The economy.  Arkansans need to be proactive participants in the revival of the U.S. economy, and we need to produce jobs in Arkansas.  We have the opportunity to play a leading national role in areas such as alternative energy sources.  We have a wealth of natural gas, the potential to be leaders in hydro-electric, wind,  and agriculture-based bio-fuel production.  There is also room for growth in manufacturing and industry.  We have bright, capable people in Arkansas, and a numerous resources.  We should be forging the way, and not sweeping up the leftovers.  When I was a little boy, I knew Arkansas as "The Land of Opportunity" and it should be again.

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Education is a good starting point.  Not only the proper education of our children here in the state, to ensure they are properly prepared to meet the challenges of the present and future, but also to educate the rest of the country in the knowledge that Arkansas is not some backwater also-ran.  We have an abundance of talent and resources to offer.   I would be the voice of an Arkansas that is progressive, and moving forward in the 21st century.  The strength of our agricultural and natural resources, the power of small business, and the development of new infrastructure programs can be keys to success.

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Help to re-shape the way America thinks of itself.  There is no need for us to be locked into a "two-party" political system that is controlled by big money.  Political office should not go to the highest bidder.  Legislation should not benefit the few at the expense of the many.

I will support efforts to drastically reduce military spending.  I understand the need for a strong defense, but our current strategies are 60 years out of date.  We could maintain a strong military, but pay for needed programs to strengthen this country by reducing unnecessary military bases abroad, and cutting spending by at least 30%.

I would work toward the revitalization of the American passenger rail system.  We need to reshape the paradigm in this country.  We should encourage economical inter-city and inter-state public transportation, and less dependence on personal conveyance.  If we rebuild the rail system, and run it on renewable hydro-electric power, it will not only provide the needed transportation, but also put thousands to work across the country creating or repairing the necessary infrastructure, building railcars and systems, and providing new employment opportunities.

We need to re-energize America and start building things again.  There is a name for a country that ships its raw materials overseas at low prices, and buys back finished products at high prices...  Third World.  Arkansas should be a leader, and the model for the rest of the country in re-creating ourselves.

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I am running for a second term as governor because I believe in Arkansas and I believe there is still more work to be done. I was raised by a single parent, a mother who worked to raise her son on a waitress’ tips. I know first hand the importance of a good education and a good paying job. The two cornerstones of my administration have been and will remain education and economic development. Improving our State requires us to improve the relationship between education and economic development.

I believe that every person who wants a job should have one and I want to give every child the world-class education I received from Arkansas public schools. Our young people shouldn’t have to leave the State to get a good job. We should be able to train them for high-paying jobs located right here in Arkansas.

That is why in the past four years, I kept education and economic development my priorities, improving our public schools and announcing 25,000 new jobs across our State.

But Arkansas was not immune from the national economic downturn. We lost thousands of jobs and while we have seen many successes, there is more work to do.

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Continuing our focus on the relationship between education and economic development is the only sure-fire way for short- and long-term economic growth. I can’t think of anything any Governor could do of greater importance than to provide the opportunity for a better quality of life for their people and to create options for their children and grandchildren to stay and make a great living right here at home.

The quick-action closing fund has helped keep jobs here in Arkansas as well as attract new businesses. Because of the quick-action closing fund and other tax incentives, we have been able to announce 25,000 new jobs. My vision for job growth depends in part on the renewal and continued refinement of the quick-action closing fund.

In my first term, we made record progress in our public schools and finally put to an end the longstanding Supreme Court battle over the adequacy of an Arkansas education. Now, Arkansas is ranked tenth in the nation overall for our public schools by Education Week.

By maintaining our focus on education as a means of furthering economic development, we are setting our state up for future success.

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Even in the midst of a national economic recession, Arkansas has seen many successes. We have seen businesses from across the globe come right here to Arkansas, met the mandate for a balanced budget each year, and more of our people are getting a higher degree to get a better paying job. When we cut the grocery tax in half, from 6 cents to 3 cents, it was the largest tax cut in state history.

