RECOMMENDED READING Get more background information on these issues by reading:
Stephen Slivinski, Buck Wild
Michael Tanner, Leviathan on the Right
Ed Crane and Roger Pilon, The Politics and Law of Terms Limits
VERN MCKINLEY ON THE ISSUES
The issues below will be vital in 2008, and also highlight the contrast in approach between Vern and incumbent Congressman Frank Wolf. For further information on these topics please note the RECOMMENDED READINGS and links to background information.
Government Spending Vern is outraged that under Republican control of the House and the Presidency federal spending exploded. One of the most egregious practices has been "earmarking" whereby billions of dollars are spent each year on pork barrel projects through a process lacking in transparency. President Bush has described earmarks this way: "You didn't vote them into law. I didn't sign them into law. Yet they are treated as if they have the force of law. The time has come to end this practice."
Congressman Wolf has "gone native" and during 2006 was one of only 24 Republicans voting against basic earmark reforms, such as identifying the member requesting an earmark. During Republican control of the House, he regularly used his powerful position on the Appropriations Committee to insert pork spending. The problem also goes beyond earmarks to broader spending discipline. The National Taxpayers Union assigns an annual rating to all members of the House based on 200 votes on spending, regulatory and tax issues. From 1995 to 2006 Congressman Wolf's NTU rating has plummeted from 80 (B) to 45 (C-).
RECOMMENDED READING: Stephen Slivinski, Buck Wild.
Role of the Federal Government The role of the federal government has continued to expand in complete contravention to a Reagan vision of a limited federal government consistent with the principles of federalism. Vern opposed these expansions and agrees with the statement on the website of the Loudoun County Republican Party, Vern's home county party: "We believe fundamentally in a free society with a limited, responsible government. We believe that government does not empower its people, but people empower their government. We believe that individuals, with their vast store of ingenuity and ambition, solve problems far more effectively than does government."
Congressman Wolf has voted right along with all these continued expansions in the power of the federal government, some of which were led by Speaker Pelosi:
Addressing Entitlements Vern believes that although many of the actions of the Congress in recent years have been problematic, its inaction on addressing entitlement spending is particularly egregious. The share of federal spending taken up by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will explode as the baby-boom generation ages and the longer we put off fundamental changes to these programs the more difficult the transition will be.
Congressman Wolf has been ineffective in developing specific solutions to the impending financial problems of entitlement spending. Instead, he has sponsored legislation that would set up a commission to address entitlements that could lead to massive tax increases that would negate the positive effects of the Bush tax cuts. There have already been numerous commissions that have studied entitlements, ranging from the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform in 1995 to the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare in 1999 to the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security in 2001. These commissions have made clear the challenges. Vern argues that we need principled leaders to propose specific, private sector-driven solutions to solve the entitlement crisis.
RECOMMENDED READING:Michael Tanner, Leviathan on the Right
Nation Building and Diplomacy Vern believes we need to reexamine the role of our military abroad. During both of the 2000 Presidential Debates (October 3, October 11), President Bush criticized the Clinton-Gore practice of "nation building" whereby our military is called upon to go beyond its traditional role to fight and win war. Given the recent use of our military, we should develop parameters for the precise circumstances when our military, and civilians for that matter, should be used for nation building. Additionally, the Congress and the Administration should speak with "one voice" in presenting a consistent, unified foreign policy to our adversaries.
Congressman Wolf has been critical of the Bush Administration and an advocate for a strong response to the genocide in Sudan, including supporting sanctions and divestment. Often such sanctions have the opposite impact of what is intended. The question is, should we increase our involvement in Sudan and ultimately "nation build" because it is in our national interest? Additionally, Congressman Wolf has been critical of the Administration in its diplomatic approach to Syria and, like Speaker Pelosi, he has met with President Assad, apparently without the approval of the White House. In response to questions about his trip he has said "I don't care what the administration says on this." Unlike other trips abroad, no information has been made available on Congressman Wolf's website about his trip to Syria.
Congressional Hearing on Darfur Legislation
Second Amendment
Repeal of Firearm Bans/District of Columbia Ban:
Recognizes that the Second Amendment, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, is an individual right guaranteed by the Constitution.
Will support efforts like those of Virginia Republican Virgil Goode's amendment restoring Second Amendment rights to DC residents that McKinley's opponent voted against. This would include further legislation that might be necessary once the Supreme Court hands down its decision on District of Columbia v. Heller (2008).
