Shays Makes His U.S. Senate Bid Official

Christopher Shays today officially announced he is a candidate for the United States Senate, seeking the Republican nomination to fill retiring Senator Joe Liberman's seat.

Shays, born in Stamford, grew up in Darien and graduated from in 1964. A Republican, he represented Connecticut's 4th District for 11 terms from 1987 to 2009. He was defeated by Congressman Jim Himes, a Democrat, in 2008.

Speaking in Hartford, Shays said he would make it a number one priority to balance the federal budget, according to a press release sent by his campaign.

“When I am elected to the United States Senate, I will sponsor legislation that balances the budget within my six year term of office, and vote that way, regardless of the political consequences, and regardless of which party is in the majority,” Shays said. “Until we get our financial house in order, nothing else matters.”  

Shays said his experience makes him the ideal candidate.

“We need to elect a United States Senator who possesses the courage, the record, and the experience to get things done,” said Shays, accorinding to the release. “That's why I'm running for United States Senate. I have the courage to stand up for what needs to be done, but I also have the knowledge and experience to know how to get it done, and a record of accomplishment that you can rely on.”

Shays said Washington is broken and needs to be fixed.

“For the first time in my life, I'm worried about our country's future,”  he said. “I cannot, and will not, sit on the sidelines and watch the madness in Washington continue. Washington is broken, the Senate isn't working. Nothing is getting done and I know I can make a difference. We need to elect a United States Senator who possesses the courage, the record, and the experience to get things done.”

Washington needs to create jobs, he said. 

“I know we can get America back on track and Americans back to work when we get our financial house in order; transform Washington by simplifying our tax code and cutting red tape; rebuild and invest in America; and become truly energy independent," Shays said. "When we do this we are putting America first. And first is where America belongs, now and always.”

Shays will battle Linda McMahon and others for the Republican nomination.

Update, 5:20 p.m.: Today's Wall Street Journal, in an article previewing Shays' announcement, quotes First Selectman Jayme Stevenson saying that while she supported Shays in his last bid for re-election, "In the Senate race, Ms. Stevenson has endorsed Ms. McMahon, in part because of her business experience. 'What the country needs right now is a different kind of politician.'"

Editor's note: The above article in Weston-Easton-Redding Patch.

REPUBLICANS:

Shays is running against these other declared candidates (links go to each candidate's website; this is Shays' campaign website):

Brian K. Hill, an attorney

Peter Lumaj, an attorney

Jason L. McCoy, former mayor of Vernon

Linda McMahon

DEMOCRATS:

Susan Bysiewicz, former Connecticut secretary of the state

Chris Murphy, U.S. congressman representing the Fifth District

William Tong, state representative from Stamford

Lee Whitnum, anti-AIPAC activist and software engineer

Matthew John Oakes, Disabled American, civil rights activist

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Introduction

I'm Christopher Shays. I want to be your United States Senator.  

I am asking all of you, and citizens throughout this state, to join something special, a revolution to get our country back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work.  

I'm going to share with you: why I am running for the United States Senate; why I am the best candidate for the United States Senate; and what needs to be done, to get our country back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work in the private sector.

Founding fathers

This morning I came from my campaign headquarters in Stratford, the actual home of Wm Samuel Johnson, one of the 38 drafters of the Constitution of the United States, and… the first United States Senator from Connecticut.  How cool is that?

Connecticut is immersed in such wonderful history.  This very place, but not this building, was where George Washington and French General Rochambeau met to map out their successful plan to defeat the British, and win our independence.

Standing in this Old State House, in a city Presidents Washington and Lincoln both visited, I think of the challenges confronting these great leaders at such critical moments in the history of our nation. America’s future was threatened and in doubt, and these two remarkable leaders, did what had to be done.  While not as dramatic, we are at a similar moment in our history right now.

Nothing is getting done

Like all of you, I love America. But for the first time in my life, I'm worried about our country's future. So many Americans have lost their jobs and are losing their homes. I cannot, and will not, sit on the sidelines, and watch this happen.  The madness in Washington cannot continue. Washington is broken, the Senate isn't working.  Nothing is getting done. 

And why is nothing getting done? 

Our leaders are putting their personal, political and partisan interests, ahead of our country's interests, and we are all paying the price.

They need to learn from our founding fathers and Lincoln, that for the sake of generations to come, there are particular moments in time, when our leaders must be motivated by a higher purpose. Now is such a time!

Why I'm running

We need to send a simple message to our political leaders, who seem tone deaf, and out of touch.  “Time’s up! You can’t keep putting off what everyone knows needs to be done, now!”

We need to elect a United States Senator, who possesses the courage, the record, and the experience to get things done, now. 

That's why I'm running for United States Senate. I have the courage to stand up for what needs to be done, but I also have the knowledge and experience, to know how to get it done, and a record of accomplishment that you can rely on.  

Our message is clear… we want our government, and its leaders to be worthy of our trust and faith, and… as one person said to me, “I want my country back!” 

We all want our country back. “We want our gifted, dynamic, inspired, courageous country back.”

Bottom line... we need better leadership to get our country back on track and our fellow Americans back to work.  So our economy will grow again, creating millions of private sector jobs.

