Mike Koffenberger for 4th District PA

Issues

Prior to reading through my views on the following issues, a clarification must be made. In many issues that I discuss below, I refer to them as “states’ issues.” What I mean by this is that there is no United States Constitutional authority for them to be handled by the federal government. All powers that were not written into the Constitution are reserved for the states…which means it is left for the people to handle. A federal government that tries to legislate every aspect of your life, liberty, property and general well-being is authoritative and oppressive, and our government as it stands today is not what the founders had in mind.

Here are my views on every issue that seems to be relevant to today’s political scene. If you have a question about, or a suggestion for another issue to be listed, please email me to let me know at mike@mikeforpa.com

Abortion

I am pro-life, and I believe that life begins at conception. However, I do not believe that the federal government has any say in the matter. While I do not agree with any government forcing a policy dealing with abortion on anyone, at the most, it is a states’ issue and should be dealt with on that level. This is a very sensitive issue, with good-faith arguments on both sides.

Bailouts

No business, individual or entity should be given taxpayer money for any reason unless the government is purchasing a product. What we saw recently was the federal government making decisions based on lobbyist recommendations rather than using logical economic sense. It was political grandstanding and paying back political connections at best. Who decided which bank should get a bailout and which one should not? Who decided that the automotive companies should be bailed out? With all of the money spent on the bailouts, the federal government could have probably given $50,000 to each citizen. Which one would have been more effective? The bailouts only served to devalue our money even more since we had none to begin with. It was printed out of thin air by the Federal Reserve.

Balanced Budget

If every citizen in this country has to be responsible for balancing their own budgets, meeting payments, paying off debt, and living within their means, then so should the government. I will support and vote for a balanced budget amendment. If we do not control our government’s spending, our children have a future burdened by crushing national debt weighing down their hard work and dreams.

Debt Ceiling

There was a lot of talk in March through August of 2010 about raising the debt ceiling. Our government must raise its debt ceiling above $14 trillion to continue to pile more debt on us. Let’s compare this to the average citizen like you and I shall we? A person makes $60 thousand a year. That person has a debt ceiling of $2 million. That means they can charge up all they want, and spend like there is no tomorrow, up until $2 million. Next year, that person spends a lot more, of course all of it is necessary right? This time however, they are going to spend well over $2 million and would like to increase their debt ceiling to $3 million. That person also is expected to pay off that debt on a $60 thousand a year salary mind you. That example is exactly how ridiculous the conversation the debt ceiling is about.

Earmarks

I am opposed to earmarks in bills and will vote for or submit a bill that would ban any and all earmarks within legislation. It is unconstitutional to give $4 million to one state and $20 million to another…no matter what the project is. We also witnessed during debates on health care legislation in 2010, the paying off of congressmen and congresswomen for their votes by giving them earmarks for their districts. This is criminal and should be considered extortion! Earmarks only lead to corruption.

Education

There is absolutely no proof that constantly throwing more money at education has had any desirable effect on schools and their ability to educate our children. Government governs best when it governs least, but it is also best when it governs locally. All federal funding and regulations on education need to be immediately ended. No bureaucrat in Washington DC can claim that the children in rural York County learn the same as children from the inner city of Los Angeles. Only the parents and local education boards can have a positive impact on the education of our children. If elected, I will submit a bill that would eliminate the Department of Education, as well as any and all federal funding of, and regulation of, education. It is a state/local issue and needs to be dealt with on that level alone.

Eminent Domain

I believe the policies of governments seizing land that is privately owned, where the owner does not wish to sell, is unconstitutional. Our constitution provides for the protection of life, liberty AND property. Seizing property from one, to give benefit to another is immoral, unconstitutional and unjust.

Energy

The federal government has proven that it has no idea how to regulate energy, improve energy, or find alternative sources of energy. The Department of Energy is one of many departments in the federal government that needs to be eliminated. If the free market is given unrestricted free access to develop alternative sources of energy, it will, and it will do so due to the profit motive. Recent talk of building wind farms in one state, drilling for oil in another, and using solar power in another is not the federal government’s responsibility. The individual states should be free to harness and develop energy sources that they see fit to do themselves. Our leaders have been talking about reducing our dependence on foreign oil for at least 50 years, and it is obvious that the federal government is inept at doing so.

Farm subsidies

All farm subsidies by the federal government need to be ended. Favoring one farm over another is unconstitutional. According to many studies and articles on the matter, the subsidies benefit large agribusinesses over the local small family farm.

Foreign Policy

I support a strong national defense. Our foreign policy, since at least the end of World War 2, has been one of intervention. Our troops are spread out all over the world, and we have military bases in well over 100 countries. It is not a policy of defense, but of offense. We have become the empire that our founding fathers fought against in the Revolutionary War. The best question for those that believe we need to be the world’s policemen is: would we tolerate it? Would we tolerate a foreign military base in Adams County? Would we tolerate another country (or international entity like the United Nations) interfering in our election process? Would we tolerate another country placing a puppet President in the White House and supporting him/her against the will of the people? The clear answer is no, and we should not be engaging in these types of actions either. Good will, trade and peace with all nations is the best policy. If attacked or on the verge of being attacked, then we meet that threat as we should…with the might of our military. However, we should not be endangering the lives of our men and women in uniform to interfere in the affairs of other countries. Various countries and religious factions have been fighting each other for centuries. There is no sign of that changing any time soon, and it is not our place to use force to do so. What also needs to be addressed is foreign aid. I would support eliminating ALL foreign aid and will submit a bill for legislation eliminating all forms of foreign aid. Natural disasters that devastate a country can be addressed by individual charities (as most already are). Here is a nice image that depicts our foreign policy:

