What's in this Guide
Representative in Congress, 6th District
U.S. Representative in Congress, 6th District
Counties: Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren
Duties: Representatives share the responsibility with Senators for enactment of the nation’s laws as provided in the U.S. Constitution. Laws that require payment of taxes are initiated in the House of Representatives.
Qualifications: A Representative must be at least 25 years of age and a U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years. There are 435 Representatives based on Congressional districts reapportioned after each census. Michigan has 14 districts as of 2012.
2-year term — Vote for one
- Federal budget: How will you address the federal deficit? [500 character limit]
- Health care: What is your position on affordable health care for all? [500 character limit]
- Energy: Do we need a national energy plan? If so, summarize what should be included in it. [500 character limit]
- Immigration: What changes, if any, do you support to immigration
policy? [500 character limit] - Effective government: What will you do to reduce the current level of hyper-partisanship in Congress? [500 character limit]
- Priorities: What are your legislative priorities and what actions will you propose regarding them? [500 character limit]
Republican
Jack Hoogendyk
Republican. Director, Citizens’ Alliance for Life and Liberty. Graduate, Parchment H.S., 1973. Completed two years at KVCC, various subjects. Marketing and management experience, 15 yrs. Director of faith-based non-profit, 7 yrs. Elected office, 8 yrs—two as county commissioner, six as state representative. The best qualification for this office is real world experience of private sector, hiring, firing, making budgets. www.jackformichigan.com
- We need to balance the budget as soon as possible. The Ryan budget won’t balance for more than 20 years. We need to use spending reduction and growth. I will not support tax increases. The Republican Study Committee budget will balance within about five years. From there, with continuation of the 2001 tax reductions, and resistance to any tax increases, businesses and individuals will have reason to invest in the marketplace and spur new economic growth and federal revenues and jobs will grow.
- Inject more free-market solutions. The Federal government is inefficient has no constitutional mandate to run health care. Affordability in any commodity comes with innovation, competition, and private investment in new products or services. We should offer full tax deductibility for health insurance or large Health Savings Accounts for individuals. Consumers will make wiser choices when they have control over their own health care decisions. Allow for purchase of insurance across state lines.
- After 35 years, the Dept. of Energy has made no progress in reducing dependence on foreign sources of energy. We need a market-based approach. Open up domestic sources of oil, gas and coal. Reduce regulation that impedes investment in new nuclear plant construction. Encourage research and development of alternatives like wind, solar and ethanol, through reduced regulation and more incentives, but not subsidies. Energy companies should have same tax treatment as any other industry in America.
- Regulating immigration is the responsibility of the U.S. government. We need stricter enforcement against illegal immigration. Complete security fences and/or military presence on the border. Expansion of H-1B visas for skilled workers, creation of a legal immigration policy for lower-skilled, carefully screened immigrants. We should deny citizenship status to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. Strict welfare reform would reduce incidence of illegal immigrants becoming a “welfare burden.”
- We need to stop fighting over policies, platforms, and programs. We need to stop arguing over dollars and laws. It is time to come together for the sake of this country around constitutional principles. There is still an either/or. It is EITHER we continue to move toward larger government, more entitlements, more debt, reduced independence and bankruptcy, OR we move to return America to individual liberty, personal responsibility and greater prosperity for all. On this, we should all agree.
- Reduce the role of government in the lives of individuals and businesses. Stop doing those things reserved by the constitution to the states, communities or individuals and businesses. Our $16 trillion debt is due in no small part to gov’t expanding beyond its constitutional mandate. I will move to begin defunding programs and departments of gov’t that are not mandated and grant those to states and locals. Live within our means. I’ll vote against any expansion of gov’t including NO tax increases.
Fred Upton
Republican. U.S. Representative, B.A., Journalism, U of Michigan. As Chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, my top priorities include working hard to secure our families’ futures by supporting local job creation, ensuring that MI businesses have what they need to put our state back on track and supporting an “all of the above” energy plan. www.fredupton.com.
- Our national debt is unsustainable, leading us down a path to fiscal ruin. I supported the Budget Control Act that placed caps on all spending bills and I have advanced recommendations to offset the sequester by providing for more than $114 billion in targeted savings over the next decade. I also support a number of major reforms to move us toward a balanced budget, including a constitutional balanced budget amendment, the presidential line-item veto, and the earmark ban.
