Why I'm

By Michael Crimmins

I am running for Congress because I am passionate about promoting the American Dream and equally concerned about the direction our Country is headed in.

Below you will find my core positions on a variety of issues. More can be found at: http://www.CrimminsForCongress.com. Thank you in advance for reading what I stand for.

However, in order to maintain our strength as the global leader in technology, science, health care, higher education and the entrepreneurial spirit, we face some very difficult challenges.

Our most important task at hand is to support small businesses and mobilize the United States' economy. Tens of thousands of San Diegans and Imperial Valley residents have lost their jobs, taken wage cuts or been forced to take furloughs. The official unemployment rate is 10% in San Diego and 11% in California but in actuality it is closer to 20% and out in El Centro well over 30%. Many families are struggling to make ends meet; they are worried about their future, and that of their children, grandchildren and neighbors. I am committed to representing the needs of all our citizens and working towards getting America back on track by advocating for pragmatic / commonsense policies that are: financially sound, reduce the budget deficit, reduce exorbitant government subsidies and wasteful earmark spending.

Health Care: I believe all Americans deserve access health care coverage and that many of the solutions to this challenge are non-partisan and supported by most members of Congress. I support strengthening the existing private market system with policies that will drive down costs and make it easier for people to purchase affordable medical health insurance.

This can be achieved by allowing for greater competition across state lines, tort reform, restraining the costs for health care services, and actively rooting out cases of fraud, waste & abuse. I join many Senators and Congressmen on both sides of the aisle, in opposing the current health care bill (ObamaCare) and would have voted against it. In its current form, the legislation will raise taxes on the middle class, drastically increase government spending and lower the quality of care. Congress must return to the drawing board and work together to pass a bill, or preferably several separate bills, that will increase the accessibility and affordability of health care. If the United States Supreme Court does not find this legislation unconstitutional, and I am elected, I will vote for its immediate repeal and its replacement with a more pragmatic approach.

Economy: I believe in the American Dream and the free markets. No nation has ever taxed itself out of a recession or into prosperity. I recognize that lowering taxes, to include corporate & capital gain taxes, will spur economic growth. Raising taxes will only serve to hurt small businesses, hinder economic growth and increase the present high unemployment rate. Our economy can only move forward when business can take out loans and afford to add jobs and invest in growth, which will enable families to have more of their income to spend, save and invest in America. To an large extent ObamaCare is causing financial uncertainty in the marketplace so businesses will not commit to hiring on new employees.

Energy & Environment: To achieve national energy independence, I support the development of renewable energy sources from solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal and nuclear. I also support the exploration and extraction for fossil fuels both onshore & offshore. We are a fossil fuel based economy and culture. I am fundamentally opposed to a national "Cap and Tax" program, not only because it will increase costs for families and businesses, but because the market has taken the initiative to creating solutions to reduce their carbon emissions. We must encourage market solutions which will allow for lower costs and a higher rate of success, rather than defaulting to increased government regulations, higher taxes and bureaucratic mismanagement to solve problems.

Education: Having spent over a decade as a teacher and a principal in San Diego County, I am passionate about improving the quality of our public schools and access to higher education. No Child Left Behind has left many students and teachers behind. We must increase the accountability to which teachers and administrators are held to. We must increase the standards and expectations in our struggling schools and allow teachers to teach, rather than teaching students to the standardized tests. I support school choice and vouchers.

Veterans: Having served for over two decades as a Marine Corps Officer, from Vietnam through Desert Storm, I am very aware of the integral role and relationship that the military has both in San Diego and the Imperial Valley. I am humbled daily as I see the dedication and sacrifice of the men and women who serve and protect us. I support increased benefits for returning service members, providing greater support and services for our veterans, especially our wounded warriors, and greater provisions for the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom.

Illegal Immigration: Our Nation has always been built upon the foundations of hardworking immigrants pursuing opportunity and the American Dream. We are, however, a nation of laws and our policies simply put, should encourage legal immigration and discourage illegal immigration. We should not be forced or coerced into applying drastically lower protections on our border with Mexico, than Mexico has on its borders with the rest of Latin America. In a post 9/11 world, I support building and manning the fence on the southern border of California and believe in the need to increase the amount of worker permits in addition to regulating immigration with a secure and tamper-proof ID card, along with mandatory employer E-Verification participation and enforcement.

Second Amendment: I support the Second Amendment and believe in "the right of the people to keep and bear arms."