Gina Bauman for State Senate

 With under three weeks to go until the election I think it’s time to start pointing out specific areas where my opponent and I have significantly different ideas and why I believe my ideas are more in line with the needs of the voters of District 50. There is definitely no shortage of topics to examine.

A good place to start is on the topic of cutting the state budget. I believe that the root cause of our economic problems is that government spends far too much. If we cut spending we can lower taxes, which will leave more wealth and capital in the private sector to fuel an economic recovery.

The first thing to come to grips with is that the budget is nothing more than a plan (or maybe actually a wish list) for what lawmakers want to spend. A budget "shortfall" is not a negative account balance as a lot of liberal rhetoric strongly implies, but rather the difference between how much money the state anticipates taking in from taxpayers and how much lawmakers want to spend. It’s really pretty simple - if the state spends no more than the considerable amount it takes in, the shortfall goes away.

Of all of our God-given rights, the right to life is unquestionably the most important as without life little else matters. Bad fiscal and tax policy, over regulation, and bloated bureaucratic government causes many societal problems, but even the worst consequences can be undone through corrective legislation and other reforms. However, once a life is lost there is no way to restore the lost hopes, dreams, and human potential that the life embodied.

The primary purpose of government in a free society is first and foremost to protect life and promote the liberty and security to allow people to live their lives to their fullest potential. Our founding fathers elegantly stated this fundamental principle for the governance of a free people with the "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" statement in the Declaration of Independence. It is not coincidental that "life" gets top billing in this foundational concept.

The current recession, high taxes, and wide spread unemployment have caused a lot of hardship for many families. A major issue in this election will be which of the candidates has the best ideas and experience to make the correct decisions on legislation that addresses the economy.

Economic policy should be based on the concepts of limited government and sound, proven economic principles rather than agendas primarily concerned with acquiring and maintaining power and influence for office holders and political parties.

I propose to address our economic troubles through three basic strategies: