Platform / Issues
Veterans Day Parade in Olde Towne Bellevue. November 2007.
"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."
~ Abraham Lincoln
This page lays out my positions on issues of concern to Nebraskans. If you are pressed for time right now, feel free to click here to view my responses to a questionnaire regarding my positions. However, I encourage you to return to my Platform page at a later time to learn about my positions in more detail.
I believe the most important duty of a Nebraska State Senator is to pay attention to voters’ concerns and represent their interests so that people have a voice in how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent. By voting in the upcoming election, you can send a message to Lincoln about the policies and programs that affect your life. Instead of letting someone buy your vote with a big advertising campaign, why not elect the candidate who shares your views? To help you compare my platform with those of other candidates, this part of my website lays out my positions on issues that affect all Nebraskans.
If you are planning to visit websites of candidates for any office (or if you have already done so) prior to voting in the 2008 elections, a couple of words of caution are in order. I would be very leery of people whose platform consists of promises to bring "common sense" to their intended office rather than offering substantive positions on issues. They may try to give the impression that they have a lot of political experience when in reality they are unlikely to have a lot of clout prior to the 2008 elections and their experience is sketchy at best. Anyone can send an e-mail to an incumbent politician and receive a response. When candidates write to politicians and post the responses on their websites to make it look as if they are already getting things done, it may be misleading to the public.
First of all, I believe in granting increased freedom to individual citizens while putting more restrictions on government spending. The federal government is a good example of out-of-control spending, with a deficit of 9 trillion dollars that threatens to bankrupt the next generation and erode our national security. If we have no economic strength, we have no military strength. My service as an active-duty U.S. Marine helped me to develop courage, character, and a willingness to take a stand to uphold fairness and justice. I'm running for State Senator because I believe changes are needed and I want to play a part in shaping the future of Nebraska. As State Senator of District 3, my top priority will be to represent the concerns of the people in my district. I am ready to lead, and I can be trusted to represent your interests. I want to take on the political system to get the job done, and I intend to get results within what many believe is a corrupt system.
As your State Senator, I will exercise leadership on behalf of all the people in District 3, unlike self-serving politicians who take their cues from lobbyists, special interest groups, or party “bosses.” To illustrate why change is needed, during most of his term in office the incumbent State Senator of District 3, Mr. Gail Kopplin, introduced only one bill that was successfully passed by the legislature and approved by the governor. This piece of legislation is LB 596, which involves compensation for retired school employees. Senator Kopplin happens to be a retired school administrator. This bill directly benefits the Senator and others in the educational sector, but how does it help his constituents in District 3? It is interesting to note that shortly before the last session of his four-year legislative term ended in 2008, Senator Kopplin engaged in a flurry of activity. He introduced three bills dealing with property tax reductions on residential properties. Two of the other bills he introduced sought to protect our school district. These bills were never passed, but Senator Kopplin is able to tell everyone that he wrote them and to put that information in his campaign advertising and say, "See what I have been working on" when voters want to know why they should elect him for a second term
I want to make it clear that I am not attacking Senator Kopplin on a personal level. I am being honest and straightforward about his performance in the legislature because I believe this information should be made available to the people who voted for him. His personal life is none of my business or anyone else’s, but as an elected official his performance should be open to discussion.
Many people vote along party lines, but I believe State Senators should represent all the residents of their District, not just those who happen to share the same party affiliation. I intend to work on behalf of all the people in my district regardless of whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or any other party affiliation. The Nebraska Legislature is nonpartisan, and State Senators should not be chosen on the basis of party politics. Members of the various political parties need to stop fighting with each other and work together to solve problems that face our state today. I believe cooperation between parties will help to restore the public’s trust and confidence in our state government.
When bills are being made and considered for passage in the Nebraska Legislature, who do you want representing you? Someone who will pretend to listen to you and then do whatever the lobbyists want, or someone who will truly listen to you and take vigorous action on the issues you care about? I believe an elected official should be about action and should care about the people. By electing me as your representative, you will be choosing a successful businessman with the vision to ensure a prosperous future for his fellow Nebraskans. Someone who started out with nothing and within the first 4 years began building a network of independently operated martial arts schools (Christopher N. Geary’s Shaolin Kempo Karate) in Omaha and the surrounding area. Someone who has the dedication, fortitude, discipline, and single-minded commitment to become the youngest person in the U.S. (and second youngest in the world) to achieve the rank of 10th Degree Black Belt, the highest rank achievable in the martial arts. As a martial artist, I have always encouraged my students to live up to their fullest potential. As a State Senator, I intend to bring the same type of inspirational spirit to the Unicameral.
