PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST. ALWAYS! Todd Platts has always been guided by Abraham Lincoln’s principle that government should be “of the people, by the people, for the people.” As a state legislator, Todd opposed legislative pay raises and refused perks such as a leased car and per diems, saving taxpayers thousands of dollars every year. Todd also opposed the giveaway of taxpayer funds to build stadiums for millionaire owners and players and fought the expansion of legalized gambling in Pennsylvania.
As a Congressman, Todd has continued to “put people first.” He sponsored legislation prohibiting automatic Congressional pay raises and voted to block them. Todd introduced legislation denying retirement benefits to Congressmen convicted of illegal acts and proposed a constitutional amendment giving the President line-item veto authority to rein in excessive spending. He has also worked to strengthen whistleblower protections for employees who report fraud, waste, and mismanagement in federal government agencies. Finally, Todd believes partisan politics should not be part of the governing process.
Spending
Economic opportunity is the cornerstone of the American Dream. The federal government must create the conditions necessary for both the Nation's short-term and long-term economic health.
Congressman Todd Platts has supported legislation to provide tax incentives for work and investment, to create a comprehensive energy policy that includes responsible domestic energy exploration, to promote exports while also addressing the unfair trade practices of countries like China, to help the unemployed weather difficult times, and to invest in our Nation's infrastructure.
Todd also believes that the federal government must better restrain spending. While supporting programs that have a proven record of creating jobs, such as investment in infrastructure and tax relief for small businesses, he has opposed spending trillions of dollars on ineffective stimulus packages and supports the federal government getting out of the bail-out business.
Health Care
Congressman Todd Platts is often asked by his constituents whether he feels that health care reform will pass during this session of Congress. Todd's answer is always, "I certainly hope so." Rising health care costs are crippling our small businesses and are putting a severe strain on many family budgets. The status quo should be unacceptable to everyone.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi's health care bill (H.R. 3962) - which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 220 - 215 in early November 2009 - is not the kind of reform we need, however. Todd strongly opposed this legislation. At more than 2,000 pages and costing more than $1 trillion over ten years, H.R. 3962 will destroy millions of jobs by raising taxes on small businesses and other employers. In total, H.R. 3962 includes more than $700 billion in new taxes.
In addition, H.R. 3962 cuts Medicare benefits by more than $400 billion and raises Medicare premiums, making access to comprehensive health care more difficult for our Nation's senior citizens. Over time, H.R. 3962 will move countless Americans involuntarily from private health insurance to government-run health care.
Todd has long maintained that there is no "silver bullet" for health care reform. Congress should fix what is broken in our nation's health care system, while being certain not to break what is not. Todd has supported legislation in Congress to make health care more affordable and accessible. These reforms include: ending the practice of denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions and ensuring the portability of health insurance; allowing small businesses to band together to negotiate insurance coverage for their employees, just as large corporations and labor unions are already allowed to do; allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines; and enacting responsible medical malpractice reform to lower health care costs.
Cap and Trade
At a time when our country is experiencing record high unemployment rates and rising deficits, we should not be adopting policies that would inflict greater costs upon American businesses and families. That is why Congressman Platts opposed the "Cap and Trade" legislation that came before the U.S. House of Representatives in June of 2009. The House version of this bill (H.R. 2454) would force manufacturers and other employers in the United States to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80% - and is estimated to cost $846 billion over the next ten years.
While Todd voted against H.R. 2454, he strongly believes that America needs a comprehensive energy policy that decreases our reliance on foreign oil and promotes good environmental stewardship. H.R. 2454 does not achieve these goals in a fiscally responsible manner. This legislation will harm our already struggling economy by increasing costs on consumers and driving American manufacturing jobs to countries, such as China and India, with less stringent environmental safeguards.
Todd has strongly supported sensible efforts to promote conservation, to further develop traditional domestic sources of energy in an environmentally sensitive manner, and to develop alternative and renewable energy supplies. He was the lead Republican sponsor of the first increase in fuel efficiency standards signed into law in over 30 years and of legislation that ensures that America is generating a quarter of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025
Such an approach is a responsible alternative that would protect our economy while charting a long-term energy policy that sustains our environment for future generations. Todd will continue to strongly advocate for a balanced and comprehensive national energy policy.
LEADERSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY! As the 19th District’s Congressman, Todd Platts serves on several key House committees. Todd’s assignments include the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Education and Labor Committee and Armed Services Committee. These assignments have allowed Todd to play an active role on critical issues such as: education reform, highway funding, pension security, whistleblower protections, homeland security, higher education opportunities, and lobbying reform.
As Chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance and Accountability, Todd has led the charge to instill more fiscal responsibility and openness throughout all federal agencies. Todd’s subcommittee has helped to eliminate wasteful and fraudulent expenditures, ensured military personnel receive accurate and timely pay and benefits, and promoted greater public access to government records. SAYING NO TO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS! Knowing special interest groups wrongly influence Congress with millions of dollars in contributions, Todd Platts refuses such contributions and has fought for true campaign finance reform. Todd is once again running a grassroots campaign. He believes elections should be decided on qualifications and issues, not wealth or ability to raise money.