http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/index/ en admin@brockolivo.com Copyright 2008 2008-08-05T01:32:01-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/look_to_the_skies/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/look_to_the_skies/#When:01:32:01Z 08/04/08 Look to the Skies! Only a Few More Hours Campaign Update Even an old running back like me knows that sometimes you have to go to the air to get to the end zone. This weekend we launched an aerial campaign the likes of hasn't been seen in this area for many years. We have planes with VOTE OLIVO banners trailing behind them over parts of the 9th District reminding folks to vote on Tuesday. We decided back in February how we were going to run my campaign and what we were going to do to win. We were going to talk to the voters directly and honestly. Team Olivo was never going to bombard you with advertising on television and radio or impersonal mail and robo-calls bragging about what type of person I want you to think I am. I also refused to go negative against my fellow candidates to win a party primary. I understand the true spirit of competition and it does not include throwing stones and berating your opponents. Rather, it comes down to who is willing to sacrifice the most, who is willing to rise above their opponents. It is during times like these when one's true character shines through. I hope I, as a candidate, have treated you, as a voter, as we both expect to be treated: with respect. As a candidate, you could say I am unusual. I have talked openly about my past, present, and future. I have addressed the important issues of the day like energy prices, the evolution of our healthcare delivery system, the state of the economy and the shameful federal double taxation on recipients of social security and public pension benefits. I have shared my personal insights into free trade and immigration reform as the only candidate with international business experience and the fact my wife is becoming a legally naturalized citizen. I have been the first to admit when I didn't know an answer or when I have misspoken. Along those lines, when considering who to support in the 9th Congressional race, I want you to know the following points: ·  I am the only full-time candidate in this race. I have had a job interview every day with the voters of our district since February. ·  I continue to be open to your ideas, your concerns, and your solutions on how best to represent you. I am not a career politician nor do I aspire to become one. ·  I am ready to defend all the rights of the unborn, hunters, and sportsmen. ·  I am the only candidate who has worked in Washington, D.C., and knows firsthand what to expect upon arrival. ·  I grew up in Hermann, MO, graduated high school in Washington, MO, graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, and earned my masters from the Università di Bologna in Italy. · I have had success in athletics – gaining recognition and rare honors in high school, college, and the National Football League. The honors I received were not always because of records, but also for the intangibles that I brought to each of the programs; leadership, work ethic, determination, decision making, respect and doing what I believed to be right, going against the consensus at times. What does being successful in athletics have to do with running for Congress? A lot; the same qualities that took me to the highest level of professional sport, against all odds, are the same qualities that I will take with me into the halls of Congress. Office holders such as J.C. Watts, Steve Largent, Jack Kemp, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Dwight Eisenhower all had athletic backgrounds. ·  Every day I bring the passion and the excitement to this campaign that 9th District voters appreciate from Kenny Hulshof. · I am a fiscal conservative and I will be a fiscal hawk in Congress because one of the top responsibilities of a good representative is to be a good steward of your hard-earned tax dollars. · I am realistic. If elected, I will be a junior Congressman, most likely in the minority party. It will be a very frustrating, daunting task in the beginning, as my voice will be considered last and least. Having said that, we need to elect someone that does not recognize the word 'quit' in their vocabulary. That’s me. I have proven time and again that I can overcome odds through dogged determination, good decision making, and initiative. ·  I am a strong voice.  