Sean Mahoney
Printed Answers:
1. Who should control the local public schools?
Parents, and their local communities.
2. Do you support a voucher system, where taxpayers can send their child and their tax dollars to a school of their choice, whether it be public, private, charter or home schooling?
Yes.
3. Who should control gun carry and ownership laws?
The Constitution controls gun carry and ownership laws, and the Supreme Court has finally seen fit to recognize that the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental. As such, the Constitution limits the laws that can be passed by all levels of government. In Congress, I will work to protect Second Amendment rights, and to restore those rights that have been taken away by past legislation.
4. What will be your highest priority if elected?
Repealing ObamaCare.
5. Do you believe that illegal aliens should have the right to government welfare programs?
No.
6. What is your solution to the energy crisis?
Develop a truly diverse portfolio of energy resources. Expand the use of nuclear power, which is a way to protect air quality while meeting our nation’s energy needs. Energy legislation must actually improve the availability and affordability of domestic energy, not merely serve as a pretext for more taxation and government control like cap-and-tax.
7. Do you believe a Senator and Congressman must read a bill fully and thoroughly before voting on it?
Yes.
8. Do you support term limits?
Yes.
9. Where exactly is the federal government currently spending too much?
The government is spending too much on bailouts of private companies, supposed stimulus, and entitlements. With regard to entitlements, we have known for quite some the growing cost of programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but have done little to implement meaningful reform. We must preserve our citizens’ safety net, but take the necessary steps to preserve our nation’s solvency.
10. Do you believe it is the responsibility of the federal government to stop global warming?
It is a legitimate responsibility of the federal government to protect air quality, but global. By taking a comprehensive approach that limits emissions of SOx, NOx, and CO2, and mercury, air quality can be preserved with the secondary benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
11. Do you believe the Federal Reserve should be thoroughly audited?
Yes.
12. Would you support a law that mandates teaching both creationism as well as evolution as theories in public school science classes?
Schools should be run at the local level – including decisions on curriculum.
13. Do you support a progressive form of taxation or a flat form of taxation?
Flat taxation.
14. Do you support the healthcare reform bill and if not what type of bill would you support?
I do not support the healthcare reform bill. I would support efforts to reduce costs by fostering competition, such as by allowing small businesses to purchase insurance across state lines. I would support tort reform to reduce malpractice costs. Finally, I would support efforts to control fraud and waste in government run programs.
15. What do you think is our most pressing family / social issue? (i.e., defense of marriage act; abortion, etc.) What will you do to address it?
As a pro-life individual, I believe government has a responsibility to protect life. Unfortunately, government right now is too focused on controlling lives. I believe the increasing reliance on government that is being created by bailouts of private corporations and overall growth of government is the most pressing social issue we face at this time. I will support legislation that reduces the size of government, reduces the tax burden on families, and promotes individual responsibility.
16. Who should be responsible for the printing and managing of our currency?
The federal government.
17. Should international law be used to influence national law?
No.
18. Should our legislators or judges be impeached for enacting unconstitutional legislation?
Congress already has enough difficulty doing its job of holding federal agencies accountable. Increasing Congress’ workload with multiple impeachment hearings and trials would only exacerbate this problem. While impeachment should be considered as an option for those who show flagrant or repeated disregard for our Constitution, elections ultimately remain the best course for dealing with legislators who fail to understand Constitutional limits on government’s power. Meanwhile, electing Senators who will vote against activist judges remains the best way to promote good decisions in the courts.
19. How do you view our constitution, as a fluid or absolute document?
Our constitution is an absolute document unless specifically amended.
20. Would you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
Pro-life.
21. Would you support a bill providing amnesty to illegal aliens already living in the United States?
No.
22. Do you believe the stimulus bill is working, and how?
No. If it is working in any way, it is to discredit the theory that government spending encourages real economic growth.
23. Do you support a presidential line item veto power?
Yes, but a more feasible solution would be legislative restraint in the area of spending. For that reason, I also support an end to the practice of earmarking federal funds. The line item veto power would require a constitutional amendment so that it will not be prohibited by the Constitution’s Presentment Clause. Currently, a President must sign or veto a bill, and presidential changes to legislation have been deemed an intrusion into powers delegated only to the Congress.
24. Would you have supported the Troubled Asset Relief Program bill?
No.
25. Do you support line item voting for the House?
Yes.
