2008 Candidacy for United States Representative
I proudly announce my candidacy for Congress. I am proud because my story is an American story, where a small
town boy from a working class family went from the seat of a semi to a seat in the State House.
Unfortunately, for too many, the American story has turned from timeless to tired. American's are tired - of too
much government and too little commons sense; of too much tax and too little fiscal restraint; of too many threats to
our national security and too little security for our children; and of too many unreasonable regulations and too few
jobs.
And, who can blame them when you consider just one simple example: The Federal Register contains some
70,000 pages of regulations that control every aspect of our lives.
The frustration engendered by just this one example is the same type of frustration that led me to run for State
Representative in 2002. For 27 years, including 12 as the owner and operator of Casperson and Son Trucking, I
labored in the log truck industry. However, following a 1999 log truck accident that killed a mother and her
daughter, I felt called to run for State Representative. Following the accident, my colleagues and I devised a safer
way to transport timber so that the tragedy that killed Sigfred and Shayla Jauquet would not be repeated.
Amazingly, the State of Michigan would not license our design despite the safety benefits.
As a result, my first act upon being elected to the House was to introduce House Bill 4154, which permitted timber
to be safely transported in a “crib.” My frustration turned to gratification when the Governor signed that bill into law
just eight months after I was elected to the legislature. Remarkably, the Federal government now stands in the way,
threatening to cut off federal transportation funds if Michigan implements the very measure its own elected officials
saw the wisdom in passing.
It was particularly satisfying to implement that legislative change because it was such a sensible solution. In fact,
the sensible, conservative principles that led me to run in 2002 are the same values I continue to hold today. These
principles lead me to believe that our basic rights come from God and not from government; they defer to the idea
that not every problem should have a federal solution; they believe in lower taxes and less regulation; they respect
free markets, private property, fair competition, and a strong defense; and they honor life.
Those principles also guided me with each of the 53 Bills I introduced, and the 20 Public Acts I authored, in my six
years in the State House. Legislation that centered on economic development, streamlining regulations, and
restraining government's reach.
However, this campaign is not about yesterday. It's about tomorrow. It is about America's future. It is about taking
America forward by taking it back and giving it back. Taking it back from an overbearing government. A
government run by bureaucrats and fueled by partisanship. And, giving it back to the people.
Nothing brings this into focus more clearly than my children. They remind me that we have much to do in order to
bestow upon them a Country that is in a condition that is better than what we inherited. And, that is why I am
running for Congress. I run not out of a sense of entitlement, but out of allegiance to our ideals.
For the past five years, I have traveled some 7000 miles each year outside of my House District, but within the First
District, to meet the people and address the issues facing the District. In doing so, I have come to understand that
the people of Northern Michigan believe those ideals are under attack – that America's at a crossroads.
Ironically, I know something about navigating crossroads. The 27 years that I spent behind the wheel, struggling
like many to make ends meet, and contending with the restrictions and irresponsibility of my government, and the
six years of practical experience I have acquired as a State Representative, have prepared me well.
With your blessings, I will journey forward, standing up against the “Party of Pelosi” which seeks, although individual
members of her Party may claim to position themselves otherwise, to remove any mention of God from the public
square; to make abortion available on demand; to weaken our national security; to gut the Second Amendment;
and to accord illegal immigrants the very same rights as you and I enjoy.
So to these ends, and for these purposes, I proudly declare my candidacy for Congress. And, to that cause, I
pledge to work with every ounce of my energy to renew the dream that is the American story. I ask you for your
hearts, your hands, your help and your vote.
I proudly announce my candidacy for Congress. I am proud because my story is an American story, where a small
town boy from a working class family went from the seat of a semi to a seat in the State House.
Unfortunately, for too many, the American story has turned from timeless to tired. American's are tired - of too
much government and too little commons sense; of too much tax and too little fiscal restraint; of too many threats to
our national security and too little security for our children; and of too many unreasonable regulations and too few
jobs.
And, who can blame them when you consider just one simple example: The Federal Register contains some
70,000 pages of regulations that control every aspect of our lives.
The frustration engendered by just this one example is the same type of frustration that led me to run for State
Representative in 2002. For 27 years, including 12 as the owner and operator of Casperson and Son Trucking, I
labored in the log truck industry. However, following a 1999 log truck accident that killed a mother and her
daughter, I felt called to run for State Representative. Following the accident, my colleagues and I devised a safer
way to transport timber so that the tragedy that killed Sigfred and Shayla Jauquet would not be repeated.
Amazingly, the State of Michigan would not license our design despite the safety benefits.
As a result, my first act upon being elected to the House was to introduce House Bill 4154, which permitted timber
to be safely transported in a “crib.” My frustration turned to gratification when the Governor signed that bill into law
just eight months after I was elected to the legislature. Remarkably, the Federal government now stands in the way,
threatening to cut off federal transportation funds if Michigan implements the very measure its own elected officials
saw the wisdom in passing.
It was particularly satisfying to implement that legislative change because it was such a sensible solution. In fact,
the sensible, conservative principles that led me to run in 2002 are the same values I continue to hold today. These
principles lead me to believe that our basic rights come from God and not from government; they defer to the idea
that not every problem should have a federal solution; they believe in lower taxes and less regulation; they respect
free markets, private property, fair competition, and a strong defense; and they honor life.
Those principles also guided me with each of the 53 Bills I introduced, and the 20 Public Acts I authored, in my six
years in the State House. Legislation that centered on economic development, streamlining regulations, and
restraining government's reach.
However, this campaign is not about yesterday. It's about tomorrow. It is about America's future. It is about taking
America forward by taking it back and giving it back. Taking it back from an overbearing government. A
government run by bureaucrats and fueled by partisanship. And, giving it back to the people.
Nothing brings this into focus more clearly than my children. They remind me that we have much to do in order to
bestow upon them a Country that is in a condition that is better than what we inherited. And, that is why I am
running for Congress. I run not out of a sense of entitlement, but out of allegiance to our ideals.
For the past five years, I have traveled some 7000 miles each year outside of my House District, but within the First
District, to meet the people and address the issues facing the District. In doing so, I have come to understand that
the people of Northern Michigan believe those ideals are under attack – that America's at a crossroads.
Ironically, I know something about navigating crossroads. The 27 years that I spent behind the wheel, struggling
like many to make ends meet, and contending with the restrictions and irresponsibility of my government, and the
six years of practical experience I have acquired as a State Representative, have prepared me well.
With your blessings, I will journey forward, standing up against the “Party of Pelosi” which seeks, although individual
members of her Party may claim to position themselves otherwise, to remove any mention of God from the public
square; to make abortion available on demand; to weaken our national security; to gut the Second Amendment;
and to accord illegal immigrants the very same rights as you and I enjoy.
So to these ends, and for these purposes, I proudly declare my candidacy for Congress. And, to that cause, I
pledge to work with every ounce of my energy to renew the dream that is the American story. I ask you for your
hearts, your hands, your help and your vote.
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| Paid for by Casperson for Congress, Kaye Zemar, Treasurer, Post Office Box 495, Escanaba, Michigan 49829 |