Yet as far as we have come, we still have much farther to go. I want to continue to reduce the grocery tax until we get it removed. I believe we can do this and we must because it is the moral thing to do.

We must also continue our focus on the innovations in education and economic development. In doing so, we will keep moving Arkansas forward toward more successes and improve the quality of life for all Arkansans.

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Our nation is at a crossroads. Some believe, as does the Obama Administration, that we can borrow, tax, regulate and spend our way to prosperity. I believe the future of Arkansas and America rests squarely in our ability to confront this misguided philosophy, stop the endless growth in government, and get our fiscal house in order. Coupled with tax relief and responsible government reform efforts, this approach will jump-start our economy, catalyze small business growth, and create sustainable, new jobs.

However, with each new government program, handout, unfunded mandate, or job- killing regulation, our nation moves one step closer to bankruptcy. And, if we keep heading in this direction, the only way our nation will be able to avert insolvency is with massive cuts in important government programs and tax increases. Arkansans simply cannot afford those things.

In short, if elected to the U.S. Senate, I pledge to address these problems and put us back on the road to recovery.

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There are a number of steps we can take to address government growth and wasteful spending. I support the Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution as well as the line-item-veto for the President. I believe we should eliminate redundant programs within federal agencies; eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid; and rollback federal agencies by cutting the unnecessary staff and the confusing, job-killing regulations they create. In the past ten years, my Congressional office has returned over $1,000,000 of our allocated office budget back to taxpayers. If my office can accomplish that, imagine the potential for savings in all of Congress and throughout the dozens of departments and federal agencies.

Moreover, I believe we should repeal ObamaCare. The $1.5 trillion bill does nothing to control costs, needlessly expands the size of government, and contains burdensome job- killing regulations. We must also oppose cap-and-trade and punitive business regulations, which drive up industry costs and kill jobs. In addition, we must reject any additional unfunded “stimulus spending.” This type of spending has ballooned under this administration and bloated our national debt. The $787 billion “Stimulus Bill” cost more than the entire war in Iraq, and it is clearly ineffective.

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I hope to represent Arkansas and serve the citizens of our state to the best of my ability. Legislatively, I hope to put our nation back on track, work to balance the budget, cut wasteful spending, provide tax relief for families and small business, and drastically reduce the size and role of the federal government. This is the recipe for job growth, economic recovery, and America’s future prosperity.

Moreover, I hope to serve the people of Arkansas—my boss—in every manner I know how. From teachers, business owners, parents, industry leaders, farmers, and community activists, I understand my responsibility, as Senator, is to serve the citizens of Arkansas. I pledge to listen to your concerns, hear your requests, and work hard to represent your needs and our shared Arkansas values.

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There is a lack of responsive trustworthy leadership in government which listens to the needs of the people. This lack of trust continues as our political leaders put their political party over God, Country and Arkansas.  The end results are laws we don't want such as Healthcare. Government is also jeopardizing the future of our children as they try to spend our way out of debt. Furthermore, this lack of confidence results in a distressed economy and a failure to get America back to work. Finally, government has become too large and they dishonor the memory of so many who gave their all for our freedoms while trampling on the Constitution.

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I will seek to set the example for the rest of Congress by bringing honor, integrity and a value system demonstrated by Arkansas Conservatives. I will make extraordinary efforts to connect with Arkansans, rebuild that trust and be that independent voice which they are seeking to represent them. I will seek to enact legislation which limits involvement by the Federal government in state issues. I will work with other like-minded members of congress to fix these problems including dismantling large cumbersome programs like the Healthcare Law. Finally, I will strive to be a stalwart champion of the Constitution and return this country to a Republic as the Founding Fathers intended.

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In addition to the goals outlined above, I will strive to limit red tape for small business development to encourage job creation. I will also be seeking to implement term limits for all members of Congress. I would like to work with other like-minded members of congress to balance the budget and reduce the debt. I want to revaluate all treaties the United States has signed with the United Nations and NATO and determine if they as well as NAFTA are needed or should be renegotiated. I would like to get final closure on the remaining MIA's of our country's military.

