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Rep. John Sweeney (Incumbent—Republican, Conservative, and Independence)

Click to go back to Two Way Race for NY 20^th Congress District

1. With public perception of our government and Congress waning, what would you do to restore the confidence of the people that their officials truly are working for the best interests of their constituents, not for the interests of Party or big business? I work extensively in Washington to serve as an advocate for the priorities of my constituents. My actions support this position given my strong record of lowering taxes so that working families can decide for themselves how to spend their money, reducing burdensome regulatory requirements on small businesses, exposing and fighting Medicaid fraud and abuse, and protecting New York’s priorities through funding for Amtrak and instilling a threat based homeland security funding system that ensures that limited resources go where they are most needed.

Congressman John Sweeney

2. Rising costs for education, health insurance, and fuel are straining the ability of middle class families to make ends meet, even if both spouses work. As Congressman what, if anything, would you do to help working families that are struggling to get by?

I have been working on these issues aggressively through my efforts in Washington through several approaches. 1) Lowering taxes allows working families to keep more of their hard earned income to make ends meet. 2) Fighting to bring more of your federal tax dollars back to our region, and 3) Increasing the minimum wage for working families so that New York can remain competitive with other states, while also protecting small businesses with off-sets to help absorb a higher wage.

3. What is your position regarding the balance of power between Federal law and State’s rights? For example, when the Federal government trumps State laws legalizing medical marijuana, gay marriage, or euthanasia?

My guide on these issues is always the US Constitution. There is an appropriate role for each level of government and I adhere to the guidelines set forth in the document that established the very foundation for our government.

4. What are the challenges facing the 20th District that are perhaps unique to the district, and how would you handle those challenges differently than your opponent?

Each Congressional district has its own unique challenges. I have worked to improve our economic environment through lower taxes, less government regulation and increased opportunity to expand companies in the free market. Three of the fastest growing counties in New York State are in the 20th Congressional District – Saratoga, Warren and Dutchess Counties. This growth has stemmed from my commitment to local projects that have direct impact on local employers. 

As a member of the House Appropriations committee, where I serve as Vice Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee, has allowed me to funnel important infrastructure dollars back to the district that enable local municipalities to tackle necessary projects without additional burdens on local tax payers. At the same time I believe that the tech valley initiatives that I have worked on have positioned this area to be on the precipice of real and lasting economic improvements.

I am also a proven fighter for healthcare in Upstate New York and am proud to have brought back over $38 million in appropriations and grant funding to healthcare providers for my district. I have also fought for legislation that has saved or returned over $2.5 billion to NY’s healthcare providers. I have also worked on policies and federal funding procurement that keep doctors practicing medicine in New York, recruit nurses for workforce shortages, opens doors for special health screenings such as mammograms, encourages research to find a cure for diseases, fights against unnecessary and burdensome regulatory reforms and is driving New York through the 21st century with initiatives in the health IT arena.

5. In combating the war on terror, do you believe the United States is currently following the best course of action at home and abroad? What, if anything, should the U.S. be doing differently?

Like every other American, I want our troops home and I want to be sure we leave Iraq responsibly and reasonably, more importantly for our protection than for anything else. This issue of timetables, this is a strategy of pandering to the anti-war crowd. This issue is too important for us to pander to anyone. Iraq is an important component of the global war on terror. We must make sure our soldier’s sacrifices are not abandoned, and that we have made our nation safer and more secure.

6.With 3,438 Iraqis killed in July alone from sectarian violence, at what point should it be called a ‘civil war’, and what should the U.S. policy be if that happens?

Fourteen out of the eighteen provinces in Iraq are relatively stable. To ensure the remaining four provinces we are secure, we can either strategically attack with overwhelming force in those four provinces or add troops into those secure areas and use smaller special forces, like a 50,000 troop commitment, to train and bolster and provide security in those four provinces, but in a specialized, mechanized way.

7. In the name of National Security, is it reasonable for Americans to expect some of their civil liberties and Constitutional protections to be curtailed during this war?

Last month, we awoke to news that British and American counter-terrorism teams had successfully thwarted an attempt blow up 10 planes bound for the United States. We know that the U.K. was successful in infiltrating this attack through their counter terrorism laws. In the War on Terrorism, working against a determined enemy willing to stop at nothing to kill, we must always be at least 2 steps ahead of the terrorist at all times in order to prevent another attack on U.S. soil.

The Patriot Act provides law enforcement with the same tools to investigate terrorists as those already used to prosecute drug dealers and mobsters. The Patriot Act gives investigators familiar tools to use against a new threat, while breaking down a wall that has prevented information-sharing among agencies. It also updates U.S. laws to respond to the current Internet environment. These tools have been essential to law enforcement’s ability to put pieces of a larger puzzle together. They can now connect the dots in suspected terrorist activity without jeopardizing the rights of law-abiding citizens.

8. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing America, and what would you do about it?

Aside from national security, which is always the first priority of government, a critical issue we must address is energy dependency. Abundant, affordable energy is the lifeblood of our economy and our standard of living. Because of energy's importance in our lives, the ability to produce it safely and securely within our borders is critical. Currently, we are heavily reliant on foreign energy resources from unstable regions of the world, particularly the Persian Gulf. Recent events, including the September 11th terrorist attacks and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have demonstrated how critical a sound energy policy is to our national security.

Therefore our nation’s energy policy must be a comprehensive approach with an emphasis on three priorities:

1. Increasing our domestic supply of fossil fuels
2. Developing and cultivating markets for alternative energy (including hydrogen, wind, hydropower, biomass, solar, etc.)
3. Promoting energy conservation

9. Why should the people of the 20th district choose you over all others?

I bring to this job the commitment, the legislative experience and the personal experience of living and working in this great region and facing the same challenges as the people I am privileged to represent. My voice is your voice and my record as an advocate for your priorities supports my willingness to stand up for New York in Washington.

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