Bearing Arms:
Supports the removal of Federal restraints and restrictions that unjustifiably endanger law-abiding citizens. This would include the removal of restrictions on carrying firearms in US Post Offices and National Parks.
Is opposed to all Federal registration and licensing of citizens exercising their Second Amendment Rights, as is stated in the Constitution.
All federal laws and programs should be evaluated for effectiveness. All inefficient laws and wasteful programs that are not producing their intended effects in a cost worthy manner must be eliminated. This re-evaluation would include an examination of the effectiveness of the National Firearms Act (NFA), Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA68), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE).
Will work to ensure that all government agencies abide within the framework of the Constitution's Second Amendment, limiting the abuse of law-abiding citizens.
Supports federalism, empowering states to make the needed decisions for their state, provided that they do not restrict Second Amendment Rights.
Citizen Legislature Vern prefers a Congress made up of citizen legislators drawn from the community. They would serve for a few years and return to private life as urged in this quote from Jefferson: "Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on them [offices], a rottenness begins in his conduct." The idea of a citizen legislature was also embodied in the Contract with America and one of the first votes after the Republican takeover in 1995 was to amend the Constitution to enact Congressional term limits. If elected, Vern is committed to a voluntary limit of four terms and he will not become a career politician.
Congressman Wolf signed the Contract with America and voted for term limits, yet he is a career politician who has served in Congress for over 26 years. The longer a Member stays in office the more likely that his or her voting record will turn toward advocating big spending and other big government policies.
RECOMMENDED READING:Ed Crane and Roger Pilon, The Politics and Law of Terms Limits.
"Criticism sometimes yields good outcomes." John G. Geer
In Defense of Negativity in Politics
Pro-Life I believe that human life begins at conception. The law should recognize the right to life, except when the mother's life is imminently threatened. However, there should be no governmental funding of abortion.
Once elected to Congress, I will be a pro-life leader by initiating a fresh, constructive approach that offers the best chance for immediate results, stemming the tide of elective abortions and saving the future generation of Americans.
While I admittedly cannot understand the many difficult contexts in which some women may consider abortion, I acknowledge that the decision to terminate a life is rarely made without thought or reason. Continuing the same failed strategies of the past three decades will do nothing to protect the interests of women's health or to stem the loss of life in the near term.
Because the source of America's abortion problem was the ill-advised intervention at the federal level, I believe that our best recourse to effect real and substantive change to save human life would be to reverse that approach. The tragic number of abortions in this country today is a by-product of the Federal judiciary's unfortunate intervention in a states' autonomy with Roe v Wade, and its successors. For three decades, we pro-lifers have tried to remedy this tragedy with a constitutional ban on abortions, yet have continued to be stymied by the other federal judicial interventions.
For these reasons, I would co-sponsor the below bills, consistent with a federalist approach. Additionally, I would proudly sponsor legislation calling for a constitutional amendment that would protect the rights of state citizens to decide for themselves so that Virginia state abortion law would not be overridden by the dictates of non-Virginians or policy elitists from D.C. This legislation for a proposed constitutional amendment would be unequivocal, simply declaring that "The right to abortion is not secured by this Constitution."
I support and would cosponsor the following pro-life legislation:
The Taxpayers' Freedom of Conscience Act of 2007 (HR 1095): the Federal government should prohibit the funding of multilateral or international aid programs, including those of the United Nations, involved with "family planning" that includes abortion or abortion education.
The Sanctity of Life Act (HR 1094): human life should be legally defined as beginning at conception and recognized as a "person". Doing so would help strip the Federal judiciary of their powers to interfere with states' attempts to protect human life.
The Right to Life Act (HR 618): all born and preborn humans should be entitled to equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
Testimony Before Congressional Subcommittee
Vern prepares for his testimony before Congressman Gekas' Subcommittee. Learn more about Vern's professional experience.
Wisdom of Barry Goldwater "Politics is like bullfighting. Getting gored is a risk you take." Barry Goldwater as quoted in Victor Gold, Invasion of the Party Snatchers.
Legal and Policy Advisor to Governments
Vern has worked as a legal and policy advisor on financial/fiscal matters to domestic and foreign governments. He advised the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding improving its Research and Supervision departments.