- There’s a real need of reform in our healthcare system to reduce costs and improve access to quality care. I support full repeal of the President’s massive healthcare takeover, which is misguided and dangerous, spending money we don’t have on challenges that can’t be solved with government spending. Instead, we need commonsense reforms that drive down costs such as medical liability reform, allowing consumers to purchase coverage across state lines, and expanding Health Savings Accounts.
- Definitely yes, which is why I continue to lead the charge in the House for an “all of the above” national energy policy that puts a premium on North American energy production. Whether it’s developing our vast natural resources—oil, coal, and natural gas—promoting safe nuclear, or harnessing alternative technologies, we need it all. I have also been a leading supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline project, which will create good-paying jobs and help fortify our nation’s energy security.
- Our current immigration system is not working and it is well past time for Congress to take up real immigration reform. That begins with enforcement of immigration and border security laws that are already on the books. Enforcement must also be paired with an overhaul of immigration policy that addresses the fact that immigrant labor is vital to the success of many domestic industries. Above all, I have never supported blanket amnesty for those already living in this country illegally.
- On my very first day as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I instituted a new change in the committee’s rules when marking up legislation: no one would be denied an amendment, but amendments that were bipartisan would be first in the queue. The vast majority of bills passed by our committee have had significant Democratic support. On every bill I’ve pursued, I’ve tried my best to reach across the other side of the aisle.
- From reducing the regulatory burden to helping address rising healthcare and energy costs, jobs and the economy here in southwest Michigan remain my top priorities. Most recently, the House passed my bipartisan FDA reform bill to streamline the federal approval process for drugs and medical devices. By instituting a more efficient, consistent and transparent approval process within FDA, Michigan manufacturers can better compete, create jobs, innovate, and serve patients.
Democrat
Mike O’Brien
Development Director, Herman Miller. B.A., Business, Washington Univ. Reconnaissance Marine, business development and consulting, renewable energy executive, and farmer. www.mikeobrienforcongress.com
- As a household or business knows, we reduce our deficit and national debt by growing the economy, reducing spending, and increasing revenues. One solution, like just cutting taxes will not suffice. We must also transition our economy from spending to investing. We will both grow jobs and the economy by realigning corporate taxes to return jobs to the U.S. from overseas, promoting renewable energy jobs, and investing in our crumbling infrastructure. We need to do some nation building at home!
- The cost of health care is not sustainable, creating a drag on global competitiveness. We need quality insurance at affordable rates, regardless of existing conditions or financial ability. Combining roles of the government and free market can provide this. The government can remove caps on coverage, or the canceling of policies due to illness or pre-existing conditions. Then as we compare and buy car insurance, the free-market should be able to compete and drive down overall costs.
- A national “all of the above” energy policy would include current means, as well as adding renewable sources like wind, solar, batteries and more. It is critical to our national security, energy independence, cost of energy, and our role as stewards of the environment. Energy efficiency measures are also important to reduce use in the first place. A truly comprehensive policy that includes renewable energy, will add hundreds of thousands of new jobs on top of today’s existing energy jobs.
- Immigration is the foundation of our nation, celebrated in our Constitution and on our iconic national symbol, the Statue of Liberty. To remain a beacon of freedom and opportunity, and to ensure our economic growth, we must streamline the path for new immigrants, ensure strict enforcement of our laws and our borders, and establish a clearly defined process for dealing with workers who may be here illegally. The bi-partisan Dream Act is a step in the right direction.
- On my first day in office I will work to create a coalition of new members, as well as existing members, who have the political courage to join me in reaching across the aisle to get meaningful work done. I am confident that there are others who will join me once the first hand is extended. I believe that in this election cycle the voters will make it clear to Washington that they expect this.
- My legislative priorities are to promote job growth through tax policy, promoting manufacturing and renewable energy, and committing to infrastructure projects across the country. I will work to return to a balanced budget as we had in 2001. I will also fight to ensure that our public education system is second to none, and that our seniors are not neglected. Finally, I will work tirelessly to return civility and bipartisanship back to Congress, and renew pride in our government.