In 2006, 22 brand-new State Senators joined the Nebraska Legislature, 20 of them with no legislative experience. This turnover in our leadership reflects Nebraska voters’ support for term limits, which tells me that the people of Nebraska are ready for change. They reject “business as usual” in which senior legislative members seem to spend most of their time and energy ambushing bills that voters support. They want a Senator who will get things accomplished, and I give you my oath to do that. My experience as a Marine and as a teacher and business owner has taught me how to pay close attention to details and work cooperatively to get things done. Regardless of whether I win or lose this campaign, I will do so with a clear conscience by staying away from the influence of special interest groups. As early as six months before the primary election, I received a letter from a lobbyist who offered to "educate and inform" me about the organization he represents. Click here to view his letter and my reply. A couple of months later, I received a letter and questionnaire from the executive director of a Nebraska union. Click here to view the letter and my response. I do not accept campaign contributions from any group because I want to be free of financial entanglements with special interests, but I welcome the support of union members and others as individual citizens. If I am elected as your State Senator, my focus will always be on the needs and concerns of the residents of District 3 and the State of Nebraska. All I ask of you is to trust your gut and to ask yourself one question: Are you better or worse off today than you were four years ago? I believe most people are working harder today and getting less in return. If you believe things could be better than they are today, vote for me and I will serve as your advocate in Lincoln. I intend to work hard to make changes that will build a better future for everyone in District 3, including you.
Education
The U.S. has fallen behind other industrialized nations with regard to education. Nearly a third of America’s high school students drop out instead of graduating. Education is a state issue, and it is time to start raising our standards. We need to invest in educating our children and upgrading our technology so that Nebraska’s future work force will be able to compete with the rest of the country and the rest of the world.
When it comes to education, I believe in consumer choice and not government control. In my opinion, parents should be able to choose the public school that their children will attend, rather than having to follow zoning restrictions that require them to send their children to a school five miles away instead of one that is three blocks from their home. Sending students to remote schools is inefficient and costly. Why waste gas and add more car exhaust to the atmosphere by making parents drive an extra 20 miles every day taking their kids to and from school when their kids could easily walk to their neighborhood school instead? In addition, walking to school can help kids stay in shape. The 2001 National Household Travel Survey showed that kids who walk or bike to school are more likely to be physically fit than kids who ride in a car. In 1969, 42% of students between 5 and 15 years old walked or rode their bikes to school, but in 2001, only 16% did. At the same time, childhood obesity rates have tripled. We need to reverse this trend.
A significant way to improve the quality of public education in Nebraska would be to increase teachers' salaries. Teaching is a challenging profession, and I believe that paying decent salaries to Nebraska teachers will make them work harder to keep their jobs, demanding more from themselves and from their students. However, putting more money into the school system will not automatically guarantee that students will receive a quality education. During the lengthy legal battle involving OPS, the only people who benefited were the lawyers. Not one penny of the money spent in the courts brought any benefits to students.
As a former student of the Omaha Public School system and a martial arts teacher since 1994, I believe that the greatest amount of learning takes place when parents are involved in their children's education. On a personal level, I will always remember how my stepfather, Eric Barntsen, put time and effort into helping me when I was struggling with math in elementary school. We spent hours sitting at the dining room table using flash cards to cement the math facts in my memory. My dad's involvement in my education laid a foundation that allowed me to become more confident in my ability to handle whatever life dished out in and out of the classroom.
One way to encourage parental involvement might be to provide an incentive. For example, attendance at three one-hour meetings during the school year would entitle the participant to a certificate redeemable for a weekend sales tax holiday at the beginning of the next school year. In short, we need to support community involvement in the educational process, not put all the control in the hands of false leaders or self-serving bureaucrats. As a State Senator, I would ensure that taxpayers’ money is used to promote learning and achievement instead of being wasted on propping up an inefficient administrative system. I believe teachers and administrators should receive adequate salaries and pensions, but the needs of the students should always be the top priority in educational spending.
