On foreign policy, DesJarlais says the United States should impose further sanctions on Iran while calling on the United Nations, Russia and China to pressure the country in a similar fashion.

DesJarlais supports developing domestic energy programs including oil, gas and coal production. He also advocates expanding nuclear-power facilities. He signed the Americans for Prosperity's "No Climate Tax Pledge" to "oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue."

An opponent of amnesty, DesJarlais says his plan for illegal immigration "is a one way ticket out of the United States."

Fiscal Policy

DesJarlais campaigned calling for cuts to federal spending and earmarks, saying he will be an "equal opportunity cutter." He has cited the Internal Revenue Service as "a great example of a place to start, but there's so many departments that need to be pared down and cleaned up."

Still, DesJarlais said he would continue to support federal research facilities in his region. "We need to cut out waste, fraud and abuse in federal projects, but Americans don't want to cut national defense," DesJarlais said. "If you package it in a fashion that people understand that this is vital for national defense, then I think we can continue to get funding."

A supporter of extending the Bush-era tax cuts permanently, DesJarlais opposed the extension of unemployment benefits that were ultimately included with the temporary extension of the 2010 provisions. "Sometimes a good way to see unemployment numbers go down is to cut unemployment benefits," Scott DesJarlais said after his 2010 election. "There are jobs that people may not want to take that they would if their unemployment benefits were cut."

DesJarlais believes the best way to protect Social Security is to address other federal spending and reduce government's size and scope. He says benefits could be protected without raising the retirement age or taxes.

DesJarlais' plan for job creation calls for tax breaks for businesses.

Health-Care Reform

Saying his top priority is to repeal Obama's health-care reform, DesJarlais called the Democrats' plan "a funnel into socialized medicine."

Coverage and access cannot be expanded "without diluting the care and rationing the care," according to DesJarlais. DesJarlais said he quit the American Medical Association for its endorsement of the Democrats' plan. "We were being misrepresented," DesJarlais said.

Education

A member of the Education and Labor Committee during the 112th Congress, DesJarlais says "most feel their (teachers') hands are tied by overregulation. He supports diminishing federal power over schools and is an advocate of merit pay for teachers.He criticized the No Child Left Behind Act for forcing teachers to follow testing-focused curricula.

Social Issues

An anti-abortion rights conservative, DesJarlais said churches, schools and families have a role in turning people away from abortions.

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