Our country faces serious challenges.

We have one in six Americans out of work, the highest poverty rate in 51 years, a sick economy, record home foreclosures, record deficits, rising debt. Most Americans believe we’re on the wrong track.

Today millions of Americans fear that future generations will inherit a country that is worse off than the America they inherited.

Since Nancy Pelosi became speaker of the House in 2007, we have lost more than 7 million jobs. In the nearly two years since Barack Obama became president, we have lost nearly 3 million jobs, in spite of spending a record $814 billion on an “economic stimulus” plan. Also, during the past year, unemployment has risen in every county across our Central Texas congressional district.

Twenty-year Congressman Chet Edwards, D-Waco, has been a stalwart supporter of Obama and Pelosi and their job-killing agenda.

We remember February 2008, when Edwards stood on the Suspension Bridge in Waco and endorsed Obama for president, saying Obama had the “solid judgment our citizens want.” Edwards has also voted multiple times for Pelosi for speaker of the House. She even recommended him for vice president.

When it comes to his voting record, Edwards is in line with Obama and Pelosi, not with our district. He votes with the Pelosi-Obama agenda over 96 percent of the time, in favor of every spending bill (and against nearly every spending cut), growing government, endless bailouts, record increases in the debt ceiling, irresponsible budgets and the failed stimulus bill.

Our families cannot afford this agenda, nor can they afford Chet Edwards.

If I am elected, we will focus on private- sector job creation, helping our economy recover, and cutting federal spending. We must repeal ObamaCare, kill cap-and-trade for good, reduce spending to 2007-08 levels, and extend current tax rates permanently to prevent the largest tax increase in American history.

In this campaign, we have held more than 100 public events across the 12 counties of this district, answering every question and staying until the last person leaves. Contrast that with Edwards who has not held a public town hall meeting since summer 2009. He doesn’t want to hear from voters because he knows you’re deeply angry about his liberal voting record.

Instead of talking about his record, Edwards has lashed out at me, making numerous false claims in negative ads. PolitiFact, an independent journalism organization, recently reviewed one of his attack ads and labeled it “false.” The ad claimed I helped run a company that laid off 3,000 workers. This is a deceitful, false and defamatory claim. I never worked for that company.

After spending more than 30 years in business, I know how to create jobs, balance budgets, meet payrolls, and borrow and repay debt. It’s the kind of experience that the current Congress desperately needs and that Edwards clearly lacks.

We must end the out-of-control Obama-Pelosi-Edwards agenda; and, if we elect 40-60 conservative congressmen in November, we will provide a check on the Obama White House.

I am running for Congress because I fear for the future of our country. I promise you that I will take my experience and my principles to Congress to fix the mess we are in and then come home — just as our nation’s Founders intended.

I refuse to be part of the first generation of Americans to pass on a country to future generations with fewer opportunities than what we were given.

It is time that we returned to conservative principles: limited government, free-market economics, common-sense social values and adherence to the U.S. Constitution.

We can turn things around but we must win in November. Join with me to restore America’s promise, prosperity and security for our children and grandchildren. I would be honored to have your support and your vote in this very important election.

Bill Flores is a retired businessman from Bryan and the Republican nominee for Congress in Texas’ 17th Congressional District.