Op-Eds

Op-eds 10/31/2012
The Washington Times: Five unanswered questions about Benghazi attack
<b>Originally printed in The Washington Times, October 31st, 2012 </b> Nearly two months after the murder of four American citizens in Benghazi, Libya, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, there remain many more questions surrounding this tragedy than credible answers provided by the Obama administration. The American people want to know what happened on Sept. 11, 2012, and they deserve to hear an explanation directly from the president. Among the many questions that still need to be answered about the Benghazi attack, here are five of the most important ones.
Op-eds 07/31/2012
Politico: Facilitator is needed for cybersecurity
<b>Originally printed in Politico, July 31st, 2012 </b> There is widespread agreement across America that cybersecurity is an urgent national priority and the federal government needs to play a major role. The threat of a cyberattack is real, and its consequences could prove devastating to our economic and national security. Effective action cannot come too soon. Any solution to cybersecurity must allow the private sector, which owns 85 percent of our nation’s critical infrastructure, the freedom to use all tools at its disposal to protect against cyber intrusions. Business owners understand the need to protect themselves in the cyber domain and are devoting considerable resources to do so. Industry is right to expect that any Senate legislation will complement their current efforts.
Op-eds 07/25/2012
Wausau Daily Herald: Obama's vision puts government first
<b>Originally published in the Wausau Daily Herald, July 25th, 2012 </b> Like many Americans still enduring Obama's broken economy, I was astounded by the president’s recent comments. It was another Joe-the-Plumber moment where — detached from a teleprompter — he committed the classic gaffe of revealing what he truly believes. “If you’ve got a business,” President Obama said, “you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” This comment is incredibly insulting to entrepreneurs who work 60 hours a week building businesses that provide products, services, and employment to society.
Op-eds 07/18/2012
Washington Examiner: GOP must prevent a lame-duck looting session
<b>Originally printed in the Washington Examiner, July 18th, 2012</b> If Republicans want to win big in November, we must do more than show voters how we plan to govern in 2013. We must also demonstrate how we're working right now to stop the last-minute spending spree the Democrats have planned for December. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to force a postelection lame-duck session of Congress, in which defeated politicians will no longer be accountable to voters. In that context, he will have more leverage to raise taxes and increase spending against the threat of yet another government shutdown, leaving taxpayers on the hook for more borrowing, debts and deficits.
Op-eds 05/31/2012
Politico: Unlike Obama, Scott Walker delivers
<b>Originally printed in Politico, May 31st, 2012</b> Starting Wednesday, most of the folks I know in Wisconsin will be looking forward to a well-earned respite from what seems like a permanent campaign. Instead of taking a break from politics between elections, Wisconsin has for months been dealing with fugitive legislators, ugly protests, legal challenges and a series of recall contests allegedly aimed at overturning Gov. Scott Walker’s legislative agenda. There’s virtually no possibility that his successful reforms will be overturned, so one has to wonder: What exactly is the point of Tuesday’s recall vote?
Op-eds 04/30/2012
CNN: Obama, Democrats not serious about passing budget
<b>Originally printed on CNN.com, April 30th, 2012</b> The U.S. government is the largest financial entity in the world. Nothing else comes close. On Sunday, April 29, it will be exactly three years since the U.S. Senate passed a budget. If you own or work for a small business that has a loan from a bank, I'm quite sure your business has a budget -- and a rather detailed budget at that. Every year around tax time, many American families sit down to fill out tax forms, estimate their income, and set spending priorities for the upcoming year. It's the responsible thing to do.
Op-eds 03/26/2012
The Hill: Getting Cybersecurity Right
<b>Originally published in The Hill, March 26th, 2012</b> Our nation’s computer systems are vulnerable to online attack. This is a growing threat to our economy and our national security. American businesses understand this threat — this is why last year they invested more than $80 billion in the security of their computer networks. I came to Washington as the CEO of a manufacturing company. I know firsthand that the private sector is choking on a torrent of federal regulations. Job creators face a $1.75 trillion — and growing — regulatory burden. In his first three years, President Obama issued 106 regulations that each had more than a $100 million impact on the private sector, and hundreds more that imposed smaller but still heavy burdens.
Op-eds 03/21/2012
Wall Street Journal: ObamaCare's Costs Are Soaring
<b>Originally printed in the Wall Street Journal, March 21st, 2012</b> We already know the rosy budget estimates used to sell the law were wrong. One year after the passage of ObamaCare, this paper published an op-ed I wrote ("ObamaCare and Carey's Heart") about how America's health-care system saved my daughter's life, and describing how implementing this law will limit innovation, lead to rationing, and lower the quality of care. Now, two years out, I would like to focus on the budgetary disaster.
Op-eds 03/16/2012
Politico: Time for a cut, cap & balance budget
<b>Originally printed in Politico, March 16th, 2012 </b> The most important policy imperative in the world today is for the United States to balance its budget. Though the reasons we must do so are economic, the reasons we should are fundamentally moral. Everything our republic means to our citizens, and everything America means to the world – friend and foe alike – depends on our ability to pay our bills and honor our debts.
Op-eds 01/25/2012
Chippewa Herald: New Stillwater bridge a bipartisan success story
<b>Originally printed in the Chippewa Herald, January 25th, 2012.</b> If you pay attention to the news from Washington, D.C., you might believe that Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on anything. But I went to Washington willing to work with anyone who will acknowledge a problem and help develop real solutions. A case in point is the bipartisan agreement that has now been reached on replacing the Stillwater Lift Bridge.