The Importance of Continued Federal Funding for Higher Education

Recently I have been asked to respond to various questions posed by media organizations on my views on certain issues. This is the fifth, and last, in a series of blogs in which I will share my answers to some of those questions. Last up: "If elected, how would you propose to ensure the U.S. has an educational system that makes the nation competitive on an international basis?"

Congress can make the educational system for grades K-12 more effective by letting local governments and states have full control over the funding and goals of K-12 education. On the university/college level, Congress must continue funding critical research, such as that conducted under the National Science Foundation. The NSF was founded in 1950 to "promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense." The NSF funds research in the fields of computer science, mathematics, economics and social sciences, ensuring that Americans remain in the forefront of technological and other advances.

The federal government has a role in higher education, funding research in our colleges and universities and ensuring access to higher education through student loans to our citizens who are interested in pursuing a college degree but could not afford to without a loan. Congress created student loans in 1958 in the National Defense Education Act, which recognized the importance to this country of supporting higher education.

I am one of only two Republican congressional candidates to support a continuing role for the federal government in higher education. At the candidate forum sponsored on July 19th by the University of Missouri Extension Service of Southwest Missouri and KOLR10, I was the first candidate to argue in favor of maintaining the federal role in higher education as being critical for the nation's future. All of the other Republican candidates (except for the senator from Joplin) advocated for elimination of federal funding in higher education. I believe it would devastate our ability to compete in commerce and defend ourselves if we were to adopt such a short- sighted view of removing all federal involvement in higher education.

Earmarks- the need for better congressional stewardship

Recently I have been asked to respond to various questions posed by media organizations on my views on certain issues. This is the fourth in a series of blogs in which I will share my answers to some of those questions. Next up: "Earmarks….What do you think about them and why?"

While earmarks make up a small percentage of the federal budget, they have become symbolic in the public's mind of selfish, parochial spending. One of the main themes of my campaign is Stewardship—Renewing the American Spirit. Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. It is time for governments, nongovernmental organizations and each citizen to adopt a mindset of stewardship of resources, including money, abilities, talents, people and the environment. Our current social, economic, and environmental problems are due, in large part, to selfishness, greed and other irresponsible actions. The federal government, and in particular Congress, must lead the way by modeling stewardship over the resources and responsibilities entrusted to it by the people. Earmarks should be abolished, not because of the economic impact on total federal spending, but for Congress to signify to the American people that it understands that Congress must be a better steward of the resources entrusted to it. Allowing individual Congressmen to insert spending for pet projects (like the bridge to nowhere) does not inspire confidence in the people, especially during a time of financial crisis. Eliminating earmarks is a small sacrifice to make to help restore the trust of the American people in the Congress.

My Proven Experience as a Public Servant Best Serves You as your next Congressman

Recently I have been asked to respond to various questions posed by media organizations on my views on certain issues. This is the third in a series of blogs in which I will share my answers to some of those questions. Next up: "What experience would you bring to the office of U.S. Representative that would benefit the residents of District 7?"

I am a focused, dedicated and creative thinker, experienced in seeking out and implementing new solutions to existing problems while remaining true to conservative principles. I have a proven track record of public service- working constructively within the framework of government and with citizens, businesses and nonprofit groups- to tackle the serious issues that confront us. Also, I have demonstrated that I care about whether my performance in office and the policies pursued actually impact people in a positive way by increasing their personal opportunities, responsibilities, general wellbeing, health and safety.

Roadmap for America's Future Gains Endorsements

Recently I have been asked to respond to various questions posed by media organizations on my views on certain issues. This is the second in a series of blogs in which I will share my answers to some of those questions. Next up:"Using as a baseline the FY 2010 budget, with federal revenues of about $ 2 trillion and federal spending at $ 3.5 trillion, how would you propose that Congress achieve a balanced budget?"

We can ultimately achieve a realistic balanced budget with a surplus over a period of years by adopting a comprehensive plan involving tax reform, job creation, spending cuts/reform, and stabilizing entitlement programs. That is why I support Representative Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future."