Tax Relief for Families and Individuals
I have never been in favor of raising taxes, because I believe people pay more than enough taxes already. In my opinion, the middle class bears the heaviest burden of any income group with regard to taxation. The state income taxes in Nebraska are among the highest in the U.S. Property taxes also are too high, especially for people in District 3. For example, homeowners in Gretna and surrounding communities pay the highest tax percentage of any school district in the Omaha area. I want to ease the tax burden on these communities and to make sure that taxes are administered fairly. Currently, homes in Douglas County are assessed every four years while homes in Sarpy County are assessed annually. To me, this is unfair because Sarpy County residents end up paying more than they would pay if they lived in Douglas County.
I have talked with thousands of homeowners in District 3, and many of them have told me that they have been paying unreasonably high property taxes because of inflated property assessments in Sarpy County. Valuations in Sarpy County automatically increase 5% per year, no matter what the real estate market may be doing. In addition, because of redrawn flood plain maps many homeowners in District 3 are now required to purchase flood insurance in addition to paying for regular homeowner's insurance and property taxes. One family in District 3 told me that they are paying $1,900 annually for flood insurance, $1,000 for homeowner's insurance, and $4,200 for property taxes on their 2,200-square-foot home--a total of $7,100 per year just for taxes and insurance. To make matters worse, the market value of their home and many others may go down because these properties are now located in a flood plain. I believe that if residential properties in a neighborhood are selling at reduced prices or not selling at all, homeowners should be able to go to county officials and get a break in their property taxes. People have told me that this is not happening in Sarpy County, and as your State Senator I intend to work hard to reduce the tax burden of home ownership.
I am tired of hearing government officials ask people to make sacrifices when what we really need to do is eliminate wasteful spending by the state government. We need to set priorities and goals to ensure that we are investing in the areas that are the most crucial and have the most impact for our future well-being, such as educating the next generation and striving for energy independence. As a business owner for more than 13 years, I understand the importance of knowing where the money goes. I believe state spending should be monitored closely to make sure that no funds are wasted. Citizens have to balance their budgets, and so should the state. There is no excuse for wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money. An example of wasteful spending came to light in Omaha when consultants found out that the pensions and salaries of police officers and firefighters in Omaha are much higher than in other metropolitan areas such as Minneapolis. I want to make it clear that I have no problem with the salaries that are being paid to Omaha police officers and firefighters, who are among the best in the nation. They're doing a great job, and they put their lives on the line on a regular basis. Salaries are not the issue here -- in fact, I would support legislation to increase the salaries paid to Omaha firefighters and police officers. However, I believe the current method of calculating pensions puts an unfair burden on taxpayers. Under the current system, the annual pension for retired police officers and firefighters is equal to 70% of the salary they earned during their final year of employment. I have been told that many people deliberately put in a huge amount of overtime (writing traffic tickets, etc.) during their final year just so they can get a higher pension. I believe that the pension system should be changed so that pensions are based on the average annual salary earned throughout a person's career (adjusted for inflation), not the last 12 months. I want to make it clear, however, that I believe any adjustments to the pension system should apply only to future retirees. For the sake of fairness, the pensions of current retirees should be protected under a grandfather clause.
Letter from the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Omaha.
To be fair and effective, financial audits must be conducted by someone who is outside the system, not someone who is trying to protect his or her own job by preserving the status quo. Have you ever wondered how much of your money ends up in the pockets of “middle men” instead of providing needed goods and services? As your State Senator, I would be committed to eliminating wasteful spending by keeping a watchful eye on how your tax dollars are spent.
Another area of wasteful spending is road construction. Why should it take so long for roads to be repaired, only to have the same roads torn up and replaced after a year or two? If the job is not done right the first time, the shoddy workmanship should be fixed at the expense of the construction company rather being paid for by the citizens of Nebraska.
Tourism
Each year, the College World Series brings about 40 million dollars in economic activity to the Omaha area. Construction of a new stadium in downtown Omaha presents an opportunity for Omaha to sign an unprecedented contract with the NCAA to keep the CWS here for the next 20 years. This would amount to one billion dollars in revenue over the life of the contract. I understand that Rosenblatt Stadium holds many fond memories for sports fans, but we can’t afford to sacrifice a billion dollars for the sake of holding onto a building that would require expensive repairs just to keep from falling down. I believe in economic growth, and that’s why I support construction of a new stadium in downtown Omaha.
