Economic Prosperity – Like most Americans, Luke Messer is concerned about the massive bailouts of Wall Street and mega-corporations. In the Indiana Statehouse, Luke supported common sense, job-creating efforts like the launch of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, tax incentives for small business and a “shovel-ready” program to spur job growth. In Congress, Luke will fight to cut taxes for Indiana’s working families and small businesses while opposing government bailouts for big corporations. Luke will fight to reduce the bureaucratic red tape that stifles the ability of local businesses to create jobs.

Tax and Fiscal Policy – Luke Messer is a fiscal conservative who recognizes that government is spending our money in Washington. Serving on the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee in 2005, Luke helped Governor Daniels craft the state’s first balanced budget in eight years – a budget that, without a tax increase, turned a $600 million deficit into a $300 million surplus in a single year. In Congress, Luke Messer will take a commonsense Hoosier approach to budget issues. Luke understands that America cannot spend itself out of a recession or borrow its way out of debt. He also knows that raising taxes in a recession is the worst thing government could do to get our economy turned around.

Education – Luke Messer is an education reformer. During his tenure on the Indiana House Education Committee, Luke helped pass ISTEP reform and his work on high school dropout prevention received national recognition. Luke Messer understands that education decisions are best made by families at a local level. In Congress, Messer would support a program to streamline federal grant dollars to the states, maximize dollars to the classroom and minimize red tape. Under this program, the federal government would send the same amount of money to the State of Indiana to support education, but eliminate bureaucratic red tape and give local education leaders greater freedom to spend those dollars to innovate and improve Indiana schools.

Energy Independence – Luke Messer believes we need a comprehensive energy plan for America. In the Indiana General Assembly, Luke supported efforts to create clean coal technology and promote bio-fuels. In Congress, Luke will fight for a plan that includes conservation, incentives to increase solar, wind and other clean renewable energy sources, and an increase in America’s domestic production of oil by building more refineries and drilling here and now.

National Security – Luke Messer understands the threats facing our nation and the resolve we must have to maintain our security and freedoms. Luke knows we must stand by our men and women in uniform as they fight to protect us from America’s enemies. He will fight to make sure our military has all of the tools it needs to keep America safe.

Moral Integrity – Luke Messer believes elected leaders have an obligation to behave with integrity and keep the public trust. That is why, in the Indiana General Assembly, Luke helped pass ethics reforms to protect state government whistle blowers and create the Indiana Office of the Inspector General. In Congress, Luke will stand strong against business-as-usual in Washington, D.C.

Conservative Principles – Luke Messer is the co-founder Childshare Indiana, a faith-based not-for-profit engaging Indiana’s churches to help Hoosier youth in foster care. During his tenure in the Indiana Statehouse, Luke earned a 100% rating from the Indiana Right to Life and an “A” rating from the NRA. In Congress, Luke will continue the fight to support these traditional Hoosier values. Luke is also a strong defender of the Rule of Law, believing that judges should interpret the law, not legislate from the bench.