The rubber is about to meet the road again.

In a speech titled, "A Time for Choosing," Ronald Reagan ignited the conservative movement in America.   It is time for choosing again.  

In 2002, I lost my first run for public office narrowly (by 4 percentage points) to Rick Renzi – after being outspent dramatically. (Remember how the Arizona Republic reported the next morning that I had won?) Rick Renzi has announced he will not seek re-election.

So, I am running for Congress again. And in many ways, it would be more appropriate to say that I am running “against” Congress. Yes, we have sent some true statesmen to Washington, but there are far too few of them there.

Congress is broken. First and foremost, Congress and our political leaders must stop the quest for political advantage that results in deplorable behavior like the full page ad in the New York Times that discredited the Commanding General of our troops during wartime. Do they think that the terrorist leaders don’t see the New York Times?

My message to Congress: “End the partisan gamesmanship and defend this country!”

Second, Congress and our political leaders need to get serious about border security. We, the people, have spoken in one giant chorus and it still seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Border security is national security.

My message to Congress: “You have an obligation to protect this nation. You have no idea who is entering this country, and what they are bringing with them. Do you think that if a terrorist acquired a dirty bomb or other weapon of mass destruction that they would hesitate for a second to use it against us? And they know our southern border is a sieve. Do something about it.” Then and only then can we hope to tackle what must be done to fix our immigration system.

Third, Congress and our political leaders need to get serious about fixing what is broken in government. Politics and government in America are broken. Washington, DC is broken.

Much of what government does, it has no business doing. It spends too much, wastes too much, taxes too much, regulates too much. Much of what government is supposed to do it does poorly or not at all. Bloated bureaucracies and destructive government policies invite incompetence and frustrate common-sense.

Runaway government spending is no joke. It is what will bankrupt our future if we don’t get a handle on it. It is immoral to take the hard-earned money of working Americans to pay for nonsense projects in order to bring home the bacon for re-election purposes.

My message to Congress: “Reform spending, now!”

It is unacceptable to force the taxpayers of this country to fund terrorist organizations, even indirectly. Our U.S. budget still contains funding for the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority!

Now, more than ever, we need advocates in Congress for bedrock American values: individual responsibility; entrepreneurial spirit; economic opportunity; -- all within the framework of limited government. Quick fixes are too late and will be too little. Fundamental change in the way government works is now vital.

I have been an advocate for: taxpayers, small businesses, natural resource businesses and the jobs they create, gun-owners and parents wanting the best education for their children.

I’ve made a real difference for Arizona. I’m ready to fight for real change in Congress.

So let’s be champions of change. Together, let’s take on Washington. Let’s cut taxes, and more – let’s reform a ridiculously onerous tax code. Let’s cut government to only that which it can competently do. Let’s renew ethics and restore common-sense to Congress. Let’s re-establish a respect for life and the protection of our liberty. Let’s fight against big government “solutions” like the resurrected Hillary-care and let’s get a handle on the high cost of health care. And while we’re at it, let’s call the terrorists what they really are – evil…and illegal immigration what it is – illegal.

Let’s remind our leaders that in America, the people are in charge. And we want our Congress back.

Advocacy for change has been my life’s work.  It is time to take that advocacy to Congress. That’s what this campaign is all about.  Now is NOT the time to sit on the sidelines.

I relish an honest battle in broad daylight against the liberal Democrats’ bad ideas.

Will you join me?

• Taxes:
  After Arizona suffered under the burdens of eight straight years of tax increases, I led the ballot initiative that stopped tax increases cold. With this victory, Arizona has now enjoyed 15 years without a legislatively-enacted income, sales or property tax increase.
• Education:
  When too many of Arizona’s students lacked quality education or alternatives to failing schools, I advocated for real education reforms including charter schools and the nation’s first public/private education tax credits. And I fought for and won scholarships for disabled kids and foster kids. With these victories Arizona now leads the nation in educational choices and our public/private tax credits are the model for the nation.
• Ethics:
  After Arizona Legislators were caught taking bribes from casino lobbyists, I advocated for strict ethical reforms, forcing action. With this victory, Arizona Legislators can no longer take big gifts from lobbyists, put excess campaign cash in their pockets or fundraise when in session.
• Regulations:
  With small businesses struggling under Arizona’s burdensome, duplicative and often conflicting over-regulation, I started Arizona’s “Get Government Off Our Backs” movement and helped Arizona take the first important steps toward true regulatory reform.