During this campaign, people have asked,  "what difference can one voice make?" Every great idea or movement began with one voice, one person who had the courage to stand up and to put their name on the line. I have been that voice in my career and I will be that voice for the people of the 9th District in Congress. · Initiative. Experience does NOT equal success. That’s proven by Congress' current approval rating. I embody initiative and determination, the key ingredients to success. For more information about my platform, visit the 'ABOUT BROCK' section on my website. For answers to questions, you might visit my video responses at 'Q & A' to learn more about my thoughts on platform topics like energy prices and reducing childhood obesity. Win, lose, or draw come Tuesday night, I will have held true to myself and I will have worked as hard as I possibly could have in order to earn your respect and your vote. Once again, I humbly ask for your vote and for you to inform any friends, family, or co-workers about the passion, commitment, and true fiscal conservatism I have brought to this race. From all reports, it looks to be a close election in the Republican nomination for this congressional seat. I truly appreciate your vote and your support. Only a Few More Hours The polls will be opening at 6 AM on Tuesday morning and closing at 7 PM. If you are not sure where you go to vote in your area, the Secretary of State has a useful online tool to assist you. https://mcvr.mo.gov/voterlookup/ Until 7 PM, Team Olivo and I will continue to be out knocking on doors and meeting folks face-to-face to earn their vote. We plan to have a quiet evening at home with a few friends and family members as we watch the results come in. I would like to wish all the candidates, including my teammates in this primary, the best of luck. Campaign Update This past weekend saw Team Olivo with heavy outreach efforts in Boone, Franklin, Warren, Clark, Gasconade, Scotland, Marion, Adair and Osage Counties. We worked through rain, heat, and long hours to knock on more than 2500 additional doors in the past couple of days. We also have many volunteers making personal phone calls and sending emails to their own friends asking them to support my campaign. In addition to our aerial advertising, we stepped up our newspaper advertising and legally placed hundreds of new yard signs district-wide. Sunday was a great experience for me at the Washington Town & Country Fair parade as I literally shook thousands of hands and received many more pats on the back and shouts of encouragement. It is always great to see the people who knew me and supported me as my football career was really taking off. I pray I can look back a couple of years from now and know they supported me as my public service career was taking off. I appreciate your support in Tuesday's Republican primary. Thank you for your time, Brock PS The hospitality, advice, and even the consent I have received over the last six months have made me a better candidate and a better person. I thank you for your support, advice and patience. I promise to repay you by taking the integrity and honor that Congressman Hulshof has served us with to even greater heights. 2008-08-05T01:32:01-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/young_republicans_host_brock_olivo/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/young_republicans_host_brock_olivo/#When:19:21:00Z 07/27/08 Shared by Mike Zweifel Email: zweifelmr@hotmail.com The Central Missouri Young Republicans (CMYRs) hosted Brock Olivo, candidate for the Missouri 9th Congressional District, at its monthly meeting Thursday, July 10 at Summit Lake Winery in Holts Summit. Mr. Olivo spoke to the group for approximately 15 minutes, and fielded several questions from the approximately 25 people in attendance. Questions and discussions ranged in topic from border security, immigration issues to social security solvency and potential solutions, including having voluntary personalized accounts. Mr. Olivo also spoke of voter apathy, especially among young professionals and students, and he hopes that his campaign will excite those who have been apathetic in past elections, and get them involved this year. Chris Estes, Cole County Assessor, also spoke to the group about his job as Assessor. Although Mr. Estes does not have a primary or general election opponent, he wanted to meet the group and share his experiences with county government. After our speakers concluded, the CMYRs elected two new officers to leadership positions. Matt Willis was elected President, replacing Tonya Blythe, and Jon Blythe was elected Vice-President, replacing Lisa Rees. Rachel Fei remained Treasurer, while Courtney Ellis and Mike Zweifel were re-elected to the posts of Secretary and Communications Chair, respectively. The group, which consists of politically active 18-40 year-olds, will have its next meeting August 14th in Columbia, with a location and speakers to be announced on their web site, http://www.centralmoyrs.com, and their Facebook page. 2008-07-30T19:21:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/amnesty_for_some_none_or_all/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/amnesty_for_some_none_or_all/#When:14:44:01Z Amnesty for Some, None, or All? Fundraising Report Campaign update As I move through the different areas of the 9th District, people are talking about many issues: energy prices, wasteful government spending and the war on terror. Another issue that has been discussed is whether to offer amnesty to illegal aliens currently in our country. I say no. I do not support amnesty for immigrants who are in America illegally. I also oppose the concept of a sanctuary city or a guest worker program. I do support raising the caps on