Issue Position: Upholding Our American Rights
Issue Position
Upholding Our American Rights
WHERE I STAND
Taking Back our Democracy
Today, Washington is not working for the people it's supposed to serve. Drug company lobbyists write legislation that guarantees hefty profits for drug companies, but leaves taxpayers footing the bill. Oil companies get billions in tax breaks and collect record profits, while we pay record prices at the gas pump. Even worse, members of Congress trade legislative action for campaign contributions and special favors.
It's undermining our democracy. And it has to stop. I am committed to bringing Southern Arizona values and ethics to Washington. To restore public confidence we need to change the way Congress does business and we must also ensure a fundamental principle of our democracy - that every vote be counted.
My ethics plan includes:
* campaign finance reform that reduces the influence of special interests and puts the American people back in charge.
* tough new restrictions on lobbyist gifts and meals for lawmakers and their staff.
* a closing of the revolving door between Congress and lobbying firms by doubling the "cooling off" period during which former members of Congress are banned from lobbying.
* a requirement that major federal contracts be publicly disclosed and open to fair and aggressive competition.
* comprehensive improvements to our national elections systems to ensure that votes cast by all Americans are accurately recorded. All electronic voting systems must have a voter-verifiable paper audit.
The next Congress must take immediate and decisive steps to restore confidence in the integrity of government. I am proud of my behavior as a member of the legislature, and I will do everything in my power to clean up the House when I am representing Arizona's Eighth Congressional District.
Protecting Our Rights of Privacy
In America, but especially in Arizona, we value the right to privacy and the freedom to live without government interference. From privacy of medical records to privacy of our phone conversations, these are important values to all Americans.
This administration has made decisions about this issue that are contrary to our American ideals. The current administration's position on wiretapping without warrants is wrong and violates our civil liberties. Our laws provide for a robust response from law enforcement when there is cause, and our intelligence courts have almost always backed up the federal government when agents have asked for warrants. We must not fall for the false choice between liberty and security.
Moreover, new technologies have made it easier for unscrupulous interests to invade our personal privacyour financial information, social security numbers, and even our cell phone records are sometimes accessible to criminals or shady businesses. We need:
* a renewed national commitment to the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution which bars "unreasonable searches and seizures."
* tougher laws against identity theft.
* assistance to law enforcement agencies that are investigating identity theft.
* sanctions on companies that sell private information.
* clear policies on gathering information on the private lives of non-suspect American citizens.
What the President and his administration have reportedly done with the massive database of phone records is a breach of confidence of the American people and appears to be unconstitutional. I believe that we can prevent terrorism without ignoring the Bill of Rights.
Equal Rights
As a member of Congress I will work to assure that all Americans have full access to the basic civil rights that are clearly spelled out in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Nothing in the Constitution allows Congress or any other body of government to deny basic human rights based on race, gender or sexual orientation. Congress must not make any law that creates a separate, unequal set of laws for any population regarding their basic rights.
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