In my opinion, Nebraska could do a better job of advertising itself to tourists. There’s a lot to see and do here. For example, hunters have told me that Nebraska is a great place to hunt pheasant and deer. I believe we should do more to promote Nebraska as a travel destination for hunters from other states. Promoting hunting would be an excellent way to bring more money into Nebraska.
We also need to be careful to consider the potential economic impact laws that affect tourism. For example, the Unicameral passed legislation making it illegal to smoke in Nebraska workplaces, including restaurant and bars. The new law will go into effect on June 1, 2009. Some people are pushing for passage of a similar law in Iowa, and casino owners are saying that they will not invest money in new construction if such a law is passed. Was it really necessary to ban smoking in every restaurant and bar throughout the state of Nebraska? How much money will Nebraska businesses lose because of this legislation?
When visitors come to Nebraska for special events, we need to make them feel welcome so they will come back. I believe that it presents a poor image of the city of Omaha and the state of Nebraska when hotels are given free rein to double or triple their rates during a major local event such as the College World Series. I see nothing wrong with moderate rate increases during periods of high demand, but doubling or tripling of rates seem more like price gouging than good business practice. As a business owner I understand the profit motive, but I also have a long-standing policy guaranteeing that people who enroll in my schools will never face a tuition increase as long as they maintain their membership. I believe in making a profit, but I also believe we should aim for social values like fairness here in Nebraska. Accordingly, I would support legislation capping the rate increases that Nebraska hotels can charge during special events. By building goodwill among visitors to Omaha, we may also end up attracting new business to our state.
Environment
Experts estimate that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. It has been through many transformations during that time. It took almost a billion years of rain to create a vast green ocean that once covered our entire planet. The first continental formation of land made of granite appeared as South Africa. One of the most recent steps in the process was the formation of the ozone layer, which allowed life to leave the oceans and come onto land for the first time.
And then comes man, and in just a blink of an eye in the history of the planet, we have managed to kill off entire species of animals, pollute the environment, and damage our precious ozone layer. There is so much pollution in the air today that the Statue of Liberty loses a pound of copper per year from erosion. In 10,000 years, the human species has cut down nearly half of the world’s forests. But if there were no humans to keep cutting them down, in 500 years these trees would grow back.
We need to recognize the serious threats posed by global warming, and we need to take action to reverse this trend. If the solar ice caps keep melting at their current rate in Greenland and Antarctica, by the end of this century the sea levels could rise by 20 feet. Rising sea levels will slowly begin to destroy many coastal cities throughout the world.
Rather than protecting the environment, however, we have elected greedy politicians who protect their own incomes by promoting short-sighted policies that reflect the agendas of industry lobbyists. For example, did you know that 17 billion dollars in government subsidies (your tax dollars) have been channeled to the ethanol industry? Producing ethanol from corn requires burning coal, which results in emissions that pollute the atmosphere. Ethanol burns faster in cars than gasoline does, which means our gas doesn’t last as long and we end up spending more money at the pump. Ethanol is not the solution to our dependence on foreign oil. I did some research and just to give you an idea, if we used every single ear of corn in the entire United States to produce ethanol, it would make us 7% less reliant on foreign energy but at the same time we would be burning 29% more per year in fossil fuels just to produce the ethanol. It is time to rethink past decisions and look for innovative solutions.
Instead of wasting our tax dollars on policies that make things worse, we need to commission a team of environmental experts to develop ways to clean up our environment for the benefit of generations yet to come. We need to develop inventive ways to produce bio fuels and to harness renewable resources like solar, wind, and geothermal power. Having more options will give us a better outcome now and in the future.
We need to stop paying attention to industry-funded “experts” who provide misleading information designed to lull us into a false sense of security. Our nation needs to take a leadership role in cleaning up the current global mess and building a better future.
Article on the environment: Smog rule tightened; 345 counties fail
Expanded Job Opportunities
Nebraska’s economic future depends on finding ways to attract new industrial development so that we can increase the number of jobs available to Nebraskans. We need to build a prosperous economy in which everybody who wants to work will be able to find a job. To attract industrial development, we must provide tax breaks and other economic incentives for companies that are thinking about establishing offices and factories in our state as well as existing companies that are taking steps to expand their operations and create new jobs. We also need to attract different types of businesses so people will have a reason to stay here instead of moving out of state to pursue more promising career opportunities elsewhere.