the number of temporary worker visas. It would be wise for the federal government to increase the number of visas available to highly skilled foreign workers, many of whom are educated in our American schools. I want to be clear on another issue: I support immigration. Immigration is what has made our country so dynamic and prosperous and it's the reason we are where we are. Having said that, let's enforce the laws that the Immigration and Nationality Act has given us so that we can continue to move forward as the greatest country in the world. We should also turn some of our Homeland Security efforts towards maintaining a vigilant eye on visitors here on student or work visas. These people can no longer be unaccounted for and as a result, stay here past their permitted time. As I have said before, tackling the illegal immigration issue is about more than passing new laws or simply building a fence. We have all of the necessary laws in place. I have met with state and federal law enforcement and border security officials and here is what they tell me: give us the resources so we can enforce the laws. The four resources these officials refer to are: more boots on the ground, training, equipment, and funding. I bring a personal perspective to this discussion as my wife, Samuela, and I are going through all the legal procedures in her naturalization process. We are following the rules as she is becoming an American, the hundreds of thousands of people who are here illegally are required to do so as well. To read my comments on other issues of the day, please visit 'About Brock'. I will be posting my stances on education, the environment, the 2nd Amendment, tourism, and more this week. If there are issues you would like to discuss with me, please feel free to email me anytime. Fundraising Report I have set out from day one to run my campaign in a fiscally conservative manner, with the purpose of connecting with the people of the 9th District. I have invested my own hard-earned money in our campaign and while we have been encouraging people to make investments, greater emphasis was placed on interacting face-to-face with people, not fundraising. I have accepted one PAC check - from the National Italian American PAC - which promotes Americans of Italian descent for political office. Looking at my contributions report I see friends, family members, and many hard working Missourians who I didn't personally know before this campaign. I appreciate every dime of every contribution and my campaign aims to use it in the most effective and affordable manner. Today, which is a reporting date with the Federal Ethics Commission, we currently have just under $35,000 on hand. While our bank account may not be the largest in this race, I can guarantee you that no one has talked to more voters face-to-face or worked harder than I have and the efforts will pay off on August 5th. We have spent our money wisely and on some non-traditional methods. Our internet ads are seen by 30,000 people daily, we have knocked on more than 10,000 doors and we have been averaging 5000 miles a month covering the 25 counties of the 9th District. I continue to go out every day seeking to earn the votes and respect of Missourians; I refuse to think that trust can be bought with campaign war-chests or influenced by negative commercials. Campaign Update I recently did an interview with a new conservative blog, The Relevant Elephant.com, which you may find interesting. I have also been on several local radio shows and the 9th District debate from Columbia is currently running on some public access channels around the district. As we get into the last two weeks before the August 5th primary election, things are moving fast. On Tuesday, I took part in the candidate forum in Kirksville and recently attended events in Belle, Owensville, Washington, Columbia, Cuba, Sullivan and Stony Hill. I thank you for your hospitality as I bring my campaign to your backyards and doorsteps as well. If you haven't been to the videos page of BrockOlivo.com lately, be sure to check out my comments on the proposed gas tax holiday, the epidemic of childhood obesity, and rising energy prices. If you would like to share your thoughts, feel free to drop me an email anytime. August 5th is quickly approaching. I humbly ask for your vote and for your support in the Republican primary for the 9th Congressional District. Brock PS It's not too late to show your support for my campaign with a yard sign, bumper sticker, endorsement, or contribution. I have recently posted several of the endorsement statements folks have offered and I invite you to add yours as well. Your support will help us to finish this primary campaign where we need to be: in first place! 