Steve Rathje: The United States of America is the most powerful industrialized nation on the face of the earth. We have the ability and technological might to build the most advanced military defense system known to man. We can transplant the human heart from one individual to another. We've traveled far into space and to the depths of the oceans. How then, can we say we haven't the ability and the technology to economically manufacture machinery that will harvest the fragile produce from our orchards and fields? How then, can we not provide our own energy to help guarantee America's security and our way of life? I believe we can, and as your United States Senator, I believe we will.

Where does Tom Harkin stand on the issue? Click here to find out.

Judges

* It's crucial we elect leaders to appoint strong constructionist judges to the Supreme Court that will rule according to the law outlined in the Constitution and not interpret or legislate from the bench. As your Senator I will only vote to confirm constructionist judges.

Jobs and Business

Steve Rathje had the vision to view outsourcing as a way to keep jobs in Iowa. He founded a company that consistently reduced its customers' costs by 30%, and more importantly, created Iowa jobs that pay upwards of $20.00 an hour while successfully competing with offshore competition. His efforts have returned good paying manufacturing jobs from countries like China, Mexico, Europe and Canada back to the United States.

Steve Rathje is no amateur when it comes to cutting costs and creating jobs. Imagine his vision in Washington D.C.

Steve Rathje: "Using common sense, thinking outside the box, adapting to situations as they arise and overcoming obstacles that lie before me are tools I use daily to achieve success not only for our customers, but our employees and our company, as well."

We need a new face with fresh ideas. We need Steve Rathje as our next United States Senator.

Budget and Taxes

Make Tax Cuts Permanent:

Steve Rathje is a fiscal conservative that wants to make tax cuts permanent by 2010 to avoid the largest tax increase in American history. He is also determined to phase in a "fair tax" to replace our current, antiquated system with one that will help working families keep more of their hard-earned money. Steve believes that being taxed on what we spend, and not on what we earn, will close unfair tax loop-holes and create a "fair tax" system, whereby all Americans share the responsibility.

Steve Rathje: "Like you, I'm one who believes in keeping more of what we earn, getting big government out of our lives, paying as we go and creating real jobs that build families and make for a stronger, safer Iowa and America."

End the "Death Tax":

The "death tax" is wrong and Steve supports permanently ending this erroneous tax. Small businesses and family farmers are hardest hit. Iowans should not be punished when they pass on their life's work to the next generation.

Stop Out-of-Control Federal Spending:

Steve has a simple, three point plan to reign in federal spending. First, we must give the President line-item veto authority. Second, Congress needs to pass a balanced budget amendment. Last, Congress must stop earmarks and entitlements from being attached to legislation. Spending must be separate and receive an up or down vote based on its own merit.

Education

As a businessman, mentor and former High School assistant football coach, Steve Rathje understands the importance of an education.

Steve Rathje: "Educating our youth - the future business and political leaders of this nation - must be a top priority."

* No where in the Constitution is the federal government given the authority to be the heavy hand on education. The federal government got involved in education the same way they crossed their jurisdictional lines in a lot of other areas – by offering the states money with strings attached.

* While some national standards are needed the majority of the responsibility for educating our country's young should rest on local school boards.

* One major problem with education today is a lack of parental involvement. It is a long proven fact that children are better students when their parents begin reading to them at an early age and continue to have an active role in their educational though high school.

* I favor vouchers and firmly believe that schools and school districts should compete for the opportunity to teach our children.

* I'm a strong advocate of home schooling and believe that it's the fundamental right of every parent to home school their children if that is the path they choose for their family.

Iowa Values

Pro-Life:

Steve Rathje is pro-life, from the very beginning to the very end. He believes that life should be protected at all stages and will never waiver in his protection of the unborn.

Steve Rathje: "As a pro-life parent and grandparent, I will always strive to protect the life in that of the unborn and will be forever diligent in protecting all children from those who seek to do them harm."

Stem Cell Research:

Steve Rathje is opposed to any stem cell research that destroys a living embryo and will not support funding by your tax dollars. He does, however, support research advances in adult stem cells and infant cord blood which does not require destroying human embryos. He is also opposed to any form of human cloning.

Marriage:

Steve Rathje is committed to defending the sanctity of marriage as the union between one MAN and one WOMAN and supports passing a constitutional amendment to reaffirm this basic tenet of the American culture.

Immigration

Steve Rathje is not an anti-immigration candidate and welcomes those who want to legally come to America, live by its laws, and call it home. However, the Democrats, including Tom Harkin and even some liberal Republicans, have turned their backs on America by pandering to a potential voting block of millions by insisting on some form of amnesty.

They want a temporary-documented worker program that will give illegal aliens a "reasonable" path to earned citizenship. A reasonable path is, and has been, in place and it's called the Law!

Steve Rathje: "I will pander to no one. I will not support amnesty and I will not trade one single American life, or the life of a legal immigrant for that of some common criminal or potential terrorist that chooses to sneak across our borders."

Border Security

Our borders are all porous; especially our southern border with Mexico. At this time, the best option is to build a fence with the technology and human support needed to monitor effectively. The Mexican government must also assume border security responsibility or face trade sanctions with the United States. Harkin's attitude toward protecting our borders is pretty chilling. He advocates amnesty for those who have entered our country illegally and has voted against efforts to increase our border security.

The bottom line is this: With Tom Harkin we will continue to have holes in our border security whereby both illegals, and those who would do us harm, can enter without fear of penalty. We are not only a nation of immigrants; we are also a nation of laws. Tom Harkin simply refuses to accept that.

Steve Rathje: "I will work tirelessly to secure our borders, and enforce our immigration laws immediately. I will move to severely penalize those who knowingly and willingly assist anyone that ignores the law and hires illegals, and see to it that those who have entered our country illegally are dealt with accordingly and never, ever rewarded with amnesty of any kind whatsoever."

War on Terror

Steve believes we must stop politicizing the War on Terror. Terrorists who seek to destroy freedom and democracy around the world must be defeated if we are ever to ensure the safety and security of our nation. We must remove the handcuffs from our fighting men and women and give our Generals the tools and legal means to track down terrorists and eliminate them before they have any chance to mount another 911.

War in Iraq

Steve believes that leaving Iraq prior to securing the region will only embolden the enemy. He also believes that setting any timetable for departure will only play into the hands of the enemy. They will simply lay low and wait for us to leave and then begin a bloody reign of terror and economic instability unlike this world has ever known. Defeating Al-Qaeda and the Jihadists in Iraq is essential not only for the safety, security and economy of this nation, but for all nations around the world. We must view our nation through the eyes of our enemies if we are ever to be truly secure.

2nd Amendment

Steve Rathje supports the right of all Americans to Keep and Bear Arms and firmly believes that the 2nd Amendment is the amendment that defends the other 26 in our Constitution. Steve will defend this right.

Energy Independence

Renewable Fuels:

Steve is a strong advocate for renewable energy, yet believes its a short-term solution to a long-term problem. As your U.S. Senator, Steve Rathje will work closely with our renewable fuels industries to ensure Iowa continues to be on the forefront of ethanol and bio-diesel as well as work to create an energy policy that will safely support our energy needs and substantially reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Nuclear Energy:

Steve supports renewed efforts to jumpstart nuclear energy in America. It's a safe and environmentally friendly form of energy that gets us one step closer to energy independence.

Open New Refineries and Drill New Oil Wells:

Hurricane Katrina showed us how fragile our refinery system is. We need to diversify our refinery system, expanding out of the Gulf region. The United States cannot afford to continue to sit on its hands and not open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We have the technology today to drill safely and through environmentally friendly means.