LEWISTOWN - Marc Scaringi, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, visited Lewistown Thursday to promote his agenda for smaller government, fiscal responsibility and energy independence.
The central Pennsylvania attorney presents an ambitious six-goal vision to reduce America's debt, balance the budget and restore personal liberty.
If elected, Scaringi told The Sentinel that one of his top priorities will be to free the U.S. from its massive debt by reducing government sprawl and spending.
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Marc Scaringi
"The country is on the verge of bankruptcy," Scaringi said. "The answer is so straightforward. It's right in front of their eyes, but the government continues to borrow and spend."
Touting strong Constitutional values, Scaringi said he would reduce the federal government by returning the power of governing health care and education to the states.
The federal Department of Education, for example, spends up to $100 billion a year on educational programs, but academic achievement has not improved since the department began in 1979, he said.
Instead, Scaringi said he would cut the department and return the control of that $100 billion to local school boards and taxpayers.
Another boost to the economy would be the reduction of the federal income tax, the candidate said. This move would put more money back into Americans' pockets to spend and invest, he said.
The U.S. economy also could grow if the country becomes energy independent, he said. Scaringi said he would support responsible development of coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy.
He blamed U.S. Senate incumbent Robert Casey, for whose seat Scaringi is running, for attacking Pennsylvania's growing Marcellus Shale industry. The commonwealth, Scaringi said, should be allowed to resume its proper place as a leader in energy production, mining, manufacturing and industry.
The issue of foreign policy and spending, Scaringi said, separates him from the other Republican candidates for U.S. Senate.
While America's own infrastructure is falling apart, the federal government is spending $10 billion that it does not have to build roads, schools and buildings overseas, he said.
He also would encourage an immediate removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
"More American blood is being spilled and money being spent fighting other people's wars," Scaringi said.
To unify the polarized atmosphere in Washington, D.C., Scaringi said politicians need to rededicate themselves to the Constitution.
"We could remove a lot of the log jam by moving (power) back to the states," he said. "If we can agree to stick to the Constitution, it would resolve a lot of the disagreements today."
Scaringi said he is devoted to supporting personal liberty - one way being to repeal Obamacare - and handing decision-making back to U.S. citizens.
He would support enacting term limits, and returning to a sound money policy by ending the federal government's manipulation of interest rates and printing money.
"We need to change ... not rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic," Scaringi said. "We need to hit reverse."
Scaringi also spoke during a Mifflin County Tea Party meeting Thursday in Lewistown.