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As I visit with Democrats, Republicans and Independents in the Second District, there are two common concerns that are expressed by voters: private sector job creation and getting our fiscal house in order.

I am a believer in the ingenuity of American workers and that they will lead us out of our economic downturn and put us on the road to recovery. However, our workers cannot help us if they are unemployed. In order for our workers to succeed, they must have sustainable employment that only comes from the private sector.

Arkansas’s small businesses must be helped through lower taxes and cutting back on government spending.  As a country, we run the risk of losing our stature in the world due to our runaway deficit spending and growing national debt that is financed by countries like China.

The sooner we get our financial house in order, the stronger our foundation will be and the more durable our position of leadership.

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Government must eliminate the uncertainty it has created and allow the private sector to create the jobs our workers need. Whether it is uncertainty over taxes going up at the end of the year, or the specter of job-killing card check and cap and trade legislation, employers are facing a future where they cannot plan for future investment or hiring, leaving our economy threatened.

I believe the best way to get the economy going and create jobs is to put more money in the pockets of taxpayers. Tax relief encourages sustainable economic growth, innovation and job creation. In a struggling economy, the last thing government needs to do is increase taxes.  If tax relief expires at the end of the year, I will fight to reinstate it.

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Change the culture in Congress so we can earn the respect of taxpayers by showing that we have respect them and their hard-earned dollars. I will fight for common sense reforms to change the culture, including suspending congressional pay when we fail to pass a budget on time, getting rid of the automatic pay raise for Congress and opposing the current earmark process. I will work to pass a balanced budget amendment.

I will also be a check and balance against the policies of the Obama administration, fighting for legislation important to Arkansans and making sure the voices of the Second District are heard.

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The most important issue affecting Arkansans is the environment. The environment impacts our health and our economy. We need clean air, clean water and clean energy.

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I plan to address this issue by insuring we meet high standards for air and water quality.

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While in office I hope to accomplish the following:

• A commitment to Nuclear and Solar Energy. (Wind and Water power should be utilized but they are too limited to meet our needs.)
• A $9 an hour minimum wages.
• A 10% limit on interest.
• A better enforcement of drinking and driving laws.
• Save the United States Postal Service with a rate increase not a government bailout.

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My number one priority for Arkansas is creating jobs and putting our economy back on track. As the first Arkansan to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over almost one-third of the Arkansas economy, I have made it my mission to utilize this leadership position as a pipeline for jobs and economic opportunity for our state. And in one year’s time chairing that committee, we’re seeing real results.

For example, Arkansas small businesses have traditionally ranked near the bottom of all states receiving grants under the USDA Rural Energy Assistance Program. Last year, Arkansas was awarded just $79,000. Under my chairmanship, we’ve increased the funding to nearly $1 million—twelve times the amount. These jobs grants help make Arkansas producers and small businesses more energy efficient, saving them money on their energy costs, by providing incentives for producers to install renewable energy sources. They create additional economic activity and jobs in our rural communities by providing work for local contractors and business for local retailers. This year alone, the program will pump $4 million dollars into Arkansas’s economy in addition to the nearly $1 million in grants.

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I am working to ensure Congress fulfills its responsibility through tax incentives and regulatory reform to foster an environment where the private sector can create new jobs. Government cannot create jobs, but can provide tools so that businesses can create jobs. I have consistently fought for tax cuts to keep jobs here at home and opposed tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas.

Arkansas’s agriculture community accounts for more than 270,000 jobs and $9 billion in wages and salaries and contributes more than $16 billion each year to the state’s economy. As Ag Chairman, I wrote the toughest proposal of anyone in either party to protect jobs here in Arkansas by cracking down on Wall Street and preventing future bailouts. I forced the Administration to provide a $4 million increase for our timber sales program, putting 700 Arkansans back to work in Ouachita and Ozark National Forests. And I have delivered over $3.2 billion in rural development funding for Arkansas for broadband, clean drinking water and other critical services that help create jobs and strengthen Arkansas’s rural economy.

