Economy top priority

As he begins his second term in office, U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, said addressing the economic downturn is critical, and is among the unfinished business he hopes to tackle this time around.

Barletta made a stop at The Citizen-Standard office on February 7, after visiting area constituents at his newly-opened office in Carlisle at 59 West Louther Street.

While the nation watched President Obama give his State of the Union address Tuesday, Barletta, a few days earlier outlined some of the issues on his agenda - including getting Americans back to work, and targeting solutions for immigration reform.

"The economy is still the top priority and getting our fiscal house in order," he said. Barletta serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee, as well as numerous caucuses.

America Works Act

On February 5, Barletta introduced the America Works Act (H.R. 497), which encourages states and localities to prioritize education and workforce training expenditures and helps workers earn higher education degrees or certificates. The legislation would have no fiscal impact, he said, and would help train employees for unfilled positions.

"We need to start to focus on education and training for post secondary certifications that are industry-based. Those credentials can be taken from job to job."

According to the 2011 Government Accountability Office report, the federal government spends $18 billion across 47 separate employment and training programs.

"This money would be better spent with a tighter focus on helping people attain the expertise they will need to succeed in our evolving economy," Barletta said, noting growing employment opportunities in the natural gas industry and related fields.

Immigration

On the issue of immigration, the President's pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants isn't the solution, according to Barletta.

"I oppose the (Sen. Marco) Rubio Senate version, as well as the President's plan.

"I believe you are encouraging many more to come into the U.S. illegally. Our borders are still open and you're offering them protection. . . Social Security and Medicare are going broke," Barletta said.

On May 31, 2011, Barletta introduced H.R. 2057, the Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities (MASC) Act. If enacted, this legislation would prohibit sanctuary cities - those whose mayors and elected officials willfully ignore federal immigration law - from receiving all federal funding. Barletta believes mayors and governors should not be able to pick and choose what laws they will enforce, according to his official website. Presently, H.R. 2057 awaits action in the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement in the House Judiciary Committee.

He also strongly opposes H.R. 2885, the Legal Workforce Act, which would require all businesses to use the E-Verify program, a national system that checks the status of workers. The Legal Workforce Act infringes upon state rights to enforce immigration laws because it includes a preemption clause, Barletta notes. That clause prevents states and local jurisdictions from acting against businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens until the federal government acts. This means the Legal Workforce Act bars states and municipalities from enforcing their own laws that punish businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens.

"We need to secure our borders first. I would support mandatory E-verify without pre-empting the states," he told The Citizen-Standard.

Barletta also offered his views, briefly, on gun control, the U.S. Postal Service and Washington, D.C. gridlock.

Gun control

Limiting the sale of assault-type weapons and ammunition magazines, and instituting stronger background checks are not the answer to ending gun violence, he asserted.

"I feel our Second Amendment rights are under attack right now," Barletta said. "I believe there needs to be a much broader discussion on that.

"We need to enforce the laws we have. I would not support more gun regulations."

Postal Service

In reference to the announcement that regular mail delivery would be halted on Saturdays, beginning this August, as a way for the U.S. Postal Service to save money, Barletta was opposed.

"I support six-day delivery, especially in my district." Barletta said his district includes an elderly population living in rural communities and that cutting customer service would not solve the problem, only inconvenience patrons.

"The problem is much deeper than that. There's a lot of competition now. They (postal service) need to find ways to be more competitive."

"They need to look at some of the recommendations and have a major overhaul in how they become more competitive."

Gridlock

As the unemployment rate hovers near 8-percent nationally, Barletta said he would continue to address the need for improved access to job skills and would work hard on his constituents' behalf.

"If we don't do our job, then we shouldn't get paid. I went to Washington to fix these problems, not because I need new friends. Americans want to see us stand up for them, not let them down."

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