on Terror ...with immediate priority given to securing the southern border because our government's most solemn duty is to keep its citizens safe.
Ushering in an Ownership Era ...through entitlement reform
because a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit will keep our economy strong and provide more opportunities for workers and families.
Protecting Our Families ...through the defense of traditional marriage because we respect the family's role as a touchstone of stability and strength in an ever-changing world.
Homeland Security - Formation of the Department of Homeland Security was the most significant reorganization of the federal government since 1947. We must ensure it becomes more effective, both in the War on Terror and in Domestic Security. Continued improvement in cross-agency coordination and information sharing must continue, and any new laws or changes to existing laws (ie Patriot Act) must keep these tenants. I believe this agency will continue to be very effective on the War on Terror.
The Department has not yet focused on Border Security with the same commitment or sense of purpose. The lack of border security is a critical vulnerability to our citizens and we must get beyond the debate and take action. It is unforgivable that ordinary American citizens have had to take such an active and dangerous role in securing our borders. The Federal Government has been wholly absent and has abdicated its responsibilities. This must not stand. I will propose acting with these priorities:
- Completely close all illegal accesses to the US, utilizing federal and state agencies and militaries in the short term; automated surveillance and systems in the long term
- Find ways to provide all levels of law enforcement powers to arrest illegal immigrants and return them to their country of origin.
- Remove all federal funding to those programs that provide incentives for illegal immigrants to break our laws (housing, medical care, subsistence)
- Enact laws that prohibit taxpayer monies at the state and local levels from being spent on programs that support illegal immigrants (requirements to print multi-language government documents; requirements for bi-lingual government employees; government instructions for workers compensation)
- Apply trade sanctions to Mexico and other governments until they cease supporting illegal immigration.
The illegal immigrant situation is significantly impacting the ability of our social services to provide for those legal American citizens who are in the most need. The medical and educational systems are overburdened today and it is in large part due to the presence of illegal aliens who do not have a right to use them. We must return to the rule of law in all areas and not let political correctness override one of the hallmarks of American democracy.
National Defense - America's men and women in uniform are the best in the world. They are the embodiment of the American spirit and deserve our unwavering and full support. We must provide the materials and personnel to allow our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to persevere in the face of hardships and family sacrifice. There is still much hard work ahead and so we must do our best to provide assistance and comfort to military families so that our warfighters can remain focused on the task at hand and not have them worry about their families on the home front. I will work for the following:
- Increases in pay on a graduated scale, targeting higher pay for enlisted personnel and critical specialties.
- Increases in housing and services for families, improving on-base living conditions and "zeroing" the gap between housing allowance and "off-base" costs.
- Improving medical care and its delivery to our service men and women and their families
We can easily pay for these increases by reforming DoD's acquisition policies and procedures. Also, there are millions of dollars wasted every year through the political infighting and indecision between DoD and Congress. I will be proposing the following changes:
- Reforming the budgeting process to allow DoD to set long-term priorities and then stay with them, starting by converting to a biennial process from an annual process. The continual budget battles cause unnecessary fluctuations in defense program plans, resulting in contract cancellations, renegotiations and reduced weapons system performance at higher costs.
- Discovering and eliminating the duplication of capabilities between the services. DoD has established requirements processes, but these processes are not effective in finding duplication. DoD and Congress must reorganize the budget process to align capabilities with funding.
Entitlements - Effective government is based on a system of limited taxes and spending. Furthermore, the federal government should be limited and restricted to the functions mandated by the United States Constitution. The taxation system should not be used to redistribute wealth or fund ever-increasing entitlements and social programs. Social Security needs to be strengthened and enhanced for our children and grandchildren. I remain committed to the principles the President has outlined:
- Anyone now receiving Social Security, or close to being eligible for it, is guaranteed that their benefits will not be cut and their taxes will not be raised. Social Security is a promise made by this country to its citizens and I will keep that promise.
- Key changes to Social Security should merit bipartisan agreement so all improvements are a win for the American people rather than a political victory for any one party.
- Personal retirement accounts must be the cornerstone of strengthening and enhancing Social Security. Each of today's workers should be free to direct a portion of their payroll taxes to personal investments for their retirement. It is crucial that individuals be offered a variety of investment alternatives and that detailed information be provided to each participant to help them judge the risks and benefits of each plan. Today's financial markets offer a variety of investment options, including some that guarantee a rate of return higher than the current Social Security system with no risk to the investor. Doing nothing is not an option. We must keep faith with both the past and the future by strengthening and enhancing Social Security. We believe that everyone who participates in the Social Security program should use legal and accurate identification.
Defense of Marriage - I strongly support President Bush's call for a Constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage between a man and a woman. The Republican platform states, "We believe, and the social science confirms, that the well-being of children is best accomplished in the environment of the home, nurtured by their mother and father anchored by the bonds of marriage. We further believe that legal recognition and the accompanying benefits afforded couples should be preserved for that unique and special union of one man and one woman which has historically been called marriage. After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization, the union of a man and a woman in marriage. Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a Constitutional amendment, passed by the Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges."
Imminent Domain - The courts have again let down the American people with the recent ruling allowing government to take private property and pass it to another private entity. This is by far the greatest direct challenge to our Constitution the Judicial system has attempted. I will propose laws to reverse this decision and shore up Americans core right to own their own home and destiny.
Other areas of importance - Reduce government size and spending; litigation reform; reduce dependence on foreign oil; and strengthening our communities.
I am proposing an agenda that is forward looking, no non-sense, and gets the job done that the American people have been asking for. I will lead with strength, passion and proven experience. I want to be an example of integrity, courage, accountability and compassion. These are the attributes my campaign and candidacy stands for and will measure its success by.
|
![[photo]](orren_s.jpg)