Health Care

The current debate over health care is not about care, but about insurance. Forcing all Americans to buy a product or be fined is unconstitutional. The federal government cannot even deliver the mail in a cost-effective way without going into massive debt and incurring insurmountable costs. Why would we trust one of our most important things (our health) to be in good hands with the government? Do we want some bureaucrat in Washington telling us what doctor we have to see, what medicine we are allowed to take, and what insurance we have to buy? Removing restrictions on the insurance companies to allow them to sell their product to anyone in any state is one positive step. The free market would then be allowed to work and lower costs for the benefit of everyone. Another way to reduce costs is to encourage health care providers to accept cash payments for various services. Health insurance companies themselves create high costs due to various restrictions and requirements that they place on the provider in order to determine what health care you can receive. If cash values were placed on these services as an option, it would remove the “middle man” from the equation. For example, a routine doctor’s office visit could cost $20. If cash is paid, it eliminates the need for health insurance companies to get involved with their regulations and restrictions which increase the cost of insurance. Prior to the advent of health insurance companies, doctors charged varied fees for their services. They also took it upon themselves to provide basic care for those that could not afford it. Any attempt at universal health care should be considered only by a state government and voted on by the people of that state.

Income Tax (Death tax, estate tax, corporate tax, and ALL taxes)

The entire tax system needs to be eliminated, and a sales tax on everything except food and medicine needs to be adopted. See the comprehensive reform plan.

Libya (or any other country in the Middle East or Africa with which we decide we must interfere)

Voting to institute a “no fly zone,” especially not by our Congress, is illegal according to our Constitution. We do not even have an idea of who the rebel forces are that we are supporting. We must stop interfering in the affairs of other countries. This ALWAYS gets us into trouble. We supported Saddam Hussein in his efforts against Iran in the past, and then removed him from power years later. We supported “freedom fighters” in Afghanistan, like Osama bin Laden, against the Soviet Union, only to have that turn on us as well.

Marriage

I believe in traditional marriage between a man and a woman before God. However, this is my belief. It is also my belief that the federal government should not be seeking a marriage amendment to the Constitution, and it should not be seeking to regulate the definition of marriage. There is no reason that a government should be able to ban marriage between two adult men or two adult women. Let us not cloud the issue with nonsense about an adult marrying a child or a human being marrying an animal. Those extremes are not what is at issue here. It is also my opinion that government does not have the authority to regulate or license marriage. Consensual relationships between adults belong in the home and not in the government.

Medicaid and Medicare

Both programs need to be eliminated over a period of time. See the comprehensive reform plan.

The Patriot Act

This constitution shredding legislation must be repealed. In order to get it passed, it had to be given such a name so it would be “un-patriotic” to vote against it. This is ridiculous. Protections from abuse of our 4th Amendment rights are essential. Obtaining judicial review prior to executing a search warrant is a necessity. Keep in mind that over 300 page bill was passed only thirty four days after the 9/11 attacks. Do you think that this bill was written that quickly, or has it been in planning for some time?

The Right to Bear Arms

The Right to Bear Arms shall not be infringed unless a particular State decides that someone has given up their rights by committing felonious activities or have been found to be clinically insane to the point that they are a threat to themselves or someone else. A person should not have to register them, or be restricted on how many or which ones can be bought. No federal legislation or controls should exist on firearms.

Social Security

It needs to be eliminated over a period of time. See the comprehensive reform plan for more details.

Special Interests

Special interests, favoritism and lobbyists have destroyed the integrity of our federal government. As I mentioned in other topics, I am completely against bailouts, farm/oil subsidies and earmarks in legislation (which usually go to one specific special interest over another). Corporate welfare should also be ended: no special deals or legislation should favor the oil industry, big agribusiness, nuclear energy, “green” energy companies, General Electric, etc.

War in Afghanistan and Iraq

Both of these unconstitutional wars need to be ended immediately. All troops (not just combat troops) need to be brought home as quickly and safely as possible. Efforts to build and maintain embassies and bases should also be abandoned and eliminated. Democracy cannot be spread to a people unless that people wishes to have it. Congress never declared war in either instance, as is required in the Constitution. It is long past time to bring our men and women home to their families.

War on Drugs

It is a failure. The government cannot keep anyone from crossing our borders, let alone stop the flow of drugs into the country. No one can control what a person decides to put in his or her own body. Prohibition did not work for alcohol, and the laws were changed. It has not been working for drugs, and the laws need to be changed for those as well.

War on Poverty

It is a failure. Prior to government attempts at redistributing wealth, private charities, individual donations and religious donations assisted the poor. The attitude in our country has changed due to government regulations. Instead of someone seeing another person in need and offering assistance or charity, they believe that the government will help them. Many cases of welfare fraud are not investigated, and the dependence on the government gets worse with each passing year. No assistance by government should be made on the federal level. At most, only the states and local jurisdictions would have a desirable impact on assisting those in need. For being the “richest country in the world,” and routinely giving great sums of money to overseas dictators ($60 billion to Egypt alone in the last 30 years), there is absolutely no reason why there is even one person living below the poverty line in our country.

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

Treasurer: Kevin Koffenberger