Focusing on energy innovation and energy independence in Nebraska will also attract new investment and create more jobs. Instead of outsourcing our manufacturing jobs to countries with lower environmental standards, we need to bring more eco-friendly industries to Nebraska.
Safety and Health
I support penalties for people who use cell phones while driving, because their inattention makes them a hazard to themselves, their passengers (including young children), and other drivers. At a minimum, drivers should be required to use hands-free equipment if they want to conduct phone conversations while driving. I also support creating more speed bumps on roads in residential neighborhoods. When I have been out in the neighborhoods of District 3 talking with homeowners, I have witnessed teenage drivers breaking the speed limit on residential streets. These drivers create a safety risk for children who are playing and people who are out walking their dogs. Putting in more speed bumps will save lives by forcing these reckless drivers to slow down to a more reasonable speed.
Because of the health risks of secondhand smoke, I also support penalties for people who smoke in cars where children are present. However, I believe restaurants that install effective ventilation systems should be able to permit customers to smoke instead of banning smoking altogether. Prohibitions on smoking can cause restaurants to become unprofitable and eventually close their doors, which ends up reducing Nebraska’s tax base and increasing unemployment.
Regarding the issue of gun control, I support the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which upholds the right of U.S. citizens to bear arms. I also support Nebraska’s Concealed Handgun Act, which grants Nebraskans the right to obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun in order to defend themselves and their loved ones against armed attackers. The fees charged for handgun permits represent a valuable source of income for the State of Nebraska. However, I understand both sides of this issue. Although I support gun ownership, I believe precautions should be taken to reduce accidental injuries and fatalities from gunshot wounds. For example, gun owners need to make sure their weapons are properly secured in locked cabinets to keep them out of the hands of children. To me, this issue is similar to drunk driving. Fatalities from drunk driving are on the rise (up 2.4% in 2006 as compared with 2005), but the answer is not to re-enact the Prohibition Laws of the 1920s. Instead, we need to enforce tougher penalties against repeat DUI offenders. In the hands of responsible people, guns and alcohol are not a problem. They only become a problem when they are used irresponsibly.
One of the common difficulties faced by many Nebraskans is the rising cost of health care. Currently 47 million Americans are not covered by any type of health insurance plan. Health insurance needs to be made more affordable. With an annual inflation rate of 22% for health care services, who can afford to pay out of pocket for health care? We need to look for solutions to the health care crisis so that people are not forced to choose between buying groceries and paying for prescriptions. When uninsured people must go to the emergency room for health care because that’s the only place where they will not be turned away, everyone pays. John F. Kennedy said, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich,” Clearly our health care system is broken and it needs to be fixed. In the near future policies will be made at the federal level, and they will affect people in every state including Nebraska. Maintaining freedom of a patient to choose their own doctor has been a "hot button" for this issue. I personally disagree with Hillary Clinton's Universal Health Care proposal because she wanted to pass a law that would lock patients into seeing certain doctors. If a doctor had a professional relationship with a patient outside her plan (i.e., if the patient decided to pay out of pocket to see a certain doctor), then the doctor would pay a heavy fine. That plan doesn't sound much like liberty to me, but at least Mrs. Clinton is making people think and talk about this issue, and that is what's important. We need to find a common ground to deal with this very serious problem in our country. I believe there are no unsolvable problems, and we can find solutions by working together.
Nebraskans with Disabilities
During my run for the Nebraska Legislature, I have received many e-mails describing the hardships faced by families who are dealing with disabilities. I find it hard to believe that the government spends billions of dollars on war overseas when we can’t even help the people in our own country who have special needs. Parents of disabled children in Nebraska are losing their houses, vehicles, and their ability to take certain kinds of jobs. The challenges of dealing with a disability can take down even the strongest of individuals and families.
Sixteen years ago the Nebraska Legislature promised to help Nebraskans with developmental disabilities get needed disability services from the state. Most of these families and individuals are still waiting to receive any kind of help. Soon after legislation was passed, the families started hearing from the legislature that the money wasn’t stretching far enough to help these individuals. As a result, there is an ever-increasing "waiting list" of individuals who desperately need services but are not receiving any. In 1994 about 650 people needed help. Now there are about 1,426 people on that list. In 1991 a target date for clearing off the list was 1994. It was moved to 1996, then 2000, and now it is set for 2010. Currently the state is in jeopardy of missing the 2010 date. Bill LR 156 was introduced by Senator Johnson for the purpose of reexamining this situation, which for many individuals has become a serious crisis. Strategic planning must be done immediately to reduce the number of people on this list.