2008-07-25T14:44:01-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/elections_2008/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/elections_2008/#When:14:13:00Z http://elections.stltoday.com/voter/franklincounty.asp Learn About My Fellow Candidates and Myself at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Elections 2008 page 2008-07-21T14:13:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/brock_olivo_football_star_turned_politician/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/brock_olivo_football_star_turned_politician/#When:14:12:00Z TheRelevantElephant.com: Brock Olivo: Football star turned politician http://therelevantelephant.com/blog/entry/brock_olivo_football_star_turned_politician 2008-07-21T14:12:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/brock_olivo_it_takes_political_will/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/brock_olivo_it_takes_political_will/#When:12:46:00Z 07/16/08 Columbia, MO-At the 9th Congressional District Republican Candidate debate on July 14th, Brock Olivo stood out from other candidates with an aggressive and passionate display of a deep understanding of the issues facing the people of the 9th District. Answering a question on federal earmarks, Olivo acknowledged his history with and allegiance to the University of Missouri – the largest recipient of earmarks in our state – while declaring they will have to justify their requests just as any other constituent when he is serving as Congressman. Olivo announced his support of the Fair Tax initiative and commended the grassroots effort that will bring change to our antiquated taxation system. He also touted an increased effort to increase financial literacy among all Americans. “In the U.S. we tend to live beyond our means, on the credit card, in this era of the virtual dollar,” Olivo said. “We need to get back to teaching financial literacy, from balancing a checkbook to deciphering loans so our future generations can be smarter consumers before they even get out of high school." Brock had his strongest comments of the night discussing Social Security and Illegal Immigration, calling for an end to the federal double taxation of Social Security Benefits and Public Pensions and increased funding for border security. “It’s more than passing new immigration laws…that is simply sticking the finger in the dyke…our people on the ground need four things: they need training, they need more boots on the ground, they need equipment, and they need money…it takes political will to help law enforcement to enforce the laws that are on the books,” said Olivo. Brock also scored points answering questions on whether or not to bail out the mortgage industry, how best to end deficit spending, and how to address the current energy crisis. “I had hoped we would have discussed healthcare tonight as well. I promise to work for a healthcare delivery system that is available and affordable, has transparency of costs, and increases competition by allowing health insurance to be managed by individuals making investments and decisions that directly benefit them,” said Olivo in comments afterwards. “I also wanted to discuss my campaign to decrease childhood obesity and the life threatening illnesses it can cause.” The candidates will face off next week in a second event in Kirksville, on July 22, beginning at 7 PM and hosted by Truman State University. This will be held at the Baldwin Auditorium. Follow the news coverage of the debate: Columbia Tribune Politics Blog http://blogs.columbiatribune.com/politics/ 9th District candidates debate http://www.krcg.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=159219 Republicans show common ground http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Jul/20080715News007.asp Republicans square off on issues in Ninth District race http://www.fultonsun.com/articles/2008/07/15/news/169news01race9.txt Candidates debate in crowded 9th District race http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_196232724.html Ninth District candidates debate energy, immigration, health care http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/07/14/ninth-district-candidates-debate-energy-immigratio/ Full video and photos of the event will also be on BrockOlivo.com very soon. 2008-07-16T12:46:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/let_the_debates_begin/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/let_the_debates_begin/#When:13:35:00Z In the next two weeks, my fellow candidates and I will take part in two televised discussions regarding the campaign for the 9th District Congressional seat. On Monday, July 14, KRCG , the Columbia Daily Tribune , and 93.9 The Eagle will host a forum beginning at 5:30 PM. It will be held at Windsor Auditorium on the campus of Stephens College in Columbia. The public is welcome to attend and has been invited to submit questions for the forum. You can do so at the respective media outlet links above. There will also be a live broadcast of the forum on 93.9 The Eagle. We have also been invited to a second event in Kirksville, on July 22, beginning at 7 PM and hosted by Truman State University. This will be held at the Baldwin Auditorium. Both events will be televised at later dates and feature all the candidates from both parties. If you are available, I invite you to join us in person to hear a lively discussion of the issues that are important to you and see where we all stand on them. 2008-07-14T13:35:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/its_still_the_economy/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/its_still_the_economy/#When:04:33:00Z 07/08/08 1. It's Still the Economy 2. Gas Prices 3. Campaign Update I don't align myself with the democrat James Carville politically, but I do agree with his familiar phrase, "It's the economy, stupid." Missourians are facing tough times. They deserve to know where candidates stand on how they will turn around the economy. 