Matt's Positions
Taxes and Spending
Taxes are much too high, period. As taxpayers in Virginia we pay more than half of our income in taxes each year. We pay sales taxes, gas taxes, property taxes, phone service taxes, cable television taxes, internet service taxes, accommodations taxes, entertainment taxes, and many, many more. In addition, we are subject to many backdoor taxes. These taxes, often called “fees,” are for things such as sewer service, vehicle registration, driver’s licenses, airport security, and many, many, more. All of these, along with income taxes, feed bloated, inefficient and intrusive government at all levels. Therefore, we must reduce taxes dramatically. In order to do so, we need to reduce the size and scope of government quite a bit. This doesn’t mean elimination of important services, or a reduction in the quality of life in our communities. Quite the contrary, a smaller government will be able to focus on those things that we truly need it to do, and will allow us the freedom to live even greater lives. As you read through my positions on the issues, you’ll see that I have ideas for reducing government spending, at the state level, in many areas. I believe that we need to identify waste anywhere that it exists, and then we must eliminate it.
The Economy
I believe that Virginians are capable of making their own purchase decisions, balancing their own checkbooks, and paying their own bills. Virginia’s businesses are among the strongest and greatest in the world and that the managers and executives of these companies, not government, should be responsible for running them. As your delegate, I will work to increase economic prosperity by making sure that both individuals and businesses are free to make economic and financial decisions without government interference. As a small business owner myself, I understand the damage that government interference causes the local business community and the local consumer. I'll work to minimize that damage and give local businesses the freedom they need to flourish and satisfy their customers. Further, I’ll work to eliminate subsidies and other programs that distort markets, cause imprudent investment and waste tax dollars.
Education
Our children deserve the best education possible. In order to ensure that they’re getting the best, I believe that schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, I’ll work to return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. I’ll work to increase the educational options available to every family by letting parents control the funds expended for their children's education.
Transportation
As a life-long resident of Northern Virginia, I’m well aware of the traffic problems that we all deal with every day. I’m also aware that despite the promises of our elected officials, our transportation situation gets worse and worse as time goes by. That’s why I’ll work to decrease the inefficient and expensive government transportation bureaucracy and implement private sector solutions to our transportation problems. Through public-private partnerships and private ownership of transportation systems I believe that we can improve our roads and rail, while decreasing the tax burden on every Virginian.
Crime
Every day when we watch the news, we’re reminded that violent crime is on the rise and criminal gangs continue to grow, despite efforts at all levels of government to combat these problems. It is time for us to face the facts and accept that our current policies are not working. I believe we need to end drug prohibition, so that more law enforcement resources can be focused on combating violent crime rather than arresting and prosecuting people for marijuana possession. Further, taking the drug business out of the hands of criminals will reduce gang activity substantially. Further still, our prisons are filled with non-violent drug offenders, causing overcrowding and costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year. Overcrowding causes problems such as early release of some violent inmates to make room for drug offenders, prison gang activity and unsafe conditions for the inmates and correctional officers. Without these non-violent offenders in our prisons and jails, our correctional institutions would be able to function properly. If that’s not enough, our courts are packed with victimless, drug cases causing delays and costing taxpayers huge amounts of money. It is time we start treating America's drug problem as a health issue, not a criminal one.
Self-Defense & The 2nd Amendment
I believe that guns, in the hands of law-abiding citizens, are part of the solution to our crime problems. In Richmond, I’ll work to repeal waiting periods, and other restrictions that make it difficult for victims to defend themselves and end the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights to self defense. The US and Virginia Constitutions are quite clear that the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. I’ll work tirelessly to uphold this right.
Healthcare
Americans have enjoyed excellent healthcare for a very long time. We often hear stories of people who come to our country for medical care because it is better than what they can receive in their own country. Unfortunately, in the last few decades the cost of our healthcare has grown rapidly. It's no coincidence that during this same period, government control of healthcare and interference in healthcare markets has grown rapidly too. Government mandates on health insurance providers often result in coverage that is so expensive that working families simply can’t afford it. Inefficient government run healthcare programs waste tax dollars and drive up costs for everyone. As your delegate, I’ll work to get government out of the way so that private companies and free markets can come up with cheaper insurance options, and so that doctors can operate in the way that they believe is best for their patients. The result will be lower healthcare costs and better care for everyone.