In the last two weeks, Ryan's "roadmap" has been endorsed as the plan Republicans need to adopt and run on in the fall campaign. First, Fred Barnes endorsed the plan in the article "Think Big- Republicans should embrace Paul Ryan's Road Map," The Weekly Standard, Vol. 15, No. 41, Tuesday, July 13, 2010. Barnes starts his endorsement as follows:

"For Republicans, the Road Map authored by congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is the most important proposal in domestic policy since Ronald Reagan embraced supply side economics in the 1980 presidential campaign. It's not only the freshest, boldest, and most comprehensive Republican thinking, it's also the most relevant. If Republicans adopt the Road Map as their basic ideological blueprint, it offers them the prospect of a landslide in the midterm election this year, followed by victory in the presidential election in 2012."

Also endorsing the roadmap is Carol Baum in the article "U.S. Crash Looms without Roadmap Directions," Bloomberg/BusinessWeek, Thursday, July 8, 2010. Ms. Baum writes of Ryan's plan:

"[T]he plan reduces deficits and debt, putting the federal budget on a sustainable path; results in stronger per-capita economic growth; puts Medicare and Social Security on a sound footing; and lowers health-care expenses while reducing the number of uninsured….And that's not Congressman Ryan talking. That's the assessment of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office…."

The greatest challenge facing the next congressman and how I would handle it

Recently I have been asked to respond to various questions posed by media organizations on my views on certain issues. The next few blogs will share my answers to some of those questions. First up: "What do you see as the greatest challenges of the office at this time and how do you propose to meet them?"

The greatest challenge is restoring public confidence in the ability of Congress to constructively handle the issues of our time. There is strong sentiment that many congressmen are too engaged in partisan, self-serving agendas rather than listening to the concerns of the people and working with them to design solutions to the problems of the country by unleashing the strength of individual Americans and limiting the scope and size of the federal government. I would focus on reestablishing public confidence by first working with other congressmen in implementing a plan that creates an environment of stable economic growth and job creation.

As I said on May 7, 2009, one of the reasons I am running for Congress is that people who are middle class (or aspire to be middle class) see the traditional middle class foundation of a decent job and affordable housing, healthcare and higher education ( for one's self and one's family) slowing dissolving away from under them. They also see their freedoms and liberties being threatened by an ever growing and encroaching federal government. As an article well states the situation:
"...Republicans...need a reform agenda that helps ordinary Americans- better, helps them help themselves- and that can be seen as such... (M)iddle-class families are the country's backbone, not one of its interest groups....Without a thriving middle class, America will not be a strong country and will certainly not be a country interested in limited government." (from "Beyond 'No'," by Ponnuru and Lowry, National Review, June 8, 2009).

That is why I support Congressman Paul Ryan's proposal to control federal spending, empower small businesses to create jobs, encourage individual responsibility and establish a healthy economy. For more details on Ryan's plan, go to www.roadmap.republican.budget.house.gov.

My Position on Abortion

In light of Missouri Right to Life's decision to endorse one of my opponents, there have been questions about where all the candidates stand on the issue of abortion. The Joplin Globe today sent out the following questions to all candidates. I want to share with you my answers to those questions so that you are informed and can pass on my position on the issue of abortion to others.

1. What is your position on abortion?

I oppose abortion except in cases where it is necessary to prevent the death of the mother, in cases of incest committed against a minor, and in cases of forcible rape.

As prosecutor, I defended the 2005 amendment to the abortion law requiring a doctor who is performing abortions to have medical privileges within a thirty mile radius of where the abortion is performed. Greene County was the only county in the state where we had a doctor performing abortions without local medical privileges. In the federal case Springfield Healthcare Center, Inc. v. Darrell L. Moore, case no. 05-4296-CV-C, we filed an answer to uphold the law, met with local doctors, and prepared to defend the law from attacks by out of state Planned Parenthood pro-abortion attorneys. Springfield Healthcare Center and Planned Parenthood saw the obstacles and dismissed the suit.

I would note that Missouri Right to Life sent me a letter last week indicating that while it was endorsing another candidate, I would be listed on their website as a pro-life candidate. That letter (dated June 15, 2010) starts as follows: "Dear Mr. Moore, Thank you for standing up for the sanctity of life. We have recorded you as pro-life in our records and on our website."

Also, my wife and I through the years have supported the Vitae Caring Foundation and the Springfield Pregnancy Care Center. Blye provided the music for years at the Vitae fundraising dinner here in Springfield.