9th District residents are affected with the idling of 2,400 jobs at the two Chrysler plants in Fenton, located in St. Louis County. This distressing economic news affects residents in other counties, in particular Franklin, St. Charles, and Warren. There are private and public programs that help employees affected by Chrysler's decision to cut jobs, and I hope you use them. The Missouri Department of Economic Development offers the Rapid Response Program for displaced workers. There are also other federal and state unemployment programs along with private, faith-based initiatives. When I am in Congress, any constituent of mine who has difficulty getting the benefits they have earned will have me as their greatest ally. There will always be an open line of communication between my constituents and me. Fortunately, the 9th District has a diverse economy. Our largest employers are agriculture, tourism, and education. Other strong areas of employment are manufacturing, construction work and, in the western counties, state government. However, when it comes to the economy, I believe big government control is not the answer or the place to look for long-term solutions. We must turn to the free market and apply those principles to keep industry running forward in America. I return to comments I made in April regarding the economy and what I believe should be the direction of our government: * Americans need to have a hand up, not a hand out, in times like these. * Government must put an emphasis on job training and re-training for displaced workers. * Higher education must be affordable for all legal citizens that want to learn and achieve. * A focus needs to be placed on personal financial responsibility, preferably through required education classes at the high school level regarding how to manage personal finances. * Our food and energy supplies must return to affordable prices, keep up with growing demand, and be secure. * Business needs to have fewer and simpler taxation and regulation. * Healthcare coverage must be available, affordable, and portable in the event of job change. Gas Prices The issue on everyone's mind is gas prices. Basically, we need more supply to meet greater worldwide demand. Therefore, I support repealing the ban on offshore drilling, as this will help to eventually decrease our dependency on foreign oil. Many in this election cycle have decried foreign oil imports as being from enemies of ours or from foreign dictators. But I would like to remind everyone that the largest two countries of origin for U.S. oil imports are Canada and Mexico. According to the Energy Information Administration [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbblpd_a.htm], of the OPEC nations, only Venezuela falls under the 'dictatorship' label and our imports from that country have fallen 13% between 2005 and 2007, so we are headed in the right direction. Like many Americans, I want to see as much domestic oil and energy production as possible. I look forward to the day when removing the cost of international transportation, refinement, and tariffs reduce the price we pay at the pump. My question is this: Do we simply want lower gas prices, or do we want real, comprehensive energy reform? Today, we have so many viable options in alternative energy: clean coal, cleaner and safer nuclear energy, solar/geothermal/wind, and hydroelectric energy, and bio-fuels. We should be working to make these options eventual sources of energy as each of them play vital roles in energy independence. While oil will continue to play a role in the near future, I believe we need to put our focus into further developing alternative energy. Not only is this crisis a question of high costs and energy reform, it's a question of national security; the fact that we import about 60% of our oil could create problems and make us vulnerable if those suppliers should decide to cut off supplies. I have no doubt that we will find solutions. As Americans, we have always answered the call, and the current energy crisis is no exception. Campaign Update While we continue to visit with 9th District residents at fairs and festivals, this week Team Olivo also continued to go directly to the voters on their doorsteps in order to earn their support. We attended events in New Melle, Williamsburg, Warrenton, O Fallon, Sullivan, Washington, Kirksville, and Moberly. I also did media interviews in Kirksville and Columbia. If there are events you would like to invite me, no matter if it is a dozen folks or a couple of hundred folks, please feel free to email me an invitation. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail this week! Brock PS If you haven't yet gotten a Brock Olivo yard sign to show your support for our campaign and the issues for which we stand, reply to this email and let me know. It will soon be there. If you would like to show your support through an endorsement, by volunteering, or by making a financial contribution, you can do that on our website as well. [http://www.BrockOlivo.com]Your kind words and support mean the world to my wife, Samuela, and me! 2008-07-10T04:33:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/former_nfl_player_running_for_congress/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/former_nfl_player_running_for_congress/#When:16:43:00Z 07/01/08 By Brian Entin Tuesday, July 01, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Brock Olivo, a republican running for Missouri’s ninth U.S. Congressional seat, held an open forum in Kirksville on Tuesday night. If you recognize Olivo’s name, it’s probably because he was on the Mizzou football team and later played for the Detroit Lions. He says he’ll take his values from the football field to Washington. “The leadership, the work ethic, dedication, and selflessness and ability to make decisions under extreme pressure. They are the same qualities that took me to the highest level of professional sport and they're the same qualities that I'll take with me to the halls of congress,” Olivo said. Olivo also says he think the only way to solve the energy crisis is to find fuel at home, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 2008-07-04T16:43:00-06:00 http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/the_river_is_going_to_run/ http://www.brockolivo.com/olivoforcongress/news/index.php/site/the_river_is_going_to_run/#When:19:42:00Z 06/23/08 Vote Olivo in the August 5th Republican Primary! The River is Going to Run Where I Stand - Part One Campaign Update As you know, large sections of the 9th District have again been affected by Mother Nature. Many Missourians in other parts of our state are still suffering at her hands. The near-record floods that struck the residents of the Mississippi River valley displaced residents, destroyed any chance at a profitable year for some farmers, and put historic tourist areas at risk. Earlier this year, the floods that struck the areas surrounding the Missouri, Meramec, and Osage Rivers did the same. I spent many hours last week working in flood relief efforts and learning from the people who actually live in the affected areas. I did so without drawing attention to myself or my campaign because it was the right thing to do. Being able to talk to fellow rescuers over a pair of shovels provided me with an insight that you may not have seen in the national drive-by media reports. As one gentleman told me, "The river is going to run where it wants, but we should do a better job of guiding it." It is unacceptable that 15 years after the Great Flood of 1993, a better levee system has not been put in place. Advisories and warnings have come from different levels of government and private groups to improve the levee system of the Mississippi River basin. Whether it is our town of Louisiana, Missouri, or the state of Louisiana, we have to take action. All levees should be built to withstand 500 year flood levels. All private landowners should be compensated for their losses due to this inaction and for property that would need to be used to build a better system of protection. Be it the broken levee system, the broken healthcare delivery system, or their out of control spending habits, many in Washington, D.C. would rather talk and debate than take action. When I am elected to Congress, I will aim to cut through the red tape holding up action. I will challenge the decision makers to come get their wingtips dirty in Missouri to see what inaction can cause and I will cross party lines to find like-minded elected officials who actually want to take care of their constituents instead of just talking about it. Where I Stand I have been open with my positions on all topics in public appearances, newsletters like this one, and the media since the beginning of my campaign. As we move into the last six weeks of this primary, I would like to talk in greater depth on some topics. Keep an eye on my website as I will be updating it frequently with more issues and my positions. If you would like to discuss any particular issue with me, just drop me an email and I will be happy to have an open discussion with you. Don't worry, I will address in-depth the energy crisis and health care in my next newsletter. I look forward to your feedback. International Relations I support the War on Terror. I believe one of the most important objectives of government is to protect its citizens. I support our troops and will listen to our military leaders whose boots are on the ground. I realize that Missouri has one of the largest numbers of actively deployed National Guardsmen, and a very high number of deployed men and women in the armed forces. I also respect the ultimate sacrifice that so many Missourians have made in order to serve our nation. Our military personnel will have no greater ally in Congress than Brock Olivo. I will do everything in my power to ensure