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As Ag Chairman, I will play the leading role in writing the next Farm Bill, which is critical to Arkansas jobs and our economy. Only a small percentage of the total farm bill is directly related to farm production. The remainder is focused on rural development, conservation, child nutrition and other programs that help strengthen rural America.

We should double American exports and create jobs in Arkansas by passing pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea, and ending the Cuban trade embargo. Opening more markets means thousands of jobs for Arkansas’s agricultural producers and farmers, who employ more than 270,000 Arkansans. Exports have nearly doubled over the last 20 years and 20,000 jobs have been created because of free trade agreements.

Arkansas is poised to become a leader in our transition to a new energy economy, with tremendous potential for job growth in development of clean energy technologies like biofuels and wind energy. We have the potential to replace 50 percent of the fuel we purchase from other countries with fuel we produce in our own backyard. While we must continue to rely on tradition energy sources like oil and natural gas, we can also accelerate our nation’s transition to alternative, clean energy fuels like biodiesel, wind and solar which are creating new jobs in Arkansas.

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Arkansans expect their state government to be accountable to them. That is why I produced a detailed plan on stopping the abuses of state vehicles. I have a record of accountability in county government that I want to take to the state level.

Accountable government means being a good steward of tax dollars. It means using technology to create greater efficiency in public services. It means administering election laws that protect the right to vote. It means an open and transparent redistricting process.

I am the only candidate in the race that has both a record of accountability and a comprehensive plan to do the same in the Secretary of State’s office. Under my leadership, state government will be accountable to the people of Arkansas.

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I will not have a state vehicle. I will not receive any mileage reimbursements. All Secretary of State cars will be clearly marked. We will eliminate at least 15% to 30% of the existing fleet of vehicles. Our website will have a way for citizens to report any kind of abuse of state vehicles. Employees who abuse our policy will receive firm discipline.

I have a record of bringing about efficiency through technology. Pulaski County was the first to allow electronic recording of real estate documents. We are going paperless in our court system and that will bring about savings to the taxpayer.

I am the only candidate to propose a solution to the election issues that have arisen in 2010 in both Garland and Stone counties. I have a proven record of leadership in getting things done and can do the same on the state level.

I will have a blog during the redistricting process. We will have many public meetings and keep the process open and transparent.

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I will be an ambassador for Arkansas. I am very proud of my state and want to promote us on the regional, national and international levels. We have a great many good things going on in Arkansas but not enough people outside of our borders know our story. I have a background in business that is well-suited for promoting the many opportunities our state has to offer.

I want to restore the peoples’ trust in government. I did this in Pulaski County by leading us out of Grand Jury indictments and federal monitoring and into a situation where we’re described as a point of pride.

There are a great many individual items I want to accomplish. You can find them at www.PatOBrienForArkansas.com.

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The most important issue facing Arkansans today is the skyrocketing national debt. At a $13.3 trillion level, this unparalleled mountain of debt is threatening to jeopardize the strength of America's economic future. This government has put itself on a road to bankruptcy, and every citizen will be affected if the incessant growth of federal spending is not reigned in. This is especially unfair to Arkansans who, thanks to a state constitutional amendment, balance our state budget every year. If Arkansas can do it, then yes, the feds can do it, too.

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There are several steps that must be taken to ensure the strength of America's economy. 1) Reign in the ridiculous and unsustainable growth in federal government spending. 2) Grow the economy through the private sector by lowering the tax rates on the very people who earn the revenue and create the jobs in this country. 3) Renew and extend the Bush-era tax cuts so every individual, family and business can actually PLAN and not fear volatile and uncertain government behavior. 4) Pass the Balanced Budget Amendment as the single greatest gift this generation can pass on to future generations of Americans.

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As a citizen candidate, I hope to restore a sense of true public service and citizen leadership to the United States Congress, as opposed to career political entitlement. Congress is the "People's House." The terms are only 24 months for a reason. Congress holds the keys to America's national treasury, and Congress has abused and squandered that responsibility. I will champion a balanced budget amendment and the "Back to Basics" principles of free enterprise, limited government, lower taxes and a staunch respect for the U.S. Constitution.

