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« Politicians 2009
Melissa A. Hart
- Melissa A. Hart's Photo
- Office Sought:
US House of Representatives - Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District
- Offices previously held:
PA State Senate 1991-2001 - - - Chaired Senate Finance Committee; Congresswoman 2001-2007
- Melissa A.'s reasons for seeking office:
I’m running for Congress because I know how our government can work to move this country in the right direction. Over the past two years, critical issues facing our country have been ignored or simply used as political wedges by the congress. Our economy and financial system have become unstable. Many families cannot afford health insurance. Gasoline costs have skyrocketed and thrown household budgets into debt. Americans’ trust in the congress is at an all-time low. Even worse, for each bill introduced to reduce government spending, there were 22 introduced to raise it. Spending is out of control and far too much taxpayer money is being wasted. Much of that is in the form of earmarks -- tax dollars spent on political pet projects for the congressman’s self-interests or to curry favor with campaign contributors. For example, the congress voted to give a $2 million earmark for a personal library and office to a New York Congressman who is under investigation for tax evasion. This must stop. I have pledged to support a moratorium on earmarks because I firmly believe we must end wasteful spending and provide more openness and transparency in the process. We need members of congress willing to solve problems not just fix the symptoms. What we have seen recently out of this Congress is demagoguery of issues and band-aids instead of cures. We can not continue down this path. We can not afford to continue to bail out big corporations on the backs of hard working Americans. The last thing we need is 2 more years like the past 2. That is what my opponent offers. More tax increases, more spending and failure to tackle the tough issues that might be politically unpopular.
- Melissa A.'s qualifications:
My experience on the critical issues that challenge us most today is real. As a State Senator for 10 years, I chaired the PA Senate Finance Committee and helped cut taxes and increase jobs in Pennsylvania. We made sure that people’s savings were not a target of the taxman. During my 6 years in Congress, as a member of the Financial Services and Ways and Means committees, I sponsored reform measures for Fannie and Freddie when the House leaders on both sides of the aisle turned a blind eye. I understand why many people in western Pennsylvania and our nation are feeling frustrated and angry about the current direction of our country and state of the economy. I will use my experience and knowledge of economic issues to lead efforts to find options that would bring new capital to the market; such as cutting or temporarily eliminating the capital gains tax, implement market reforms, encourage private investments and keep taxpayer liability to a minimum. We need a plan to stabilize our economy, not just throwing more of OUR tax money at a problem, with no guarantee more money will be the solution. The current congress’ ideas of increasing taxes, increasing spending and bailing out corporations on the backs of hardworking Americans must end.
- Where Melissa A. stands on the issues:
Increase American Energy: America must take charge of our energy future by accessing known domestic resources off-shore, in Alaska and the west areas the Congress has unreasonably kept off-limits. We must also plan for our future by aggressively developing clean, renewable, reliable and less costly energy sources. A focus on significantly increasing the nation’s nuclear power facilities, which are already used safely, effectively and inexpensively here and to a greater extent in Europe is also necessary. Alternative sources of energy, especially renewable energy, must also be encouraged to sustain us in the future. Policies to develop these for commercial use should be implemented. Some sources which should be included are as wind, solar and clean coal. Reform US tax policy: US tax policy must be improved and kept consistent for the long term. We can begin by making the 2001 and 2003 personal and investment tax cuts permanent. We must, however, ultimately make our system competitive on the global scale, an effort that has never been comprehensively undertaken. Such tax reforms will help stimulate the economy and our competitiveness. Should I return to Congress, I will regain my former seat on Way and Means Committee with my seniority. This will allow me to directly impact the tax issues as well as Social Security, trade and entitlements. Cut spending and make government more efficient: The federal government has gotten involved in so many inappropriate sectors, I believe it is time to make paring down government a top issue. Cutting spending will force the Congress and agencies to prioritize, and to eliminate inefficient or inappropriate programs. The drain on our economy due to excessive costs of government bloat is real and expanding. Sunsetting each program will require review and help to eliminate waste and inefficiency. Fraud must be rooted out as well. Earmarks have become a poster issue that the public understands and they should be eliminated. Though some are for worthy projects, they are too often abused for political favors and have led to excessive spending and corruption of too many members of Congress. If any funding is given to outside entities, such awards must be determined on the basis of the appropriateness of federal involvement and merit of the application. There must be more openness and transparency in the legislative process.
- Melissa A.'s priorities if elected:
My top priority is getting our country’s economy back on track. When I return to Congress, I will regain my seat on Ways and Means Committee with significant seniority. This will allow me to deal directly with tax issues that are making our economy less competitive. It will also put me in the forefront on trade issues. Congress needs to support legislation that would level the playing field for American businesses so they can compete in a global economy. Existing trade laws should be strongly enforced; against illegal dumping and other predatory practices by foreign governments which heavily subsidize competing industries. U.S. manufacturers should not be negatively impacted by unfair trade practices that give foreign competitors an unfair advantage. Additionally, Congress needs to act to make the tax cuts permanent that doubled the child tax credit to $1,000 per child, provided marriage penalty relief and eliminated the death tax, which gave relief to families, farms and small businesses. To address the instability in the market, Congress must do more to encourage private investment. I believe we need to look at options that would encourage this such as eliminating the capital gains tax, implement market reforms, take the cap off of FDIC coverage and keep taxpayer liability to a minimum.
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