Profile in Politics - Patrick McHenry
Family: Two brothers and two sisters, 13 nieces and nephews.
Education: B.A., Belmont Abbey College
Occupation: United States Congressman
Elected positions held: North Carolina House of Representatives (District 10) United States Congressman
Notable information:
1.Church: St. Michael Church
2.Family Research Council’s True Blue Award every year in office
3.U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award every year in office
4.“A” Rating from NRA every year in office 5.National Taxpayer’s Union Friend of the Taxpayer Award every year in office
6.National Guard’s Charles Dick Medal of Merit for extraordinary support of NC National Guard For more information:
Why are you running? So I can continue fighting to change the status quo in Washington. The status quo has given us broken borders, reckless spending, and a government that is wasteful and inefficient. My mission is to bring conservative change to Washington and deliver results for Western North Carolina.
What qualities make you the best candidate? My record. I am delivering on my promise to be a leader on the challenges facing Western North Carolina, like fighting illegal immigration, promoting economic growth, fighting tax increases, and taking a strong stand against business as usual in Washington.
What is the biggest issue facing the district? How would you do to address it? Bad trade deals have had a major impact on our economy. I voted against CAFTA and will continue voting against any trade deal that hurts Western North Carolina workers. I also voted to expand Trade Adjustment Assistance programs that provide workers with the tools and resources they need to transition to good-paying jobs. The key to creating jobs in Western North Carolina begins with improving education and infrastructure and providing an economic climate that allows businesses to grow and create jobs. I will continue working with local leaders in education, healthcare, business, and government to deliver the policies and programs our region needs to thrive.
Where do you see the district in 10 years and how will you help the district get there? In ten years, I believe that Western North Carolina will have leveraged its resources, including a well-trained workforce and low cost of living to attract more high-skilled, good paying jobs. I believe that the Tenth District is the best place in the United States to live, work, and raise a family. I will continue to work with our educational institutions to provide quality training for a 21st century workforce. I will also continue my partnership with county Economic Development organizations to bring in the types of companies that will be proud to call our region home.
What is you stance on illegal immigration? What steps would you take to address it? Illegal immigration threatens our national security and strains our healthcare facilities, schools and social services. There are at least 500,000 illegal aliens in North Carolina, costing the taxpayers over $1 billion a year in education, medical, and incarceration costs. The solution: strong border security without rewarding lawbreakers with amnesty.
Gas prices continue to be a growing burden to Americans. What is your solution? We must end our dependence on foreign oil. The first step is to increase our domestic exploration and fuel refining capacity. Federal and state gas taxes add nearly 50 cents per gallon to the price at the pump in North Carolina. I have begun working on legislation to reduce the burden of this immoral tax. Finally, I have also introduced legislation, the Independence Prize, that will create a 21st century Manhattan Project to harness the power of the free market to create renewable and alternative energy sources. In the end, American energy independence should be our goal.
