Given that approximately 4,000 Illegal immigrants cross our nation’s borders every day, illegal immigration is arguably the most pressing issue facing this country. Alan understands that it is the duty of the federal government to protect our national borders and supports the following with respect to illegal immigration:

•  Seal the Borders
Measures include improving perimeter security devices such as fences, detection equipment, additional border patrol agents, and having the military train near the border.
•  Repatriate Illegal Immigrants
Increase apprehensions and improve out-processing of illegal immigrants. Encourage cooperation between local, state, and federal authorities so that illegals are quickly taken off the hands of the police who apprehend them.

•  Enforce Existing Law
Laws providing for assessing fines against businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants should be strongly enforced. Enact mandatory electronic Social Security verification program for new hires.

•  No Amnesty, No Path to Citizenship, No Guest Worker Program
Politicians who attempt to confuse this issue use terms such as “Pathway to Citizenship” or “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” which, in effect, mean amnesty. Alan is adamantly opposed to amnesty in any form. It is his goal that ALL illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be returned to their home country immediately. No Guest Worker program will even be considered until after welfare reform can be enacted in the U.S. and all able-bodied American citizens have employment.

As successful households have learned throughout time, there is no substitute for living within one’s means. The United States must immediately take steps to get its financial house in order. Alan will be a strong advocate in Congress for the following:

•  Zero-based Budgeting
Assess government programs with each new budget cycle as to whether they are still needed and if there are possible reductions or deletions that can be enacted.

•  Downsizing Government
Reduce the size of the government bureaucracy. Enact a 5 percent across-the-board reduction in non-security discretionary spending. Continually seek ways to increase efficiency and to privatize certain operations of the government.

•  Cost/Benefit Analysis of Expenditures
Congress should be made fully aware of the potential costs and benefits of any proposed new expenditure. If the projected benefits fail to materialize, the expenditure is deleted from the next budget.

It is estimated that 45 million Americans do not have health care coverage. This number is roughly equivalent to nine times the population of Tennessee. Alan sees the need to begin to make affordable health care insurance available to our citizens, but without resorting to socialized medicine. Alan supports the following:

•  Medical Savings Accounts
•  Tort Reform

The current tax system is far too complicated and contains too many loopholes. Alan favors the following:

•  Supports the Fair Tax
•  Simplification of the Tax Code
•  Lower Marginal Tax Rates
•  Lowering Capital Gains Taxes

•  Pro Life