On The Issues

The Economy

* Mike Kelly, unlike this current Congress, does not believe we can create entitlements, tax and spend our way to prosperity.

* Mike Kelly will put his experience as a successful small businessman who employs over 100 people with family sustaining jobs to work for the people of the 3rd district.

* By bringing common sense to government, Mike Kelly will fight hard to lower taxes for our working families and job creators, lessen crushing regulations, create an environment friendly for entrepreneurs and work to make sure our workforce has the skills necessary to compete in the global market.

* Mike Kelly will oppose the type of Wall Street bailouts that both Republican and Democratic administrations have wrongly passed in the last two years.

Spending

* Mike believes what this Congress and this Administration has done in office is nothing short of generational theft.

* Mike believes our Federal Government taxes too much, spends too much, and borrows too much from other countries. It is time to do more than talk about ending the era of big government; it is time to actually end it.

* Mike will fight to cut wasteful spending in government. He’ll work with leaders in Congress like Representative Mike Pence and Representative Paul Ryan to prioritize spending, root out wasteful pork projects and earmarks and make federal government start living within its means.

Health Care

* Mike Kelly strongly opposes the radical plan that this Congress passed that allows government to play a bigger and bigger role in our healthcare. 

* Mike Kelly believes that the health care bill passed did not address the health care sector; it only addressed the government sector.  If given the chance, he will vote to repeal it.

* As a successful small business owner, Mike will advocate for market driven solutions that will control costs and allow every American to have access to affordable care. 

* Mike Kelly will work to restore the almost $500 billion in Medicare cuts that Nancy Pelosi and Kathy Dahlkemper saddled our seniors with.

Protecting Our Seniors

*  Mike is the product of a hard working mother and father and believes that seniors should be able to retire with dignity.  Mike Kelly is against raising the retirement age and believes that by raising any taxes on the seniors we would be violating a precious agreement between our seniors and the nation. 

* Mike is against the privatization of Social Security and believes that the Democrats’ irresponsible spending has put seniors at a risk. 

* Mike is passionate about finding the “right and permanent” solution to this very serious problem and believes that it all begins with putting an end to irresponsible spending in Washington.   Mike knows there needs to be a solution to the fraud and abuse within the Medicare system.  He currently is looking into HR 5546, a bill proposed by Congressman Peter Roskam of Illinois.  It is a bill that combines technology from the credit card industry that detects fraud, to the Medicare system to better protect our seniors of their right to care.  Estimates suggest that this system would save minimally up to $65 billion over 10 years.  Citizens Against Government Waste, AARP and the National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association have all endorsed this proposal.  

* Mike is worried that the physician shortage that causes  many seniors to get insufficient care is only going to be worsened by the new health care bill. The government has made it a burden to take on a Medicare patient, and Mike strongly believes in a equitable payment formula for doctors and patients.

Protecting Our Nation

* Mike Kelly will make protecting our homeland a priority as a member of Congress – with a high priority placed on protecting all of our borders.

* Mike Kelly strongly believes that we must do everything to support our troops abroad while they fight a noble battle against terrorism and Islamo-Fascism

Immigration

* Mike Kelly believes that any immigration reform plan must first begin with securing our borders.  Other aspects of immigration should only be considered after this basic federal government responsibility is fulfilled.

An Energy Economy

* Mike Kelly believes that our state and region are rich in natural resources, and it is time that we tap those and become a leader in the development of energy to reach our goal of energy independence. 

* Mike Kelly understands that there is not a single solution to our energy challenges; instead, Mike believes that we need to use a toolbox approach to energy independence by incorporating solar, wind, hydro, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear, and oil.

* Mike Kelly is dedicated to the resources available in the Marcellus Shale.  Mike believes by working with emerging industries, the Marcellus Shale could be one answer to more family sustaining jobs for the 3rd Congressional District.

Veterans

* As a proud father of a West Pointe graduate, Mike is adamant that we have to provide our brave men and women of the Armed Services everything they need to do their job safely.  Mike is passionate about protecting the rights of our veterans who have served tirelessly and courageously for our freedom. 

Protecting Our Values

* Mike Kelly believes strongly in protecting the sanctity of human life, from conception until natural death.

* Mike Kelly, a member of the National Rifle Association, believes that the right to bear arms is unassailable right that the government cannot infringe upon.

Upholding The Constitution

* When Members of Congress are sworn in they take an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution. Not only does Mike Kelly believe this oath is the most important duty of a member of Congress, he believes it is imperative to our democracy.  The oath to uphold and protect the Constitution is a commitment to his constituents and our country.