Joe Vitollo

Education

Education should be community-based and not controlled by unfunded mandates from the federal government. There are ever-increasing needs in the education system when it comes to issues regarding autism as well as behavioral problems and discipline in the classroom. Many teachers are unable to do what they were trained for and desire to do because of the lack of discipline and structure that is needed for an educational exchange environment. Also, teachers are being evaluated by those who have never taught and who treat students and parents like customers and consumers. Instead, education needs to be looked at as a cooperative endeavor by the students, the parents, the educators and even the administration in order to create an education system that involves order, discipline, responsibility and accountability. Learn more

Government Reform

Our government has far exceeded its boundaries as stated by the 14th Amendment. The responsibility of the Legislature, as the third branch of government, is to ensure that the federal government adheres to its limits. It is also essential that those who are elected to serve in the federal government understand their responsibility is exactly that, and that is to serve. As an elected official, I will pursue returning the power of government back to the people by proposing a bill for term limits and reducing the perquisites that go along with serving as a Congressman and a Senator. That would also include the elimination of protection from certain laws that elected officials enjoy. Learn more

The responsibilities of the federal government falls into five categories. I will work to ensure that government does not go beyond these categories: 1. The defense of the United States of America from enemies foreign and domestic by the maintaining of the naval fleet. 2. Establishing foreign policy, maintaining relationships with other countries and providing ambassadors as representatives of the President and the United States. 3. Printing and maintaining a durable currency that is viable and sustainable. 4. Guaranteeing and protecting the unalienable rights that are given to the Citizens of United States of America under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 5. The provisions for maintaining and establishing just interstate and intrastate commerce with the maintenance of thoroughfares that provide that exchange. Learn more

Guns

As a gun owner, a lifetime member of the NRA, with an A+ rating from SCOPE and an A+ rating from the NRA, and as your Congressman, I will stand up and defend our Second Amendment rights, uphold the constitution, and protect our rights for legal gun ownership. I will also oppose any legislation that would threatened to restrict the sale or lawful use of firearms and munitions. Furthermore, to the best of my ability, I will protect the right of gun owners to pass on (through inheritance) their gun collection and historic weapons Learn more

Healthcare

First and foremost, because I am a constitutional literalist I believe that the federal government should have little involvement in the individual choices that our citizens make. Secondly, I believe in the free-market and that natural competition amongst insurance companies creates a better and less expensive healthcare market. Because of that, I oppose a single-payer system run by the federal government which has not done a good job to date with universal healthcare. The only improvement that needs to be maintained is protection for pre-existing conditions when moving from one health insurer to another. As for Medicare and Medicaid, simplifying both programs and cleansing the rolls from those abusing the system will ensure the protection for those who need them. Thirdly, because I am a healthcare provider myself, I understand not only the needs of those who receive the care but also those who give the care and the burdensome task of meeting government regulations required for reimbursement. There needs to be not only a discussion but an understanding of the needs of caregivers. Learn more

Immigration

Immigration must be done legally, as it was for past generations when my grandparents and others came to this country. Ports of entry need to be established, maintained, protected, and secured. Those who violate the law of entry should be prosecuted and returned to the country from where they immigrated, and they should be denied future reentry with no path to citizenship. I do believe the legal path to citizenship should not be as complicated as it has become, and I believe that learning the English language and assimilating into our society should be required. It should be understood that those who come to the United States desire to be contributing members of society. We want to be gracious, remembering the words at the base of the Statue of Liberty (Mother of Exiles) that states, “Give me your tired, your poor, and your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Learn more

Social Services

The tool for evaluating cost of living raises for seniors needs to be reevaluated as it relates to the overall cost of living changes that have taken place since retirees were originally issued their Social Security Insurance. The Social Security system has become the spare wallet for the federal government which currently owes the Social Security system over $3 trillion. This has put our seniors and future retirees who have invested into this system at risk. I will put forth legislation that will mandate the federal government pay back what it owes to Social Security, and I will introduce legislation that will never allow it to borrow from our Social Security trust fund again. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

The national debt is currently over $27 trillion with interest payments of nearly $178 million a day. This cannot continue. One of the primary responsibilities of Congress is to provide for fiscal accountability as the holders of the purse strings. This debt cannot be passed on to the next generation. I will work hard to fix this problem because I think it is the responsibility of those of us who desire to pass on a free, sound and un-indentured America to do so. If the national debt is not brought under control, within eight years the annual interest payment on the National debt will be larger than our defense budget. This is unsustainable and unacceptable. It is time to decrease the size, scope and power of the federal government. Learn more