Mike Fitzpatrick | On the Issues

Jobs
Government doesn't create jobs. Small businesses and free enterprise do. I will work to expand employment by giving businesses what they need to grow. Eliminating unnecessary government regulation can reduce costs for businesses, instead allowing them more money to invest and add jobs. I will vote to reduce business taxes so our country can compete in world markets and reverse the trend of outsourcing jobs to countries like China.

Economy
Federal spending is out of control, and I will pursue an immediate spending freeze on all non-defense discretionary programs. To avoid leaving our children with a country worse off than the one we enjoy, we need to reduce the federal deficit and our national debt by reducing the size of the federal government. I have pledged to not support tax increases and work to shrink government because I believe America cannot afford higher taxes and the government can make do with what it already collects.

Health Care
Because I want to protect the quality of care in this country, I oppose Democrat legislation that would put government between patients and doctors. I do believe the health care system can and should be improved through free market reforms. I support changing tax laws to put individual  insurance plans on the same footing as employer based insurance so people can choose the plan that best meets their family's needs, regardless of who they work for or where they live. I would encourage price transparency and health savings accounts so people could buy the care they want at a fair price. I would help states by reforming Medicaid and reducing federal mandates. I strongly support eliminating junk law suits that push up physician insurance costs and result in expensive, unnecessary defensive medicine.

Energy Independence
I support a common sense, balanced energy policy. I will champion development of Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale natural gas resources along with the jobs it will bring. I also support safe nuclear power, clean coal, responsible off-shore drilling, and economical renewable energy. While I believe that we should encourage the development of clean energy and decrease our dependence on foreign oil, I will not support an energy tax on American families in the form of a "Cap and Trade."