Growing up in Eastern Iowa taught me the value of hard work

I am a lifelong Iowan. My father and mother had 10th-grade educations. My father dropped out of high school to fight in World War II, and my mother cleaned houses to make ends meet.

They taught me the value of hard work, thrift and playing by the rules - and these Iowa values equipped me to succeed in life.

I worked in the software industry and eventually became an owner of a five-person company that grew to more than 300 employees in five years. I've met a payroll and balanced a budget for 24 years.

Grow the Economy

Middle-class household incomes and net worth are down in the last six years, while prices for everyday goods have skyrocketed.

It's time to get the economy back on track by reining in hyperactive federal departments like the EPA, simplifying the tax code, eliminating corporate welfare, reducing red tape and uncertainty, incentivizing savings and investment, and enacting lawsuit abuse reform.

Reduce Cost of Health Care

We need to drive down costs by giving patients more control over their health care dollars with HSAs, and we need to force insurance companies to compete by allowing the purchase of policies across state lines while enacting medical lawsuit abuse reform.

Better Education

I support helping middle-class families afford better education by allowing federal tax deductibility of private school tuition and increasing access to Educational Savings Accounts.

We also need to make college more affordable by encouraging stackable degrees, increasing work-study programs and promoting apprenticeships.

Reform Congress

Washington career politicians are one of the worst problems our country faces. I believe elected officials should serve the people, not the other way around. I support term limits, cutting politicians' pay and making Congress abide by all the laws they put on us.

Honoring our Promises

Social Security and Medicare are in danger thanks to overspending by career politicians. I will fight to preserve these critical programs for our seniors by pushing for common sense bipartisan reforms that ensure they will be there for generations to come.

I Believe in Americans

Washington believes in the power of bureaucrats. I'm running because I believe in the power of the American people. I stand for a rebirth of economic and personal freedom and the prosperity that will result. Please stand with me.

' Rod Blum is Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives District 1. Comments: rodblum.com