Dan Boren is no moderate, Houchen says
Howard W. Houchen wants to represent Oklahoma’s Second District in Congress to help restore traditional rights and values to American citizens.
Houchen is running for the GOP nomination. U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, a Democrat, is running for re-election.
Describing Boren as a “conservative Democrat” is a myth, Houchen said.
“His first vote every time is for Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Houchen said. “She controls the agenda in the House. He will vote for her again - there’s no doubt about that.”
Houchen called Boren an accomplished politician that has effectively got himself labeled a “blue dog Democrat.”
“Look at his voting record - he doesn’t approach ‘moderate’ status,” Houchen said. “He doesn’t approach conservative status.”
Boren voted for TARP. He voted for the bailout. He voted for “cash for clunkers.” He voted for the stimulus package. He voted to raise the debt limit.
“Every day we are affected by government in regulations that take away from our freedom,” Houchen said.
Houchen said he felt compelled to run for Congress because he was asked to run by citizens in Oklahoma.
“This wasn’t just family and friends in Hugo, Oklahoma, or in Choctaw County,” Houchen said. “I was asked by citizens across this nation to seek this seat.”
Houchen consulted with his family and the pastor of his Baptist church in Hugo. Everyone, especially his wife, pledged their full support.
“This is about the restoration of the greatest nation that God has ever blessed,” Houchen said. “It’s bigger than us.”
Houchen is a critic of the federal government’s “outrageous deficit spending” that has caused put the economy on “an unsustainable path.” Every American now owes more than $37,000 of the national debt.
He will not support tax increases as a solution.
“To solidify this belief will require a sustained and very difficult effort here at home to bring spending under control while expanding our economy, based on the tried-and-true principles of free market laissez-faire capitalism,” Houchen stated. “The time of increasing taxes to pay for government shortcomings due to out of control expansion and entitlements must end.”
Houchen said the United States will continue to be a prime target of Islamic threats.
“We must continually strengthen, reshape and update the American National Security apparatus to meet today’s challenges as well as the challenges and threats that lie ahead and our foreign policy objectives should bolster our national security objectives,” Houchen wrote on his campaign website. “The United States must remain a formidable military force for the foreseeable future while substantially drawing-down our military actions abroad unless directly threatened.”
America should not use military force without a declaration of war, which calls the constitutionality of the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan into question, he said.
Obama has no comprehensive plan for foreign policy other than appeasement and apologies, he wrote.
Houchen favors an increase in domestic oil and natural production to help make America more energy efficient. More refineries are needed.
“Breaking down the current barriers to domestic oil exploration, production and refining capacity is an immediate necessity,” Houchen stated. “In conjunction with this domestic petroleum output program, the United States must pursue the most cost effective and efficient method of electrical energy production current technology provides - nuclear power. _An energy dependent America is a vulnerable America and energy security is an Achilles Heel.”
America needs to protect its borders - the cornerstone of homeland security, Houchen said. “Illegal immigration is exactly what the term denotes: It is illegal and all laws pertaining to its enforcement must be adhered unless the voice of the people says otherwise,” Houchen said.
He does not interpret domestic security as the legalization of domestic surveillance of American citizens.
Houchen said The No Child Left Behind Act needs to “be left behind.”
“Federal intervention will only hinder real and lasting progress,” Houchen said. “An objective look at recent history tells us that throwing more and more money at a nationalized education system does not translate into a better education for our nations children.”
Medical problems with his children at their birth reinforced Houchen’s commitment to the lives of the unborn.
“Conception is the beginning of life, to terminate a human life without a voice is morally reprehensible,” he said.
Houchen affirmed the Second Amendment and the right for Americans to bear arms.
“As an avid hunter, shooter, gun collector, and self-defense advocate, I cringe at each and every attempt by any government entity to infringe on any of my constitutionally guaranteed rights,” Houchen said.
Houchen graduated from Hugo High School in 1984, where he played football. He has a degree in political science degree from The University of Oklahoma.
After college, he took a job with Parker Drilling Co. and traveled and lived in Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Gabon, São Tome and Principe, the Congo, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Singapore, Germany and Italy.
Houchen and his wife, Jeannie, have been married for 24 years. They have two sons, Collin and Jared. They returned to Oklahoma in 1993 and he managed the family business, All American Garage Doors.
Houchen was a city councilor in Hugo. He earned a master’s degree in national security studies from the American Military University in 2004.
He has contributed stories to American Daily Review, World Net Daily and Canada Free Press.