that our troops have every means necessary to get the job done. I will also encourage an investment for increased access to mental health training and therapy before, during, and after active duty for soldiers and their families. Our friends and allies in other nations across the world should always be able to trust America. The leaders of rogue nations where citizens suffer from oppression, hunger, and disease should also trust that America will not tolerate or condone their actions. Immigration I am three generations removed from my great-grandparents who left Italy to come to America. My wife, who is a native Italian, is now following the proper procedures to become a naturalized American citizen, so I bring a more personal approach to this issue. If immigrants come here legally, they should be allowed to stay and learn, work, or live as they have applied to do so. If they choose not to play by the rules, they should be treated like anyone else who has broken the law. The laws are in place and we need to enforce them. I favor a strong border patrol on all of our borders. We need to be aware of the fact that illegal immigrants are coming from all over the world. The problem with border security goes way beyond just building a fence or a wall. We can't put a finger in the dike and expect the problem to go away. The saying "where there's a will there's a way" is a reality that we must address. We must support our border patrol - the boots on the ground. They need to know they can do their job without the fear of being prosecuted for taking action when needed. We also need to recognize the porous areas of the border that fall within our Native American reservations. These areas are vast and offer very little security due to a lack of resources, not a lack of will. I have met with military personnel that have decades of border patrol experience and every one of them points out the lack of security within the Indian nations. We need to implement immediate action to collaborate with the various reservations on the borders. I do not condone amnesty, the guest worker program or social services for current illegal residents. I believe we should work to utilize and improve upon the temporary visa worker program. We should also turn some of our Homeland Security efforts towards maintaining a vigilant eye on visitors here on visa. These people can no longer be unaccounted for and as a result, stay here past their permitted time. Let us not forget which legal loopholes the 9/11 hijackers exploited. I am against sanctuary cities and support any means or funding that federal, state, or local law enforcement need to do their jobs. Economy & Jobs As the only candidate in this race with international business experience, I would bring a unique perspective to breaking down trade barriers and finding even more markets for our American products. I will always support a tax cut, be it targeted or far reaching. I support the proposed federal tax waiver on gasoline for this reason. I support the repeal of the death tax. I also support the repeal of the corporate tax. I would also encourage a focus on training students and adults to strengthen their personal financial literacy. I believe businesses create jobs, not the government. I would work to lower taxes and eliminate the bureaucratic burdens on entrepreneurs and small business owners to allow them to create more jobs. Business owners should be investing in and expanding their businesses, not making up the deficit Congress created. Two issues that need immediate action with regard to business owners: 1. Make tamper-proof the E-Verify system so that business owners can make new hires without having to worry about fraudulent documents on illegal aliens slipping through the cracks. 2. Make health care affordable and therefore available for employees. 90% of Americans are employed or dependent upon small business, therefore, if we fix health care for small business, we fix health care for America. I will address health care in-depth in my next newsletter in which I will propose some common-sense solutions. I look forward to your feedback. Campaign Update Team Olivo continues to lead the way with our aggressive ground campaign. We have knocked on thousands of doors, attended hundreds of community and political gatherings and we have participated in numerous parades around the district. In addition to our flood relief efforts over the last week we have continued our door-to-door and personal phone-calling efforts, participated in the Fulton Street Fair parade, and attended the Scotland County Fair and the Clarence Homecoming. This week brings a candidate forum in O’ Fallon, fairs and festivals in Vandalia, Sullivan, Williamsburg, and New Melle, and several other community organization meetings that we will be attending. If you would like a yard sign to show your support for the campaign, just email us and we will deliver to your door. While on the website, please consider making an online contribution to help our campaign and to get us to the finish line. Thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing you soon, Brock 2008-06-25T19:42:00-06:00