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1. Jobs – economic policy

   When Congress increases government regulations, businesses lose their ability to make investments, grow, and change in a way that promotes job creation. As Congress increases spending, taxes are raised on businesses, pulling and more and more money away from hiring workers and keeping the business running. Job creation requires decreasing government regulation and spending.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Introduced Right to Work Legislation, which prohibits unions from making union membership a condition of employment. HB 4454 (2007)	Voted against a 2008 amendment that would have removed union wage requirements from military projects, which add billions of dollars to the project cost. (Vote on August 1, 2008)
   Never voted for tax increase and introduced multiple pieces of legislation to reduce taxes on small businesses and employers. HB 5075 (2005), 5076 (2005), HB 4313 (2005).	Voted for permanent tax increase on businesses. HR 6049 (2008)
   Introduced legislation to decrease minimum wage requirements on small businesses, and consistently voted to cut government regulations. HB 6222 (2006), HB 6221 (2006).	Voted multiple times to increase minimum wage and government regulations on businesses and employers.
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2. Government growth

   Our Founders intended the Federal government to be limited by the Constitution, only giving the Federal government limited authority. All other freedoms and liberties were supposed to be protected for the states, families, and individuals. When the current Congress supports programs that are not Constitutional, the freedom that states and individuals are supposed to have is trampled.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Introduced legislation for a part-time legislature. HJRH 7 (2007)	Supported the Mortgage Bailout program. HR 3221 (2008)
   Consistently worked to cut government programs and growth. HB 6150 (2008), Amendment to SB 1096 (2008)	Twice Supported Wall Street Bailout and government takeover. (TARP). HR 3997, HR 1424 (2008)
   Traveled across Michigan educating citizens on their rights and the proper role of government.	Supported GM bailout and government takeover. HR 7321 (2008)
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3. Healthcare

   When the government becomes involved in healthcare, the layers of bureaucracy add cost to the consumer, drive out competition, and remove important healthcare decisions from the patient and doctor.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Active in citizen’s initiative to repeal “Obamacare.”	Voted multiple times to override President Bush’s veto of S-CHIP, a massive expansion of government healthcare, which President Bush warned would pave the way to nationalized healthcare. HR 976 (2007), HR 3963 (2008).
   In favor of removing government restrictions on the sale of health insurance policies, to open up competitive bidding and drive prices down.	Supported President Obama’s revival of S-CHIP, and attended the signing of the legislation, Obama’s first healthcare victory. HR 2 (2009)
   Consistent history of supporting free-market solutions and voting to decrease government control over the private sector.	Supported the greatest expansion of Medicare in 40 years. HR 1 (2001)
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4. National Security

   A strong national defense is one of the primary responsibilities given to the Federal government by the Constitution, and should be a top priority for Congress.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Firm supporter of the Constitutional right to maintain a strong defense.	Voted multiple times to cut defense programs, including missile defense. HR 5658 (2008), HR 4205 (2000)
   Consistent history of supporting cuts to wasteful government spending, which allows funds to be used for law enforcement	Voted against increases in defense spending, and supported massive cuts to the defense budget
   Consistently supported measures to protect law enforcement officers.	Voted in favor of a Joe Biden’s resolution protesting the 2007 Troop Surge. HConRes 63 (2007)
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5. Pro-Life

   Life is the first God-given, Constitutionally protected right. The government should be defending and upholding it, and should not be using funds for programs and services that promote or engage in the destruction of life.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Consistently endorsed by Right-to-Life, with a 100% pro-life voting record.	Voted multiple times to fund overseas abortions, including to groups active in forced abortion and involuntary sterilization. HR 1105 (2009), HR 581 (1997), HA 318 (2007)
   Former director of a local crisis pregnancy center and of an adult foster home; spent time in Africa teaching AIDS counseling classes.	Repeatedly opposed removing your tax dollars from funding Planned Parenthood. HR 3293 (2009), HR 3043 (2007)
   Introduced legislation to prohibit knowingly conducting research on any cells or tissues that were obtained in violation of current prohibitions on the use of live human embryos, fetuses, and neonates for nontherapeutic research. HB 4507 (2003)	Supports embryonic stem cell and fetal tissue research, including tissue taken from aborted children. HR 810 (2006), HR 810 (2005), HR 4 (1993).
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1. Government Waste and Spending

