Thank you all for being here today as we begin an important journey together.

Many of us have come from different places but we share a common vision and passion…to do our part to rebuild our communities and make America stronger tomorrow than it is today.

While each of us may have different roles to play…coming together, standing together and working together give us the greatest opportunity to be successful in the great challenges ahead.

I am very blessed to have my wonderful wife Cate be so supportive and such an enthusiastic partner in the effort we kickoff today.

We’ve had some important responsibilities in our lives but none more important than the duty we have to raise our children. Cate and I have been blessed with two wonderful children.

Our daughter Libby has her priorities straight and is getting ready for final exams as she finishes her sophomore year at Marquette.

Our son John Vincent is here with us today. I get many comments from people who have a lasting image of John’s passion from the last campaign.

I am an incredibly fortunate father to have so much energy, understanding and commitment from my children.  They are a big reason why we feel so strongly about why this battle matters.

I speak so fondly of family because we appreciate that each of you in this room has allowed my family to become part of yours and yours to become part of ours. I deeply value the faith you put in me.

My friends, we are all here today for the same reason. You and I believe that tomorrow should be better than today and we are willing to roll up our sleeves and get to work to make that happen.

We look at the mess in Washington...the poisonous partisan feuds where press releases are taking the place of progress...and we know there has to be a better way.

Family budgets are being squeezed like never before. Gas price, food prices, energy bills, health care costs...basic necessities are eating up more and more of our family’s paycheck.

All the things we can’t live without cost too much. Even though Congress promised to be different – all we have seen is more of the same.

While our businesses are struggling to create good jobs and our families are struggling to pay the bills, Congress is actually trying to take more of the money you earn every week.

We need a new direction in Washington.

That’s why I am announcing today I am a running to serve as Northeast Wisconsin’s voice for change in Congress.

Elections are about choices and they should include a healthy and honest debate.

The incumbent Congressman and I offer voters a clear contrast.

While I have no doubt Congressman Kagen believes he is doing the right thing for his constituents, on issue after important issue, I would have voted differently than Steve Kagen did.

During his time in Congress, Steve Kagen voted with Nancy Pelosi and his extreme liberal leadership 95 percent of the time. He’s voted with the ACLU 100 precent of the time and with the National Abortion Rights Action League 100 percent of the time.

However, Congressman Kagen has voted with the National Taxpayers Union just 7 percent of the time.  
What that means, is that our voice in the House of Representatives is no different than the voices being heard from places like San Francisco and New York City.

Our East and West coast friends are certainly entitled to their point of view. But, their perspective is very different from the common sense, kitchen table values that characterize our part of America.

Let me start this campaign with a simple request of my opponent.

Let’s have an honest discussion about our real differences on the issues. We don’t need to call names, impugn each other’s integrity or twist facts. Let’s debate ideas...and let’s do it often.

Let me give you an idea of what I mean.

One of the biggest debates going on in Washington DC today is over whether to allow the tax reductions that invigorated the economy in 2001 and 2003 to expire.

By the way, “letting tax reductions expire” is Washington-talk for raising taxes.

Just a few weeks ago, Steve Kagen voted for a budget plan that would get rid of the tax reductions. The end result is a tax increase of $683 billion.

Congressman Kagen’s budget plan would dramatically increase taxes on families with children, reinstate the death tax and resurrect the marriage penalty.

All told, it’s estimated that Steve Kagen’s vote would lead to a tax increase of $1,667 for the typical taxpayer in the 8th Congressional district.

As hard as it is to imagine, Steve Kagen’s votes are even tougher on small businesses.  Under the Democrat plan, small businesses can expect a $4,000 jump in their tax bills.  That would be a body blow to an economy that is already struggling to succeed.

This is a perfect example of where I would have voted differently than Steve Kagen...and I’ll even take it a step further.
Not only do we need tax relief...we need tax reform.

Our tax code is too big…too complicated…and too costly. We will offer reforms that reflect the common sense of the people of northeastern Wisconsin.

At the root of the Congressman Kagen’s tax-raising budget is his support for out-of-control government spending.

Just days after being sworn in to Congress, Steve Kagen said: “Now, we’ll freeze federal spending at last year’s level, and eliminate earmarks in the federal budget.  We’re putting the fiscal house in order.”

But, here’s what actually happened.  With Steve Kagen’s help, Congress passed 11,737 earmarks in 2007 at a cost of almost 17 billion dollars.