On October 5, 2007 the Nebraska Legislature held a hearing on this issue, and families and professionals from across the state were able to share their concerns. Many families in my district need services for their family members. They are not asking for expensive services for their disabled family member, just basic ones like help finding a job so they can become taxpayers. They could live in apartments on their own with only a few hours a day of help, but none is available. They need help with residential rehabilitation so they can become independent and learn to do daily living activities on their own. If these individuals are forced to live at home with elderly parents who can barely care for them, it greatly limits their future potential for independence. They can learn and acquire many more skills if helped a bit.
I would like to thank Annie Anderson for sharing her input on this subject. She resides in Papillion and has worked unselfishly for years to help people. She is the ARC of Nebraska's Governmental Affairs Co-chair for the state, and she interacts frequently with senators and congressman on topics such as assistance to low-income families, early childhood issues, and people with developmental disabilities.
Military Families and Survivors
As a former U.S. Marine and a long-time resident of Nebraska, I believe we need to provide support and recognition for those who are performing military service for their country, as well as the survivors of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In my opinion, it is a disgrace and an offense to humanity when military families and survivors are forced to live in poverty or receive substandard health services. In addition to supporting adequate compensation for military families, I would support reductions in state income taxes and vehicle registration fees for military veterans, as well as issuance of gold-star license plates to the families of Nebraskans who died while serving their country.
Support for Elderly Nebraskans
Recently I spoke with a woman in her 80s who was preparing to sell her house and move into an assisted living facility. She told me the cost of assisted living would be $3,000 per month so she was hoping she would die before her funds ran out. I also know of an elderly couple where the husband and wife were forced to live in separate facilities because of varying needs for care. This 90-year-old man has to drive to the other side of Omaha every day just to spend time with his wife. In my opinion, we need to find ways to help Nebraska’s seniors stay in their own homes, living in dignity for as long as possible. The Homestead Exemption (property tax relief for low-income seniors) is a good start, although some eligible Nebraskans still are unaware of this program. We could also set up programs to provide low-cost home visits from healthcare workers and housekeepers. Protecting the health and welfare of Nebraskans of all ages, from infants to their great-grandparents, should be our top priority.
Higher Education
In the years to come, our ability to endure difficulties, solve problems, and achieve victory over life’s challenges will depend on the opportunities that are available to the next generation. In my opinion, Nebraska’s college savings program is an excellent way to invest in the future by easing the financial burden of higher education on parents and students. Caring for our children means doing everything in our power to help them live up to their full potential. In a spirit of renewed optimism, I believe that the greatest generation may be yet to come.
Sex Offenders
I believe that far too often, sex offenders (especially those who violate children) are given slaps on the wrist by judges instead of meaningful sentences. Why would someone stop committing sex crimes when they know that most of the time they will not get caught and if they do, they can pay their lawyer to get them off again? To keep the lawyers from getting richer and to make sex offenders think twice, Nebraska should have a law that applies different sentences to first-time and repeat offenders. First-time sex offenders would go to prison for a period of time for rehabilitation and be released when they can prove they are worthy of freedom. If a program is completed, these sex offenders should be listed on a registry that is available to the public so that parents can protect their kids. I believe that repeat sex offenders are not capable of rehabilitation and should spend the rest of their life in prison, working for the state for nothing.
I want to make it clear that when I say "sex offender" I am not talking about an 18-year-old high school student who has been convicted of having sex with his 16-year-old girlfriend because her parents found out and decided to call the police. For all we know he is still with that girl and they ended up getting married. Even though he has harmed no one, his name is on a sex offender registry and his life has been seriously affected by it. Cases like these should be thrown out by the courts. Let's get some commonsense rules in place so that we are registering those who are true threats to society.
Prevention is also an important aspect of this issue. Part of the responsibility for protecting children from sex offenders comes from the family. I believe that it is very important for parent to sit down with their children and talk to them about proper use of the Internet and why they should not talk to strangers online. Setting aside quality family time is important for a loving and healthy family, and I believe that if families sit down and talk to their kids about how to stay safe, perhaps a lot of incidents could be avoided. People need to be aware of the presence of sexual predators in society so they can be prepared to handle whatever comes their way. This is one of the reasons why I believe so strongly in what I do: teaching people of all ages to be aware of their environment so they can defend themselves from those who would do them harm.
