Earlier this summer, House Republicans released a six-part agenda that describes what we believe and what we want to accomplish. With all of the coverage given to today’s political campaigns, little attention is paid to the very real problems affecting the daily lives of Americans. "A Better Way" offers the country our solutions to those issues.

Two of the most important areas where change is needed are health care and tax reform. Those plans are summarized below, and I will discuss the other portions in future emails. Much more detail is available at the website: www.better.gop.

Obamacare has grown more unpopular since it was passed, and everyone with health insurance has felt the impact of increasing premiums, usually for less coverage. I have voted many times to repeal Obamacare, which, unfortunately, has not yet been signed into law. "A Better Way" for health care details what House Republicans would put in its place.

Without the mandates imposed by Obamacare, this plan protects those with pre-existing conditions and includes several provisions to lower premiums. It restores consumer choice so health care decisions can be made by doctors and patients rather than bureaucrats. It strengthens Medicare by restoring the money that Obamacare took away, gives the states more say on Medicaid, and accelerates the development of life-saving devices and therapies.

Here is an overview of the plan:

Tax reform and simplification has been a key goal for me for some time. There are a number of different approaches that have been suggested. The tax reform proposal in "A Better Way" would simplify both individual and business taxes with the goal of encouraging economic growth. There would be only three tax rates. The plan would raise about the same amount of total revenue as the current code.

Of course, if additional deductions and exemptions are retained, the form would be longer and the rates would be higher.

The plan would also restructure the IRS itself.

Again, much more detailed information on all of these proposals is available at www.better.gop.  I believe that it is important that we lay out what we are for, not just what we are against. It is also important to look beyond the political rhetoric of the moment and focus on those issues that affect the daily lives of our citizens. That’s what “A Better Way” tries to do.

Let me know what you think. And look for additional emails on the other portions of the "A Better Way" blueprint.