Social Security and Medicare
I will never support any effort to privatize Social Security or Medicare, or support any politician who attempts to do so. Republican leadership wants to increase the retirement age to 70 and see Social Security and Medicare trust fund money susceptible to corporations and the stock market, to the detriment of the senior citizens and working families of this country. When my father died in 1994, his benefits helped support my family at a crucial and painful time in our lives. Everything was turned upside down, including our financial stability. I know what Social Security and Medicare mean to the fabric of America, and as the Congressman from Pennsylvania's 18th District, I will fight for hard working Pennsylvanians, to protect the benefits they have rightfully earned. .
The Economy
I am running because I want to work for the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania by helping us get back to work in good, high paying jobs.
Today our country faces major economic challenges: decisions made in Washington over the past decade have left our country in debt while families struggle to make ends meet. As I have traveled Southwestern Pennsylvania, I have been impressed with resolve of hard working Americans to persevere through this difficult time. At the same time, I am disappointed at the lack of serious solutions from some Members of Congress.
We need solutions, not partisanship, in the face of this crisis.
Energy
Some Members of Congress believe the solution to all of America’s energy problems can be solved by drilling our way to independence. As we can see by the BP disaster in the Gulf – drilling is not the solution.
Such a plan is not only unrealistic but irresponsible. Right here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, residents residing on the natural gas reserve known as the Marcellus Shale are dealing with the negative effects of the drilling – added runoff, loud equipment directly outside their doors and even unknown pollutants escaping into their drinking water – while the extracting corporations are allowed to compensate the owners of the land at levels well under the requirements of the law.
Afghanistan
The security of the Afghan people is tantamount to the security of the United States. While none of us could ever forget the horrible tragedies of September 11, 2001, we also must not forget to remain vigilant against the perpetrators of that terrible tragedy. If the United States allows the Taliban to succeed in Afghanistan and Western Pakistan, not only will al Qaeda have a safe haven from which to launch future attacks against the United States, but that terrorist network – one that perpetrated an attack that killed over 3,000 Americans – will be very close to one of the world’s nuclear arsenals. That is a risk we simply cannot afford.
Education
The education of our children is the single most important investment we can make in the health of America’s future. Any society that educates its children better than we do will surely out perform us in the world economy. I believe that we all should strive to expand the scope and depth of the education our children receive and invest in our public school system.