Jobs
Tony understands we need more jobs for students and career opportunities with great pay here in Minnesota. In many ways Congress is stifling job growth through excessive taxation, too many regulations, and the uncertainty caused by annual debt ceiling debates. How can we expect our businesses to grow and create jobs when they are uncertain about tax rates, new regulations, and the national debt? Confidence in the economy begins in Congress and it is time to elect leaders like Tony who are serious about job creation.
Economy
Tony realizes we live in a global economy and we need to reform our tax structure and regulatory environment to attract the best companies to invest and create jobs in America. Excessive taxes and regulations kill jobs right here in Minnesota. For example, the Medical Device Tax in the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) caused St. Jude to eliminate 80 jobs in Minnesota, Stryker will cut 5% of its workforce, and excessive regulations from the FDA has led Medtronic to open plants and send jobs overseas. Companies right here in Minnesota pay some of the highest tax rates and suffer from the most onerous regulations in the globe. This is hindering job growth and economic progress. Tony will work to ensure we have responsible yet efficient regulations to protect the people and to get government out of the way so businesses can create jobs.
Medicare
In Congress, Tony will fight for and ensure that Medicare remains solvent for our seniors and those nearing retirement. Tony will also work for reforms that will ensure that proper care, whether through Medicare or through a more efficient and sustainable system, is available for future generations. Tony believes one area to reform Medicare is through means testing. For the rich and well-to-do in retirement with huge incomes and plenty of assets, Tony believes Medicare benefits should be less then those in retirement who have little income and retirement savings. Currently, rich and poor seniors alike get the same amount of benefits with no opt-out option. Tony doesn’t think this makes long-term sense and he will work to change it.
“We have a moral responsibility to take care of the poor and the sick. We also have a responsibility to make sustainable and compassionate reforms while we still have the chance. If we continue on our current path, eventually we will become so bankrupt that there will be no safety net for anyone.”
Health Care Reform
Tony Hernandez believes that health care policy decisions are best left to Minnesotans, and not to Washington bureaucrats. In Minnesota, we have one of the best health care models and highest coverage rates in the world. Over 90% of our residents have health coverage. This is a testament to the caring Minnesota spirit, our incredible doctors and nurses and the great companies in Minnesota. Tony does not think we should risk ruining our localized model by jumping to the conclusion that the ACA is superior. Instead, we should focus on what is working in Minnesota, while finding realistic ways for the 10% without coverage to receive medical and preventative care.
Proponents of the Affordable Care Act claim that the law will lower the cost of health insurance and increase the number of people covered. Tony is worried that the law will not achieve its intended objectives and it will ruin the successful health care model we already have in Minnesota.
Welfare Reform
Tony Hernandez believes that the best social program is a job. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged.” In America we have lost sight of the fact that welfare was intended to be a temporary assistance program, not a permanent way of life. The American welfare system is in need of drastic reform. While we need a safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, we also need policies that encourage people to work, be proud, and independent. As your Congressman, Tony will strive to achieve welfare reform, which will result in lifting people and families out of the poverty cycle while still assisting them as they move towards financial independence.
Abortion
The right to life is a core principle described both within the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. As your U.S. Representative, Tony will work to protect the natural right to life from conception until natural death.
War
Tony does not support illegal wars. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that only Congress shall have the power to declare war. If we want to restore the American Dream and the United States Constitution, then Tony believes the Constitution must be enforced as the supreme law of the land.
Tony believes that it is time for Congress to either declare war against defined enemies in defined states or to bring our troops home. In order to have rule of law, Tony believes that we can no longer pick and choose which parts of the Constitution Congress will follow.
Constitutional Amendments
As your U.S. Congressman, I support term limits and a budget amendment.
- Term Limits
- Two six-year senate terms
- Six two-year house terms
- One six-year senate term and three two-year house terms
- No tenure / No pension for members of Congress
- Budget Amendment
- Mandates that Congress must pass an operating budget prior to each fiscal year.
- Rule: Anytime there is a budget deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.
Immigration
Legal immigration is the foundation of America’s greatness and prosperity. I want America to, once again, be the #1 destination in the world for people to work, start businesses, and invest. I don’t want the magnet for immigrants to be government welfare. Currently, there are some 12 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States. Many of these people are not paying taxes but are consuming public resources. We must solve this problem by:
- Securing the Border with Mexico
- Documenting the undocumented. I am not in favor of amnesty, but I am in favor of streamlining and expanding the H1B1 visa granting immigrants with employer vouchers temporary working visas.
- Increasing legal immigration in an effort to create more tax payers,
contributors to Social Security, and demand for real estate.
