The common thread of Tommy G. Thompson's 38 years in public service is his ability to get things done. As a state lawmaker, governor and cabinet secretary, Thompson saw an opportunity in every challenge and brought hope for a better life to millions of families from Elroy, Wisconsin to remote villages in Africa.

As governor, Tommy Thompson repeatedly cut taxes while leading the nation in moving tens of thousands of families off of the dependence on a welfare check to the independence of a paycheck. He removed government from the schoolhouse door for thousands of minority students in Milwaukee by allowing them to choose where they go to school - no matter where they live or how much money their families earn. He gave hard-working families access to affordable health care by expanding coverage to tens of thousands hard-working families who lacked insurance but made too much money to qualify for government health programs.

As Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy Thompson led the way in rebuilding our nation's crumbling public health infrastructure after 9/11. He worked tirelessly to provide prescription drug coverage to our nation's seniors once and for all. And he was the driving force in America's unprecedented investment to stop the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria around the world.

In short, Tommy Thompson built his career on solving problems - not setting them aside for another generation to worry about. At a time when America and its allies face unprecedented challenges, the nation needs leaders who are willing to address the big problems right now. And America needs leaders with the right ideas and the courage of his convictions to make them happen. Tommy Thompson is such as leader, as his record makes clear.