Mike Koffenberger for 4th District PA

Differences

Even though Congressman Platts has announced that he is not seeking re-election, this page contains plenty of useful information on my political reasoning. Congressman Platts continues to vote in Congress until his retirement. Additional differences will be posted when found.

Congressman Platts, as I have mentioned elsewhere on this web site, is a nice guy. Many opinion polls show that he is considered favorably. Once polls mention his voting record, the popular percentage begins to go down. I will never attack the Congressman personally during this campaign. Disagreeing with his voting record however is another matter. In no particular order, I have listed below where I disagree with the voting record and politics of Congressman Platts:

- Stated on his web site, “Given the brutal attacks that were being committed against innocent civilians in Libya, it was proper for President Obama, as Commander-in-Chief, to work with our allies in an effort to stop the slaughter.” – I disagree entirely. We do not let our allies, and especially not the United Nations, dictate our foreign policy. We have no right or obligation to intervene in the events occurring in Libya. If we are enforcing a “No Fly Zone” by bombing Libya, it is a war. Another war that we have unconstitutionally started.

- Votes consistently in favor of the PATRIOT Act and its renewals (HR 3199 Dec 2005, most recently HR 514, Feb 2011). I would introduce a bill to repeal the PATRIOT Act. Protecting our country from terrorists is a good thing, however violating the Constitution (especially the 4th Amendment) is a bad thing. Other than an immediate threat to life, there is no reason why a search warrant cannot be obtained first. Having been involved in hundreds of search warrants, I see many benefits from an investigator having to take the time to type up a search warrant, having it approved by a supervisor, and then getting it signed by an impartial judge/magistrate. Tracking library transactions, telephone calls, emails, etc. should only be done is bona fide investigations that have probable cause. “Fishing expeditions” are just that. The broad allowance of power given by this act can certainly be abused.

- Voted in favor of a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage (HJ Res 288, July 2006 and HR Res 106, Sept 2004). Personally, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this web site, I believe in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. I do not agree however, that the federal government has a say in the matter. The United States Constitution has been amended only 27 times, and there is nothing that should allow a government a say in whether two adults can get married or not. I do not believe that the government has a right to define personal relationships.

- Votes consistently in favor of spending more and more money for federal education legislation, grants and programs such as “No Child Left Behind”. (HR 1, 2001). Education issues should be left for the states and to the free market. No government bureaucrat in Washington DC should be able to decide what is best for every single child in America. Student and teacher assessment testing must stay local. Take as an example, that there is a teacher who is considered one of the best in the area, and that teacher is put in a position to improve the education of students with learning disabilities or other learning issues. Those students do not test well, even though they have made remarkable gains due to the teacher. Is that teacher to be fired or have his/her salary determined by the test results? Should that school be targeted for “improvement”? Congressman Platts and I both value education and believe that it is important to have the best for our children, however we differ on who should decide what is best for educating our children.

- Was a co-sponsor of a bill to establish drug testing standards for major league sports (HR 2565, May 2005). Regardless of your stance on drugs and drug usage, is there a legitimate reason for the federal government to regulate a private industry by establishing drug testing procedures? There is certainly no constitutional authority for this.

- Although he voted no on the original “Cash For Clunkers” bill, he voted yes to increase the federal funds going into the program (HR 3435, July 2009). Voting for the funding of the program essentially results in supporting the legislation. This program, which conned consumers into buying brand new vehicles to stimulate the economy, essentially subsidized the auto industry. Also, instead of using the cars that were traded in for spare parts, or for cheaper used vehicles for those that cannot afford a new vehicle, all of them were scrapped. I would have voted no on both measures.

- Consistently votes yes to add funds to AMTRAK (HR 5576 Amendment 1008, June 2006, HR 6003, June 2008). AMTRAK is a government-owned corporation. Initially created in 1971 under President Nixon, it was supposed to be returned to the private sector after a couple of years or dismantled entirely. The federal government should not own corporations or subsidize industries that cannot stand on their own. Funding for AMTRAK should be eliminated and all property and assets should be sold.

- Co-sponsored a bill to keep sanctions on Syria until weapons of mass destruction are dismantled (HR 2332, May 2007). Constantly interfering in the affairs of other countries is what creates enemies of the United States. We would not accept another country initializing sanctions on our country to dismantle our nuclear arsenal, and we should not do the same to others.

- Voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (HR 1, 2003). This created another unconstitutional entitlement program that we cannot afford. To vote and argue against “Obamacare” and for this makes no sense. Both are unconstitutional. This is where a political party agenda destroys all credibility and trust in government to do the right thing. I would have voted no for both of these pieces of legislation. A committed stand on principle and the constitution has to be made.

- Co-sponsored and voted for REAL ID Act of 2005 (HR 418, Feb 2005). REAL ID would require RFID chips to be a part of a national identification card. This would violate every American’s privacy by creating a huge database of personal information. It also would grant open-ended authority to require things like DNA information, fingerprints, retina scans and whatever else they can dream of including. Legislation like this mocks the 10th Amendment and federalism. It also effectively bullies all states into complying with the law. This is another scare tactic law like the PATRIOT Act where it is supposed to protect you from terrorists. Will terrorists really care about carrying a national ID card? Will illegal immigrants? It will only affect law-abiding citizens. Any and all attempted power grabs by the federal government should be exposed for what they are.

- Co-sponsored and voted for the authorization for use of military force against Iraq (HJ Res 114, 2002). Instead of declaring war, as Congress is authorized to do but has not done since World War 2, authorizations for force are voted on. If we are going to send our military to invade another country, it is a war and should be treated as such. We invaded Iraq under suspicion of having weapons of mass destruction. None were found. We should not be enforcing UN sanctions, and if we are going to invade a country, Congress should declare war. That is the ONLY legal way to do so.

- Voted to ban internet gambling with a credit card (HR 2143, June 2003). Gambling is a human behavior that cannot be controlled by the government. Of course, state-run lotteries were exempt from this legislation. I would never vote for “nanny state” government regulations.

- Voted to declare Iraq part of a War on Terror with no exit date (HRes 861, June 2006). Part of this legislation declared that the Untied States is committed to the completion of the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure and united Iraq. Was this part of the original mission? This legislation effectively authorizes the deployment of troops to Iraq forever. I would submit a bill to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan and Iraq in the quickest time and safest method possible.

- Voted for a national service act (HR 1388, March 2009). This bill can certainly be considered the first step to forced service to the government. It creates a Congressional Commission on Civic Service that would explore whether or not a reasonable MANDATORY service requirement for all able young people could be developed. Did we not outlaw slavery with the 13th Amendment? “Neither slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” – 13th Amendment, Section 1. Seems pretty clear to me.

More differences will be detailed in my weekly “Platts Reports” found on the home page of this site and at the home page of the York County Libertarian Party: http://yorklp.org

Paid for by Mike Koffenberger for Congress, P.O. Box 202, Stewartstown, PA 17363

Treasurer: Kevin Koffenberger