Issues

In Washington, Tom Manion will push to make sure Congress once again works for us… so Congress once again does what’s right. He will focus on the things that should be obvious, but have been forgotten by the politicians.

TAXES : Tom wants an America where taxes are low and economic growth is a priority so every working family has the opportunity for economic freedom and success. The 2001 and 2003 tax cuts are set to expire shortly. Tom supports making these tax cuts permanent. Allowing these tax cuts to expire would result in a tax increase for more than 4.7 million Pennsylvanians, and the last thing we need in financially uncertain times is a tax hike. Tom also supports eliminating the death tax and the marriage penalty. The problem in Washington is not that our taxes are too low, but that spending is out of control. Politicians in Washington seem to have little regard for the massive debt they are piling onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. Tom supports eliminating wasteful earmarks and pork barrel spending. He also supports reviewing government programs to find out which are working, which are not, and which are duplicative. Extraneous positions and programs need to be eliminated. Pennsylvania families have to live within a budget; Tom believes the federal government should have to, as well.

HEALTHCARE : Tom believes everyone in America should have access to quality, affordable healthcare, and recognizes that our current system needs to be reformed. Tom also recognizes that the tax-hiking, government-run bureaucracy Barack Obama proposes would only make our current problems worse. A government-run health care system will give us miles of red tape and long waiting lines for treatment. Tom believes the best way to reform our health care system is to give patients more control, not less. Making health insurance portable so it can move from job to job will allow patients to have an ongoing relationship with their doctors, not one dependent on whether they stay in the same job year after year. In addition, Tom supports expanding health savings accounts. Both of these measures will go a long way toward giving families more control over their health care. He also supports providing tax credits as a way to encourage the purchase of health insurance by the uninsured and eliminate the current discrimination against individuals who are not offered employer-based health insurance. Tom believes an increased focus on preventive medicine and healthy lifestyle choices will save money in the end by often preventing the onset of more serious, chronic diseases. Tom also believes patients’ access to care is threatened by frivolous medical liability lawsuits. Passing medical liability reform that limits non-economic damages in medical liability cases will help stabilize liability insurance and thereby increase patients’ access to care.

IRAQ : Tom believes we need to end the war in Iraq. In fact, no one is more committed to that goal than he is - because he does not want other parents to have to go through what he and Janet have. However, Tom knows we must also ensure that America is safe for this and future generations. The situation on the ground is complicated and requires thoughtfulness and a willingness to set politics aside for the sake of our brave men and women on the frontlines. Tom believes calls to bring our troops home immediately are irresponsible, and in Congress, he will oppose any effort to “cut and run” in Iraq. Too often, the debate has been focused on whether we should have gone into Iraq in the first place, but engaging those questions accomplishes little. Tom believes withdrawing our troops from Iraq too soon threatens not only Iraq, but the U.S. as well, and undermines the progress our troops have made.

IMMIGRATION : Tom wants America to continue to be a beacon for immigrants. We need a strong set of rules and principles that allow people from outside our borders to become part of the American dream. Respecting our immigrant heritage as well as the rule of law are essential to achieving true immigration reform. Our national and economic security is threatened by porous borders. Congress has been bickering about immigration reform for years, but has achieved little. Tom believes we must first secure our border and enforce the laws we already have on the books before we debate additional proposals. If we can’t enforce already-passed laws, why should we assume any additional measures would be enforced? Tom supports both the physical and virtual border fence and urges their rapid completion. Tom believes that in addition to securing the border and enforcing existing laws, we need a state of the art employment verification system, so businesses can easily, and accurately, check the status of employees and potential employees. Once that system is in place, employers who hire illegal workers need to be penalized strongly enough so that they are more cautious in future hiring. Tom also supports increasing the H-1B visa cap. Increasing the number of highly skilled foreign workers able to work in the U.S. will allow companies to keep operations in the U.S. and in turn create more jobs for Americans.

ENERGY : Tom will fight for America to lead the world in innovation on alternative energy … and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The United States consumes more oil than any other nation on earth, and much of it comes from countries that are hostile to our way of life. Energy security is an issue of national security, and we cannot continue to depend on foreign sources of oil. We must expand the use of and investment in renewable and alternative sources of energy, and undertake a wholehearted effort to promote conservation. In addition, we must increase domestic production, so long as it is accomplished in an environmentally safe way. This two-pronged approach, which harnesses America’s resources and ingenuity, will set us on the path to energy independence.

• Read Tom’s Op Ed piece on energy here.

ENVIRONMENT : Tom recognizes that global warming is a concern and America needs to take a strong look at our environment - so we begin really working at leaving this country and this world, a better place. By using market-based principles and scientifically sound information, Tom believes America can develop an environmental policy that benefits both the environment and the economy. Encouraging the development of clean, advanced technology to reduce carbon emissions while providing incentives to do so, will not only reduce carbon emissions, but spur job growth, as well.

ETHICS : Tom will work for a government where honesty and ethics are more important than wasteful earmarks and special interests. In Congress, Tom will oppose using taxpayer dollars for pet projects to win political favor, and will work to guard taxpayer dollars from wasteful, politically motivated spending. He will also reject the culture of corruption that has placed big money special interests above the American taxpayer. Tom believes eliminating wasteful earmarks and pork barrel spending and opposing the “revolving door” mentality that has plagued Washington for so long will help restore taxpayers’ trust in their government.

EDUCATION : Nationally, 30% of our students are not even graduating high school. What are we doing to ensure that today’s students are ready for tomorrow’s work force? The mandated standardized testing required by President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, while a start, is not the answer. From my discussions with local educators, I’ve come to understand that a standardized test is not even the best measure of academic progress. From my experience in the business world, I know that American workers are prized the world over for their creativity and ingenuity. Continued success in the global economy depends on our educational system’s continued ability to produce the world’s most valued workers. Specifically, our schools should produce workers who are adept at twenty-first century skills. Our goal should be no employee left behind.

It has been many years since I took a standardized multiple-choice test, or asked it of one of my employees. Yet, every day in my workplace we collaborate, work with technology, problem-solve and communicate. Some schools here in Bucks County are already providing the relevant instruction that results in these twenty-first century skills. Student progress is already being measured with authentic, real world assessments. Schools should be accountable for their results, and we should build on the examples of our best schools. Instead of penalizing the struggling schools, let’s assist the schools to invest in staff development and training with proven, successful models. Most importantly, educators on the front line in classrooms should be an integral part of the educational reform process.

• Read Tom’s Op Ed piece on education here.