Jim's Record

Over the years, as a member of the United States Congress and Pennsylvania state legislature, Jim has built a strong pro-taxpayer, pro-jobs record that will continue to serve residents of the 6th District well in Congress. Below is a sampling of votes and positions Jim has taken:

Taxes & Spending

  • Voted NO on Obama/Pelosi "stimulus” plan. Pushed for a PA stimulus oversight panel to protect $17 billion in taxpayer money from wasteful spending, which has since been established by Governor Rendell.
  • Voted NO on Obama/Pelosi 2010 federal budget that increases the federal deficit by $2 trillion
  • Sponsor of important 2003 Marriage Penalty tax relief signed into law
  • Voted YES on 2003 Republican-backed tax cuts that save PA families on average over $2,000 per year
  • Successfully led efforts under Governor Tom Ridge to identify and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful government spending from the state budget
  • Sponsored PA’s 1996 welfare reform law which moved hundreds of thousands from government dependency to work.
  • Repeatedly named a "Taxpayer Hero” by various taxpayer-advocate groups.

 

Energy

  • Voted NO on Obama/Pelosi "Cap and Trade” bill that will raise energy rates and kill Pennsylvania jobs.
  • Supports an "all of the above" approach to cultivating our own domestic energy resources to create jobs and break our dependence on foreign oil.
  • Voted YES on clean coal technology and developing new alternative energy through wind, solar and bio-fuels.

 

Jobs, Economy & Healthcare

  • Honored by major business groups, like the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the National Association of Manufacturers for his work in fostering a positive business climate where businesses can grow and create jobs.
  • Co-sponsored Made in America Act to encourage businesses to keep jobs in the U.S. instead of shipping them overseas to countries like China.
  • Voted for small business tax relief which helped the US get out of the last recession by creating over 7 million net new jobs
  • Voted against Democrat-led efforts for a government-takeover of the health care industry.
  • Instead, sponsored legislation known as the SHOP Act to reduce employer health care premiums and costs by allowing businesses to pool their purchasing power together.
  • Co-Sponsor of HEALTH Act to reduce frivolous lawsuits which drive up the cost of health care and drive doctors out of business.
  • Voted against legislation in 2007 known as "card check" which would eliminate an employee's right to a secret ballot when forming a union.
  • As a state legislator, repeatedly voted to lower state business taxes to increase competitiveness and create jobs.

 

Seniors and Veterans

  • Sponsored legislation within Medicare Part D to protect state prescription drug plans like PACE/PACENET, saving Pennsylvania hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
  • Sponsored legislation to build a new national veterans cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania.
  • Opposed privatization of Social Security and co-sponsored legislation to eliminate the tax on Social Security benefits.

 

Other Important Issues

  • Illegal Immigration: Opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants; voted for tough border security measures in 2005 which also built the fence along the southern border.
  • National Security: Voted YES on continuing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to protect America from terrorist threats overseas; Opposed Obama/Pelosi effort to close Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility and co-sponsored legislation to prevent terrorists from being imprisoned on US soil.
  • War in Iraq: Always voted to ensure our troops in the field had and continue to receive the resources they need in a timely fashion. Throughout 2007 and 2008, worked on bi-partisan basis to develop commonsense solutions on stabilizing Iraq and getting our troops home.