2. What is your position on stem cell research involving embryos?

I support stem cell research based on stem cells harvested from umbilical cord blood and from adult tissue. However, I view anything else as the willful creation and destruction of human life for selfish reasons. Therefore, I oppose what is known as somatic cell nuclear transfer.

3. How did you vote on Amendment 2 in 2006? I voted against it.

In light of my demonstrated and active support of pro-life positions, your guess is as good as mine as to why Missouri Right to Life did not endorse me. I hope that you look not only at my position and experience in this area, but also look at my positions on the other serious issues of the day (e.g., creating jobs, federal fiscal responsibility, reducing the deficit and national debt, real health care reform and a return to a more limited federal government) and see that I am the best candidate to serve you as your next congressman.

Why I Am the Best Candidate

Over the past year, my fellow candidates and I have been asked to answer the question "Why are you the best qualified candidate to be our next Congressman?" This is a question that more and more voters will be asking and seeking the answer to as we enter the last eight weeks before casting their votes in the Republican Primary on August 3^rd.

What I have heard from most of you over the past year is that you desire the following in our next congressman. First, he must be a person who is a focused, dedicated and creative thinker, used to seeking out new solutions to existing problems while remaining true to conservative principles. He needs to be a person with a proven track record of public service- working constructively within the framework of government and with citizens, businesses and nonprofit groups- to tackle the serious issues that confront us. He should also be a person that has demonstrated that he cares not just about holding office or implementing policy, but cares about how his performance in office and the policies pursued actually impact people in a positive way by increasing their personal opportunities, responsibilities, general wellbeing, health and safety.

If those are the qualities you seek in your next congressman, then I am the best person to be nominated as your next congressman. During the past eleven years as the elected prosecutor of Greene County, I have reorganized the office into effective teams prosecuting crime and holding offenders accountable, especially career and dangerous criminals. I have hired quality people to serve the public as prosecutors, investigators, paralegals, secretaries, technicians and supervisors in carrying out the primary mission of the office to be ministers of justice. Working with the Courts, law enforcement and MADD, we established one of the top four DWI (driving while intoxicated) courts in the country, which is reducing recidivism among repeat drunk drivers through a combination of punishment, accountability and treatment. Under my leadership, the office has maintained a high DWI conviction rate- over 98% in the past year. The office partnered with the Victim Center and others in creating Kids Court- which helps children who are victims and/or witnesses of crime to understand, be more familiar with and relaxed in a courtroom environment. We implemented new prevention/intervention/prosecution policies to encourage parents to keep their children in school, joining with the Springfield Public Schools and many nongovernmental organizations to encourage children to have at least a 95% attendance rate and graduate from high school. Why? Because at one time a study indicated that 80% of inmates in the Department of Corrections were truants and did not graduate from high school.

We have partnered with many governmental and nongovernmental organizations in focusing on improving the quality of life of abused and neglected children by prosecuting offenders and pursuing better intervention programs. In the past two years, working with The Center for Dispute Resolution of Missouri State University and others, we started the first Restorative Justice Program in the state of Missouri for adult offenders, and are recognized as a leader in this significant evolution of how some misdemeanor and low level felony property offenders can be handled outside the traditional courtroom norm. Restorative Justice leads to better offender accountability, the opportunity for more victim input on what corrective measures the offender needs to take to make the victim whole, more immediate and meaningful restitution to the victim, and a better understanding by the offender of how his conduct hurt the victim. Studies show that where the restorative justice model is used, offender recidivism is reduced and victim satisfaction increased.

These are just a few examples of how I have fulfilled the responsibilities of my office in a focused, determined and caring manner to improve public safety and health while remaining true to conservative principles.

I have also shown my commitment to improving the quality of life of people through my service on many nonprofit organizations through the years, including the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Ozarks Fighting Back Advisory Board, the Interagency Task Force on Gangs and Youth Violence, the Underage Drinking Task Force and the Ambassadors for Children Advisory Committee of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. Serving the public, whether as a private citizen or in a public office, is my calling in life.

Please cast your vote for the candidate who has demonstrated through the years the necessary focus, determination, and principled caring creative thinking that is needed to face the challenging issues of our time. I would be honored and humbled to serve as your next congressman.