Vern P. McKinley (R)
Office Sought: U.S. House, District 10 (R)
Age: 46
Residence: Ashburn.
Education: BS, economics and finance, University of Illinois; JD, George Washington University Law School.
Occupation: Attorney and independent consultant to foreign governments.
Web site:http://www.mckinleyforcongress.com
E-mail address: vern@mckinleyforcongress.com
Offices and positions held: Member, <a href="http://www.loudoungop.com">Loudoun County Republican Committee</a>; member, Alumni Council, <a href="http://www.tfas.org">Fund for American Studies</a>.
What is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
The continued ill-advised reliance on federal government solutions to address the major policy challenges of the day, whether it be the economy, the financial sector, foreign policy, life, gun ownership, health care, retirement security, transportation, education or energy. Such issues and others, with the exception of foreign policy, should primarily be addressed by state and local governments (under the limits of the federal Constitution) because they are closer to and more responsive to the people.
Why should voters elect you?
I am a citizen legislator who will serve for no more than four terms and will advance an agenda to reduce the involvement of the federal government in all manner of policy areas. I have extensive experience working for the federal government in the U.S. and advising foreign governments, and have a clear vision of the appropriate role of the federal government on issues both foreign and domestic, as well as the role of a member of Congress.
By summer 2011, it is predicted, Northern Virginia could be facing blackouts due to its growing demand for energy. Should Congress intervene now to prevent that possibility, and if so, what is the most important single step it could take?
The Congress should not intervene with regard to the demand for energy. When the Congress intervenes in energy markets it causes distortions that make the energy situation worse. This has been the case with the outright subsidies or incentives placed into the tax code, as well as policies of the Department of Energy. Interventions tend to distort market pricing, which is a much better method for allocating energy than relying on the Congress to structure incentives and disincentives for use of energy. The Department of Energy, created during the Carter Administration, should be eliminated.
What impact does immigration have on your district?
It has an adverse impact on the local governments that are strained to provide basic services. The continued inability to monitor and control the process of naturalization is yet another example of the failure of the federal government in one of its few constitutionally mandated responsibilities. However, a broad amnesty program is not the answer. Additionally, solutions such as a broad-based employer identification program that will mandate that the federal government maintain a database for all employees in the U.S. is not the proper solution. Imagine the nightmares if the database says someone is ineligible when they are in fact eligible.
What steps, if any, should the federal government take to address funding issues for transportation projects?
Currently, there is an enormous reliance on the federal government to maintain transportation infrastructure. As has been pointed out by Senator McCain, the result of this has been that needed maintenance has gone wanting and transporation spending is allocated through the seniority system of Congress based on membership on key committees, such as Appropriations, much of it through the abused practice of earmarking. States and localities should take full responsibility for transportation projects through use of private and public-private partnerships, as they see fit.
-- The Washington Post | Submit a correction request.
