On the Issues

As an avid sportsman and firearms owner, Chris opposes the over-regulation of guns owned by responsible Americans. Firearm safety education is an essential aspect of gun ownership, helping create a culture that respects the rights of gun owners and acknowledges their responsibilities. Chris opposes any legislation that takes away the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Chris introduced legislation that recognized Pennsylvania's hunters for their continued commitment to safety and for setting a new state safety record in 2006. This legislation passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly with a vote of 385 to 0, on September 24, 2007

Chris believes that we must secure our borders. In the war on terror, border security is national security. Chris opposes amnesty and believes that our nation's laws must be enforced. He supports legislation that adds 8,000 new border patrol agents, increases cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and strengthens requirements that businesses verify their employee's residence.

Chris has also introduced bipartisan legislation to help local law enforcement combat illegal immigration. Local law enforcement serves as our community's first responders. With training, they can better protect our nation's borders.

Chris believes that it is time to start responsibly bringing our troops home. He supports a "One for One" policy that takes President Bush at his word. For every trained Iraqi battalion, an American battalion should come home. The Department of Defense reports that nearly 50,000 Iraqis have been trained at Level 1 and 2 readiness, meaning that the same number of American troops should be returning to their loved ones. As a veteran, Chris promises to always fund the troops so they have the resources and protection they need while fighting on the ground.

Chris supports increased health coverage for children and believes that children's health care should be a national priority. Carny supported bipartisan legislation to provide health insurance to 10 million children, including 312,807 in Pennsylvania. When the President vetoed this legislation, Chris voted to override the veto, saying "Insuring kids is morally and fiscally responsible. Healthy children are more likely to succeed in education and life. This is an investment in our nation's future."

Chris will fight to ensure that Social Security is guaranteed for future generations of workers and retirees.  It must not be jeopardized by market fluctuations and must be protected from inflation.  Workers should have opportunities and incentives to invest for their retirement, but not at the expense of the traditional Social Security system.  We have an obligation to our hardworking men and women to honor the promise our nation has made to them.  Chris will work hard to keep that pledge and to protect Social Security.

Small businesses are the growth engine of the American economy. Out of control healthcare costs are strangling the entrepreneurial spirit of American business. To protect our current small businesses and empower new growth, the healthcare crisis needs to be fixed. Chris will dedicate himself to easing the burden of healthcare costs for small business.

• Rural communities like ours are missing economic opportunities because of the state of our infrastructure. Chris will propose a Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, which will provide resources to improve our rural roads, bridges, and communications.
• In the 10th District, we have a great natural resource called Bluestone shale. Today, it is being mined, shipped away, processed somewhere else, and then sold for a big mark-up. We have a huge opportunity here. If we invest in our local roads and provide incentives for economic development in the area, we could start processing Bluestone here, creating jobs and keeping the profits of our resources here.
• Dairy price supports must be funded at levels that ensure stability and the prosperity of our family farms.
• Chris will aggressively target the local manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs.

As a parent of five kids in public schools, Chris doesn't just believe in public education, he is committed to it because it represents his children's future. As an educator, Chris knows the value of testing students, but he also knows the failures of No Child Left Behind.

"Teaching to the test" has led to the intellectual neutering of our academic programs rather than encouraging academic creativity and exploration. No Child Left Behind effectively means that no child gets ahead.

Additionally, unfunded mandates like No Child Left Behind have caused the higher property taxes that we see in our communities. This nonsense has to stop.

Instead, Chris believes that we need to invest in our educational infrastructure - teachers, schools, curriculum, and up-to-date technology. We need to ensure our children learn the fundamentals, while encouraging creativity and exploration so that they can compete with the best in the country and the best in the world.