Again, I would have voted differently and I’ll take the fight against pork-barrel spending a step further.

Elect me to Congress and I will join principled members of both parties, including Paul Ryan and Russ Feingold, and I won’t ask for a single earmark.

If we are to ever truly fix and reform our federal government, earmark, pork-barrel spending from both political parties must stop.

Pork is great when it’s on the grill....but it is time to get it out of our federal budget once and for all.
My friends, as we stand here today, our national debt is $9.2 trillion dollars and growing.  Congress, with Steve Kagen’s help, continues to borrow from foreign governments and steal from the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for other programs.

Elect me as your Congressman and I’ll not only work to get our fiscal house in order, I’ll fight for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution so that Congress can never again run up a tab on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

We need change in Washington.  And it starts with applying some sense to our tax code and setting some priorities for government spending.

And, as we look to set priorities, there is no more important role the government has to play than to protect you, your family and our way of life.

We know there are enemies of freedom who believe they please their god by murdering innocent Americans.  That’s why it makes no sense that Steve Kagen has voted to block the reauthorization of a terrorist-surveillance law that has saved lives.

I would have voted differently than Steve Kagen and I’ll take the fight to protect our families a step further.
Elect me as your Congressman and I’ll give our brave soldiers and law enforcement the tools they need to keep us safe in this dangerous world.

One thing people have come to expect from me during my time in the state legislature is honest answers.  
Sometimes people don’t like those answers...they are looking for someone to tell them what they want to hear – not what they need to know.

Some people didn’t like it when I said welfare recipients who could work, should work.  

Some people didn’t like it when I said government employees should pay at least a little something for their health care coverage because the taxpayers couldn’t afford the full bill.

Some people didn’t like it when I said property taxes in Wisconsin are too high and I passed a tax freeze.
Yes, not everyone liked the answers, but they usually appreciated the straight talk.

That’s why I get so frustrated when politicians say one thing when they are in their districts, but do another when they are voting in Washington.

For instance, when Steve Kagen is in Wisconsin he tells us he wants to secure the borders... but his votes in Washington tell a different story.

Steve Kagen has voted against efforts to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving federal housing assistance.  He’s voted against full funding for the construction of a border fence.  He’s voted against a measure that would stop illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded heath care.

Again, I would have voted differently than Steve Kagen...and, I think you would as well.

If there is one thing that separates our corner of the state – and of the country for that matter – it’s our values.  
You see it in the respect we give our veterans as they march in a parade.

You see it in the generosity of our people, and the way we always rally to help those in need.

You see it opening weekend of deer season, as several generations of families take to the woods.

You see it in our commitment to our faith and our respect for human life.

More than anything, those values guide my life and will guide my votes in Congress.

Steve Kagen has voted twice now against amendments that would have prohibited taxpayer dollars from being used to perform or promote abortion.

I would have voted differently than Steve Kagen and I’ll always stand up for our shared values.

As some of you know, I competed in the Boston Marathon this past Monday.

When you are out running for 3 hours and 21 minutes you get a chance to think about a lot of things – not the least of which is why on earth I decided that running for 3 hours and 21 minutes was a good idea!

But when you cross the finish line, you know why you put yourself through the hard work and training.
 
Eighteen months ago, I never expected to be standing here today.

But, then, the new Congress adopted the bad habits of the old Congress...and added a few of their own.

Nothing changed…it just got worse.

Pork barrel spending wasn’t eliminated – it was embraced.

Government spending continues to rise and Congress is looking to raise taxes on families and small businesses to pay the bill.

The debt is growing and Social Security dollars are being raided as much as ever.

Gas prices have skyrocketed to record levels...and now the Democrats are even talking about a 50 cent a gallon hike in the gas tax.

My friends, I can’t sit on the sidelines and allow decisions to be made in Washington that are going to take money out of family budgets and cost us jobs.

I’m willing to enter this race because I see a finish line where we not only lower taxes...but we reform our entire tax code.

A finish line where we not only finally end pork barrel spending but we put our fiscal house in order once and for all.

A finish line where our military and law enforcement have all the tools they need to track and stop terrorists.

A finish line where our borders are secure and the word illegal means what it says.

A finish line where all life is cherished as a gift from God and our values aren’t ignored by the people elected to serve us.

Yes, my friends, this is a race worth running and with your help we’re going to make it to that finish line.
 
Thank you for being here and God bless you all!