Andrew Rice for U.S. Senator

Background:

Born and raised in Oklahoma City; Graduated with Masters in Theology from Harvard Divinity School; lost brother in World Trade Center on 9/11/01 and rededicated life to justice and common sense public policy; elected to Oklahoma State Senate, 2006; married to Dr. Applie Rice, an Oklahoma City pathologist and we have two sons, Noah and Parker.

Goals:

When the criminals of 9/11 flew jets into the World Trade Center and killed my brother, politics and government became very personal for me. I believe our country is going in the wrong direction and I want to do all that I can to change the status quo. As Oklahoma's next U.S. Senator, I will be a voice for my constituents independent of the special interests. I will be accountable to every Oklahoman and I will not be afraid to make the tough choices if I believe it will help my state.

Issues:

HEALTH CARE: As the most powerful nation on earth, there is no reasonable excuse why America cannot guarantee access to health care for every citizen. WAR IN IRAQ: By waging a war of choice in Iraq, we have taken our eye off the ball for the last five years allowing the terrorists who attacked us to regenerate after American troops routed the Taliban in Afghanistan. As a result, we are no safer today than prior to 9/11, when my older brother, David, died in the World Trade Center. ECONOMY: The Bush Administration's lax regulatory and oversight policies have led us into a housing mortgage credit crisis and an economic recession, yet he and his allies in Congress refuse to give low and middle income homeowners the tools that would allow them to stay in their home and stabilize the ecomony of their communities. ENVIRONMENT: And, my opponent, Sen. Jim Inhofe, has led efforts to block policies to arrest man-made global warming while climate conditions worsen and our way of life is threatened. Oklahoma's economy would benefit from a large scale conversion to alternative fuels. These are just some of the major reasons why my election to the United States Senate is critical in 2008.

Grassroots Support:

As an underfunded challenger to an incumbent who will have free-flowing cash from special interest PACs, I will depend on an army of volunteers to reach out to voters across my state.

DFA Values:

I believe that government has no place in your bedroom or your gun closet. I support civil unions, a woman's right to choose and the Second Amendment. I believe that responsible and ethical scientific stem cell research holds great hope for many who suffer from debilitating diseases. I also understand that just like most Americans, government must live within its means. I will require the President to include the costs of war in his or her annual budget request to Congress. If I were U.S. Senator today, I would have postponed much of the Bush tax cuts for the rich in order to offer greater economic stimulus to working families in the form of low income energy assistance and extended unemployment compensation. I will support pay-as-you-go requirements that mean spending increases or tax cuts must be offset so that the federal government can once again operate under a balanced budget.