Steve Pearce: Why You Should Vote for Me

2010 is an amazing year in American politics. It's a year of incredible change; the government has overstepped its bounds, but the public reaction to unpopular legislation, like the $800 billion stimulus or cap-and-trade, has changed the landscape of the upcoming election.

Voters are rightfully concerned that the crippling national debt and pending tax increases will leave their children with a less prosperous country. They are also deeply worried about their own economic situation. Despite promises to the contrary, and a concerted attempt by the White House to paint a laughably rosy economic picture, unemployment continues to stay near 10 percent. In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem."

The current leadership in our government does not get it. Democrats have proven that they cannot be trusted with the purse strings. In 20 short months, Congress has piled on about $3 trillion in extra debt. 80 percent of the funds in some green jobs programs appropriated in the debt-ridden stimulus package went to Chinese and Korean made products. Essentially, we borrowed money from foreign countries to stimulate their economies, and leave our children and grandchildren to foot the bill.

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I was a conservative before I was a Republican. Therefore, I believe Republicans should immediately roll back spending for all non-Defense, non-Veterans Affairs programs to 2008 levels, before the bailouts and the stimulus package. This is a great first step in getting us on a course toward fiscal solvency, and would also show the American people that we take our job very seriously. But spending cuts alone will not do the trick. We also must foster an environment that promotes economic growth and certainty.

As a businessman, I know what it takes to create jobs, and the best strategy to create jobs is to get the government off the backs of our small business owners. One-time tax credits for new hires are not the answer, because businesses cannot justify the spending it takes to hire a new employee in order to wait several months for a tax credit that will not even meet those costs. Permanent tax relief for individuals and small businesses should be the top priority for the new Congress. And with a Republican majority in January, tax relief will be at the top of the agenda.

In November, voters have a choice between the reckless fiscal and economic policies of the past two years, or electing a Congress that is willing to make the tough decisions that Americans are forced to make every day in these tough times. It is time to elect people to Congress who take their job seriously, and do not view the Treasury as their personal piggy bank.

Steve Pearce is the Republican nominee for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district.