The days of an economy driven by local decisions is long gone, and the days of local businesses forming the backbone of the American economy is under siege by Washington, DC liberals. Higher taxes, burdensome regulations and a growing Federal debt have created enormous pressure on the small businesses that have driven our local and national economy.

Washington, D.C. liberals have created an environment that makes it nearly impossible for a small business with small margins to survive, prosper and create good jobs.  In fact, it is taking every ounce of the American spirit for many small businesses to keep the doors open and their employees working.

Good, hard-working Arkansans have been hit hard by the recession.  From agriculture to manufacturing and from retail to the service industry we are all tightening our belts and working harder for less money.  The economy demands it and the Arkansas work ethic once again shows the resilience that makes this State what it is.

We need a Representative willing to make the difficult decisions, to stand up to those who want to raise our taxes and create job-killing federal programs on the backs of hard-working Arkansans.  Mostly we need a representative that truly understands the economy; globally, nationally and locally.

To grow our economy and bring good jobs back to Arkansas, Congress must understand that taxes stifle investment and regulations require small business owners to spend more time worried about the IRS and EPA than about creating new jobs, new business ventures and an economy that can survive good times and bad.

I support legislation to give small businesses the flexibility to grow and prosper without dealing with one-size-fits-all regulations.  I support lowering margins taxes and payroll taxes so that employers can keep more workers and invest in our communities.  I support insurance reform that allows employers and employees to buy health insurance across State lines and I support a comprehensive energy plan that reduces our burden on foreign oil.

Small businesses provide so many of the jobs that our families and communities rely on, yet Washington politicians continue to punish our best job creators.  By passing bills like H.R. 4173, beltway politicians have made it harder for Arkansas businesses to get loans to maintain and grow our small businesses.  What’s worse it actually gives Washington bureaucrats at the Federal Reserve the authority to set salaries for our local businesses.  I’m certain that business leaders in Mountain Home, Jonesboro, Stuttgart, Wynne and West Memphis know a lot more about our local economy than any bureaucrat in Washington.  It’s time to put an end to bad policies that continue to cost us good jobs, workforce morale and a better tomorrow.

I am steadfastly opposed to the Death Tax, and believe that the Capital Gains Tax should be abolished.  Working Americans should not be punished for investing in our communities, creating jobs, and injecting money into our economy.

In Arkansas, we have the intelligence, the skilled workforce and a work ethic second to none.  It's time the Federal government got out of the way so our entrepreneurs, business leaders and workforce and rebuild our economy.