We have work to do

We really have our work cut out for us!

Would you believe it has been 1000 +1 days since the United States Senate has passed a budget?...  1000 + 1 days!

Without a budget the Senate has no guideline to limit what the federal government can spend, what it can tax, and what it can entitle.  

Passing a budget is a basic responsibility of both chambers of Congress. The House Republicans passed their budget. The Senate Democrats have no excuse for not passing their budget.  

President's health care plan

The fact is the President, and his allies in the House of Representatives and Senate, don’t want a budget. They want to spend more, tax more, and entitle more.  

The so called “Affordable Health Care Act,” “The President’s Health Care Plan” is a prime example.   No wonder in the last two and half years our National Debt has grown by four trillion dollars, and just this month eclipsed our Gross Domestic Product.

When I am elected to the United States Senate, I will vote to repeal the President’s Health Care Plan, and allow our States to draft health care plans that meet their particular needs.  

Financial house in order

No good comes from reckless government spending. No good comes from huge deficits. The economy will continue to stagnate, our debt payments will overwhelm us, and even more Americans will be out of work.

I truly appreciate the work of my friend Representative Paul Ryan, and the Simpson-Bowles Commission, but with all due respect, neither plan balances the budget until after 2030, that’s 18 years from now.  We can’t wait that long.

When I am elected to the United States Senate, I will sponsor legislation that balances the budget within my six year term of office, and vote that way, regardless of the political consequences, and regardless of which party is in the majority.

Until we get our financial house in order, nothing else matters. 

Passing budgets that get us to balance is putting America first.  It is what will get America back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work.

Run away government spending, but also complex tax laws, and mindless regulations are deadly to both free markets and democracy.

When I am elected to the United States Senate, I will sponsor legislation, and vote to once and for all simplify our tax laws… lowering the tax rate, and eliminating tax right offs and loop-holes, that make our taxes complex and susceptible to special interest lobbying.

I will also draft changes to Senate rules, requiring every committee, before it can draft any new legislation, to review all existing regulations within the departments it has jurisdiction, to eliminate regulations no longer needed, and simplify those that remain.

We must transform, yes transform Washington, with fewer, smarter regulations, a simpler tax code, smaller and less intrusive government, and when we do this, we will be putting America first, getting America back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work.

Invest in America

We need to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure by investing in America’s: roads, bridges, airports, railways, sea ways, seaports and electric grid.  Some of this can be done with private funds, particularly the electric grid, but it is an area of spending, when done thoughtfully, will improve our nation’s productivity and benefit generations to come.  

When I am elected to the United States Senate, I will sponsor and vote for legislation that seeks to rebuild America’s infrastructure.  But I will oppose any legislation that includes low priority and wasteful projects even if the legislation includes projects I support.

Investing in America’s infrastructure is putting American first, getting our country back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work.

Energy independence

In spite of the fact that energy independence is a national security imperative, we have no national energy policy and as a result our nation is vulnerable to those who would do us harm.  

We spend an astonishing one billion dollars every single day buying fossil fuel from overseas, in spite of the fact that we have some of the largest energy deposits in the entire world. We also have some of the smartest people in the world. We need to access both, so instead of depending on crude oil from the Middle East or Venezuela we are developing the vast resources of natural gas and oil here at home, while continuing to develop renewable resources.

When I am elected to the United States Senate, I will help draft and vote for a national energy policy that results in the development of our own domestic energy supply, achieving energy independence for our own domestic needs, while also making us the world leader in renewable energy.

Energy independence is a national security imperative.  It is putting America first, getting America back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work.

Experience and independence matters

Three years ago America elected a President with no experience, and we are paying the price.  He spoke about hope and change, but he was elected without the skills, experience, or background to lead our country through these difficult times.

Connecticut can’t afford to make this same mistake again, whether it’s the White House or the Senate. We can't afford to send someone to the United States Senate who doesn't have the experience and a proven record of getting things done in Washington. There is no time for on-the-job training. We need someone who is ready on day one.

The leading Democrat in this race walks lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and the miss-guided Obama agenda. He literally votes with the Democrats 98% of the time.   

Connecticut can't afford his expensive agenda, and partisan votes. The Connecticut I know values independence and straight talk, not someone who is a sure vote for his party, be it Democrat or Republican. 

I believe in democracy.  I believe a candidate for public office should be elected, not anointed. I can win the Republican primary in August, and I can win the general election in November and that is what I am setting out to do. 

Closing

Americans have always believed in unlimited opportunities, and the greatness of our country. Like our forefathers it is our responsibility at this moment in time to stand up and fight for America.  We owe our forefathers that, just as we owe it to ourselves, and to our children.  

I know we can get America back on track and Americans back to work when we get our financial house in order; rebuild and invest in America; become truly energy independent; and transform Washington by simplifying our tax code and cutting red tape. When we do this we are putting America first.  And first is where America belongs, now and always.

I am Christopher Shays… and I am asking every one of you, every single one of you, to join with me, in a revolution to get our country back on track, and our fellow Americans back to work once again, in a growing and prosperous country.