Capital Punishment
I oppose the death penalty for three reasons: (1) there is always a risk that some people will be put to death for crimes they did not commit; (2) I believe the death penalty is unfair because it discriminates against certain groups of people (have you ever heard of a rich man receiving the death penalty?); and (3) I believe that life imprisonment is a more appropriate punishment than the death penalty because it gives people a longer period of time to regret what they have done.
Throughout the United States, people have been sent to prison and some have been executed because of incompetent defense attorneys or police going outside of bounds with their interrogation tactics and getting false confessions. I believe that police departments should be required by law to create a video whenever someone is questioned by the police. Later, the video may be played in court for any reason. These videos may also be used in the future to help police solve crimes involving someone who was questioned earlier and cannot be found years down the road or is deceased.
There is plenty of evidence of cases involving wrongful convictions. As of February 14, 2008, at least 212 falsely accused prisoners in the United States have been exonerated. Fifteen of these persons were on death row. These innocent people were cleared on the basis of DNA evidence, and 77% had been falsely convicted because of mistaken identity. These numbers may not seem huge, but I believe that one falsely accused and innocent individual is one too many. Also, there may be many additional people who are innocent of the crimes for which they were imprisoned. Currently there are 28 states that do not have laws designed to secure crime scene evidence. Only 22 states give compensation to those who have been wrongfully accused, and in the states that do offer compensation I understand that the process requires a mountain of paperwork. Even if you are exonerated, the conviction stays on your record, so finding a job and readjusting to life outside the prison walls can be very hard.
For those who have committed murder, Nebraska has the death penalty and offers life without parole as a sentencing option. I believe that life imprisonment without parole should be given to all who take the life of another human being. There is a list of aggravating and mitigating circumstances currently used to determine whether an individual receives life without parole. I believe even if there are certain aggravating or mitigating circumstances, the sentence should be "life without parole" to the maximum extent permitted under the constitution. In my opinion, convicted murderers should be put to work, not put to death. If prisoners are forced to work without pay, their unpaid labor will pay for their support so the burden to taxpayers is nonexistent. Under life imprisonment, convicted criminals would have to think about the effects of their crime during every waking moment for the rest of their existence. When you think about it, life imprisonment can be a tougher punishment than execution. Being against the death penalty does not mean being soft on crime. In response to those who support the death penalty, I would like to ask this question: What would Jesus do? Would he support the death penalty or oppose it? It's definitely something to think about.
For a discussion of Nebraska's laws concerning this issue, click here: The Meaning of Life.
Abortion
Unlike some politicians who try to pretend they support both sides of this controversial issue, I am willing to openly state that I am pro-life. It is a calling on my conscience to let you know where I stand on abortion. I believe that if two people conceive a child that they cannot raise, adoption is a more responsible choice than abortion. In addition, I support legislation permitting emergency surrender of newborn infants. The goal is to prevent abandonment by allowing mothers to surrender their infants to emergency room personnel without facing prosecution.
Letters from Planned Parenthood & Nebraskans United for Life.
Immigration
I believe hard-working people who want to become citizens of our country should have the ability to do so, but I would like to see them come in through the front door instead of climbing over the back fence. We need comprehensive immigration reform that respects our immigrant heritage and honors the rule of law. To prevent undocumented immigrants from entering the country illegally, our top priority should be to reinforce the security of our borders. We need to support the work of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal agency that employs 42,000 people to protect our borders and shorelines. CBP agents arrest an average of 62 persons each day at ports of entry and apprehend more than 3200 people daily for illegal entry between ports.
I believe there are three main problems with illegal immigration. First, it contributes to drug trafficking in the U.S. About half the drugs that enter our country come in through Mexico. Along with the drugs come criminals and people infected with diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, placing heavy burdens on our law enforcement and health care systems.
Second, illegal immigration endangers people’s lives. Illegal immigrants and their innocent children put their own lives at risk when they attempt to pass through a hot desert without enough water or food. CBP rescues an average of 7 illegal crossers per day, but many others end up dying of dehydration and other causes related to hazardous conditions. The lives of illegal crossers are also endangered by drug dealers who use them as a distraction to get drugs across the border. And as mentioned above, there is the criminal element. We have to face the fact that some illegal immigrants are thieves and murderers who threaten the security of law-abiding citizens. CBP uses fingerprint screening to identify and arrest 45 criminals per day, preventing them from entering the U.S.