26. Do you support line item voting for the Senate?
N/A
1. Who should control the local public schools?
Parents, and their local communities.
2. Do you support a voucher system, where taxpayers can send their child and their tax dollars to a school of their choice, whether it be public, private, charter or home schooling?
Yes.
3. Who should control gun carry and ownership laws?
The Constitution controls gun carry and ownership laws, and the Supreme Court has finally seen fit to recognize that the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental. As such, the Constitution limits the laws that can be passed by all levels of government. In Congress, I will work to protect Second Amendment rights, and to restore those rights that have been taken away by past legislation.
4. What will be your highest priority if elected?
Repealing ObamaCare.
5. Do you believe that illegal aliens should have the right to government welfare programs?
No.
6. What is your solution to the energy crisis?
Develop a truly diverse portfolio of energy resources. Expand the use of nuclear power, which is a way to protect air quality while meeting our nation’s energy needs. Energy legislation must actually improve the availability and affordability of domestic energy, not merely serve as a pretext for more taxation and government control like cap-and-tax.
7. Do you believe a Senator and Congressman must read a bill fully and thoroughly before voting on it?
Yes.
8. Do you support term limits?
Yes.
9. Where exactly is the federal government currently spending too much?
The government is spending too much on bailouts of private companies, supposed stimulus, and entitlements. With regard to entitlements, we have known for quite some the growing cost of programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but have done little to implement meaningful reform. We must preserve our citizens’ safety net, but take the necessary steps to preserve our nation’s solvency.
10. Do you believe it is the responsibility of the federal government to stop global warming?
It is a legitimate responsibility of the federal government to protect air quality, but global. By taking a comprehensive approach that limits emissions of SOx, NOx, and CO2, and mercury, air quality can be preserved with the secondary benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
11. Do you believe the Federal Reserve should be thoroughly audited?
Yes.
12. Would you support a law that mandates teaching both creationism as well as evolution as theories in public school science classes?
Schools should be run at the local level – including decisions on curriculum.
13. Do you support a progressive form of taxation or a flat form of taxation?
Flat taxation.
14. Do you support the healthcare reform bill and if not what type of bill would you support?
I do not support the healthcare reform bill. I would support efforts to reduce costs by fostering competition, such as by allowing small businesses to purchase insurance across state lines. I would support tort reform to reduce malpractice costs. Finally, I would support efforts to control fraud and waste in government run programs.
15. What do you think is our most pressing family / social issue? (i.e., defense of marriage act; abortion, etc.) What will you do to address it?
As a pro-life individual, I believe government has a responsibility to protect life. Unfortunately, government right now is too focused on controlling lives. I believe the increasing reliance on government that is being created by bailouts of private corporations and overall growth of government is the most pressing social issue we face at this time. I will support legislation that reduces the size of government, reduces the tax burden on families, and promotes individual responsibility.
16. Who should be responsible for the printing and managing of our currency?
The federal government.
17. Should international law be used to influence national law?
No.
18. Should our legislators or judges be impeached for enacting unconstitutional legislation?
Congress already has enough difficulty doing its job of holding federal agencies accountable. Increasing Congress’ workload with multiple impeachment hearings and trials would only exacerbate this problem. While impeachment should be considered as an option for those who show flagrant or repeated disregard for our Constitution, elections ultimately remain the best course for dealing with legislators who fail to understand Constitutional limits on government’s power. Meanwhile, electing Senators who will vote against activist judges remains the best way to promote good decisions in the courts.
19. How do you view our constitution, as a fluid or absolute document?
Our constitution is an absolute document unless specifically amended.
20. Would you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
Pro-life.
21. Would you support a bill providing amnesty to illegal aliens already living in the United States?
No.
22. Do you believe the stimulus bill is working, and how?
No. If it is working in any way, it is to discredit the theory that government spending encourages real economic growth.
23. Do you support a presidential line item veto power?
Yes, but a more feasible solution would be legislative restraint in the area of spending. For that reason, I also support an end to the practice of earmarking federal funds. The line item veto power would require a constitutional amendment so that it will not be prohibited by the Constitution’s Presentment Clause. Currently, a President must sign or veto a bill, and presidential changes to legislation have been deemed an intrusion into powers delegated only to the Congress.
24. Would you have supported the Troubled Asset Relief Program bill?
No.
25. Do you support line item voting for the House?
Yes.
26. Do you support line item voting for the Senate?
N/A