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The economy over the past few years has been tough on everyone.  Unemployment remains unacceptably high as too many Arkansas families are struggling to make ends meet.  As a former small business owner, I also know how hard it is for our small businesses to meet their payroll and balance their budget, especially in this economic climate.  Our economy continues to show signs of recovery from one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression.  But, we’ve still got a ways to go.  My top priority will continue to be creating jobs here at home for hardworking Americans.  I will not rest until every Arkansan who wants a job has one.

At the same time, we have got to get our fiscal house back in order by balancing the federal budget and reducing our deficits.  This is not only key to our economic recovery, it’s also critical to our national security.  The out-of-control spending in Washington must stop.  If Arkansas families are expected to balance their budgets, then so should the federal government.  As a leader of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, I have and will continue to fight for more fiscal responsibility in our nation’s capital.

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I have and will continue to work with economic developers in communities throughout Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District.  They’ve told me that we’ve spent too much money overseas and that it’s time to reinvest in America again – and I couldn’t agree more.  That’s why I have introduced a Blueprint for Economic Development to help make this state one of the most competitive in the country.  My plan focuses on:

• Lowering taxes for working families and small businesses
• Modernizing our state’s infrastructure so we’ll be prepared for economic opportunities now and in the future
• Supporting our small businesses with tax cuts and credits and more lending opportunities
• Investing in our children to ensure they receive a world-class education and making college more affordable
• Promoting FAIR trade policies that keep our jobs here at home and stop the tax cuts that reward big, multinational corporations that ship our jobs overseas

I’ve also introduced a comprehensive Blueprint for Fiscal Reform that includes 15 proven proposals to bring down our deficits, including a constitutional amendment to balance the budget and reinstating “pay-as-you-go” rules in Congress.  More information on both of these proposals can be found at www.MikeRoss.com.

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The most important part of my job is to listen to those I represent and to serve as their voice in our nation’s capital.  Arkansas is a great place to call home and represents the best of America.  That’s why I have and always will stand up to the special interests in Washington and fight for what is best for our great state.

I believe one of the biggest problems in Washington today is that too many members of congress get elected, move to Washington, stop going home, and stop listening to the people.  I promised to never let that happen to me.  That's why I never moved to Washington and that's why after the last vote each week, I'm on the very next plane back home to Arkansas to listen to those I represent.  I have already held over 80 town hall events this year alone and remain one of the few members of Congress who still believe in this important part of our democracy.

As a strong voice for Arkansas, I will continue to fight for common sense, Arkansas values such as creating more private sector jobs, getting our nation's fiscal house back in order, stopping illegal immigration and protecting Social Security and Medicare for Arkansas's seniors.

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One of the most important issues right now is American jobs.  We need to create jobs for Arkansans. Our people want to work and be able to put food on the table for their families.  I will go to Congress doing everything I can to ensure Arkansans have the economic prosperity and job opportunities they deserve.

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We must create an economic environment that brings small businesses and the climate for job creation back to life.  So many of our small businesses have been smothered by new regulatory burdens.  I will encourage discussion that centers around developing legislation to repeal Obamacare.  I will vote for improving trade agreements with other countries and exporting our American goods to other economies overseas.  Finally, our level of taxation can NOT increase.  To encourage investment and improving the economic vitality of our country, the last thing we should be doing is taking more of the people’s money out of their pockets.

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My top priority is constituent service.  I am elected to serve the people of the 3rd District of Arkansas to the best of my abilities, and I plan on accomplishing this by voting with my constituents as well as assisting with social security claims, veterans service needs and other requests to name a few.  I have been a proud resident of Northwest Arkansas for over 35 years with family roots running deep in our communities.  I believe my credentials serve well to fully understand the needs of our area and am confident that my team of top-notch staff will help accomplish this goal of supreme constituent service for the people of our district.  The best representatives are those who truly listen to the people they serve, and my ear is always available.

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