Most people dislike paying taxes. I know I do. A government that collects too much in taxes creates waste and inefficiency. However, not collecting enough in taxes threatens the foundation of a stable society. Infrastructure crumbles, education falters, and more people go without medical care.

I consider myself a fiscal conservative. I recognize that taxes are necessary, but I believe that we have a long way to go to make sure the taxes we collect are fair, adequate, and used responsibly and appropriately.

As a State Senator, I will work diligently to eliminate government waste and abuse and increase efficiency, making sure we maximize the impact of the taxes we do collect.

If you study my plan for health care reform, you will note that it does imply a tax increase. This is not unlike how funds are collected for Medicare at the federal level. However, this increase is more than offset by reductions in other areas and promotes further long-term inflation reduction at the same time. The net impact is a substantial savings to most families. This is an example of how a fiscal conservative like myself can support a tax increase. If it means more money in your pocket at the end of the day, it's not really an increase, is it?