Third, there are many economic reasons to secure our borders. People have told me it is harder than ever for U.S. citizens to find a job these days because companies prefer to hire illegal immigrants who will accept less than the minimum wage and not demand health insurance. A strain is put on the health care system by illegals, who generally use emergency rooms for their health care since by law they cannot be turned away. In my opinion, we need stricter penalties, stiffer fines, and better enforcement against companies (and even their CEOs) that hire illegal immigrants. A more effective verification system would go a long way to help end discrimination and abuse by employers. I oppose so-called “guest worker” programs because they create a supply of cheap labor that undermines the wages of U.S. workers. In my opinion, all workers deserve safe working conditions and decent wages.
I oppose allowing undocumented aliens to get driver’s licenses (a proposal that has been supported by some presidential candidates), because I believe that it would motivate people to come over and send a message that it is okay to break the law.
Nebraska is now considering the passage of laws that will bar illegal aliens from receiving social services. The logic is that they do not pay for these citizen-funded programs and therefore should not receive benefits, and I agree.
Conclusion:
In summary, my campaign platform is built on a basic foundation of treating people fairly, taking responsibility for eliminating wasteful spending, and promoting a better future for the citizens of Nebraska by creating jobs and supporting economic growth. My purpose in discussing the issues in this platform is not to point fingers or blame people for past mistakes, but to identify and fix problems. Looking to the future with hope, I want to change the way decisions are made in the legislature by putting power back in the hands of ordinary citizens. I believe I can make a difference because I have the courage to introduce bold ideas and the conviction to do what is right. At 36, I have the energy to get things done and the capacity to relate to younger voters, yet I am also mature enough to be strongly rooted in the community and to earn the confidence of older voters.
Thousands of people in District 3 have told me about their concerns and I have listened. Many voters in this district have told me that this is the first time a legislative candidate has asked for their opinion and paid attention to what they said. As your representative in Lincoln, I will continue to be accessible and accountable to my constituents. On this web page I have laid out my positions on the issues that I believe are most important. I have outlined my specific positions with clarity, providing straightforward and sincere answers to voters' questions. My intention is to level with the people and provide firm positions by showing some backbone and not flip-flopping on issues. You may not agree with me on every point, but I hope you will appreciate my honesty in letting you know where I stand. It seems that the majority of politicians try to please everyone and end up saying (and doing) nothing of any importance. You can see this for yourself by doing some research on the Internet. Out of the 49 current Nebraska State Senators, less than half of them have a web site. Out of those web sites, only about six include any type of platform at all (requiring at least a paragraph). When all six of these platforms are combined, they add up to 6 pages of text. By contrast, my platform consists of about 15 pages of text. [For comparison's sake, you can view platforms online for the following members of the Nebraska legislature: Gwen Howard (District 9), Tony Fulton (District 29) and Kent Rogert (District 16).]
I intend to achieve victory in the 2008 election by restoring citizens’ confidence in the power and effectiveness of their elected leaders. If you believe that the time for change is here and you are looking for a breath of fresh air and genuine sincerity in the Unicameral, I challenge you to look beyond party affiliation and vote for the person who is the best candidate to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature. Instead of voting for someone because he or she is a Democrat or a Republican, why not exercise your freedom and liberty as an American citizen and vote for a candidate who will work hard to promote prosperity for all Nebraskans?
For everyone who cares about the future of Nebraska and the rest of our nation, I challenge you to take a simple three-point test: Could you tell someone three reasons why you would (or would not) vote for a specific candidate in the 2008 elections? You have my gratitude for becoming a knowledgeable voter by doing the necessary research instead of taking the route chosen by so many others and voting for the person with the biggest advertising budget. Choose the candidate who will work for a better future for you and your family.
Vote for Christopher N. Geary for State Senator.
If you would like to be put on an e-mail list to receive updates to this platform or to this site and to be contacted if there is a meet-and-greet somewhere, please send an e-mail to Christopher N. Geary at: kempodragon0@yahoo.com (All notifications will be sent BCC so that your e-mail address will remain private.)