   Deficit spending is crushing our economy and saddling our grandchildren with massive amounts of debt that they will carry their entire lives. Government spending is supposed to be limited to Constitutionally authorized programs, but instead the current Congress funds earmarks, special interests, and massive programs that the Federal government was never intended to fund.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Never voted for a tax increase, and votes against increased spending using money from tax hikes.	Voted for Obama’s Omnibus Bill, increasing government spending nearly 10%, on top of the stimulus package. HR 1105 (2009).
   One of only four legislators to vote against a 1.4 billion dollar budget blowout in 2007	Voted for nearly 10,000 earmarks in the last fiscal year. HR 1105 (2009)
   Consistently fought for cutting government spending and wasteful programs, leading to him being ranked the most Constitutionally conservative legislator.	Consistently voted against conservative budget alternatives that would cut wasteful spending and balance the budget. H. Con. Res. 85 (2009), H. Con. Res. 376 (2009), H. Con. Res. 95 (2005)
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2. Special Privileges for the Government

   Government workers should be held to the same standards as private industries, without the ability to use their position in the government to influence elections or obtain special privileges.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Introduced legislation to prevent government employees from using tax-payer purchased, government vehicles for personal business. HB 5507 (2007)	Voted for special paid parental leave for government employees and to drop the requirement that employees show a medical need when going on paid sick leave. HR 626 (2009)
   Introduced legislation to reject pay raises for government employees, which would cost the taxpayer more than $123 million. HCR 7 (2007)	Voted against an amendment that would have allowed the Bush administration to update rules regarding overtime pay and make cuts. HR 5006 (2004)
   Introduced legislation to cut the legislature and legislative pay to part-time. HJR X (2004)	Voted in favor of the Democratic bill to raise salaries of House members from $89,000 to over $120,000 in just two years. (11/16/89)
   	View Congressman Upton's Record on this issue

3. Tax Policies

   Because the federal government is to have limited authority under the Constitution, taxes should be levied to fund only Constitutionally authorized programs. Lower taxes allow businesses and individuals to invest and flourish.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Never voted for a tax increase.	Supported multiple tax increases. HR 2642 (2008), HR 7060 (2008), HR 6 (2007)
   Introduced numerous pieces of legislation to give new tax relief. HB 6362 (2008), HB 4767 (2005), HB 5166 (2003)	Voted multiple times against the Conservative Budget Alternative which gave massive tax relief. HCR 83 (2001), HCR 290 (2000)
   Introduced legislation to place a Constitutional amendment before voters to require a 3/5 majority to raise taxes, making it substantially more difficult for the legislature to raise taxes, instead of cutting wasteful spending. HJR Y (2007)	Voted in favor of accepting Senate-passed requirements that would mandate that no tax cuts could be implemented unless a supermajority of Senators voted for it, making passing tax relief nearly impossible. SCR 95 (2004)
   Introduced the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, to prevent the government from raising spending more than the rate of inflation. HJR E (2005), HJR BB (2004)	Consistently opposed conservative budgets that would balance the budget by cutting spending, while still lowering taxes. HCR 85 (2009), HCR 376 (2006), HCR 95 (2005), HCR 393 (2004), HCR 83 (2001), HCR 290 (2000)
   	View Congressman Upton's Record on this issue

4. Constitutional Freedoms

   The Constitution is the founding document of our nation, and is intended to both establish national sovereignty, and limit the power of the federal government, protecting and preserving all other rights and authorities for the state, family, and individual.

   Jack	Congressman Upton
   Introduced legislation to allow students in theology or divinity programs to receive state scholarships under the state competitive scholarships program. HB 5452 (2004)	Voted to give the District of Columbia a Congressional seat, though the Constitution grants congressional seats only to states. HR 1905 (2007)
   Consistently trained citizens how to peaceably assemble and take action to hold the government accountable.	Supported federalizing local elections by voting to increase the power of the federal government over the conduct of local elections. HR 2989 (2003)
   Supported exempting Bible colleges from state regulations that hamper their ability to train students according to their beliefs.	Supported federal control over grassroots organizations, and opposed legislation to protect the freedom of speech for bloggers and internet users. HR 513 (2006)
   Introduced legislation to request Congress to allow federal funds to be used for Crisis Pregnancy centers, without compromising the values and convictions of the centers. HR 167 (2004)	Opposed loosening government restrictions on the political speech of religious organizations. HR 2357 (2002)
   	View Congressman Upton's Record on this issue