urrently serving his second term in Congress, Jim McGovern was first sworn in as US representative for Massachusetts' 3d Congressional District on Jan. 7, 1997. McGovern has been elected by his New England colleagues to the House Democratic leadership team as a regional whip. McGovern is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which oversees the nation's highway and airport system.
Question: Given the current economic climate, what are your priorities for the budget surplus and why?
Answer: We are living in a time of unprecedented prosperity. I believe we should use this good fortune to pay down the national debt, provide middle class tax relief, secure our vital programs like Social Security and Medicare for years to come, and make smart investments in education, health care, and the environment for future generations. I do not believe this is the time to spend the vast majority of the budget surplus on an ill-conceived, massive tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits the top 1 percent of the richest Americans.
By paying down the national debt, we will keep interest rates low. Keeping rates low amounts to a tax cut for the millions of Americans who have mortgages, car payments, and credit card bills.
We should provide tax relief to hard-working American families through tax credits for child care, education expenses and other everyday needs.
Social Security and Medicare must be strengthened and secured not only for today's elderly, but also for generations to come. I believe we should put the Medicare Trust Fund in a lockbox, so politicians can't spend it on wasteful programs.
We also have many needs that haven't been met, and many Americans who haven't benefited from the current prosperity. By investing in more qualified teachers, school construction and modernization; by providing prescription drugs for our seniors and restoring the recent cuts to teaching hospitals and home health care; and by providing the resources to protect our environment, we will ensure our nation will remain strong and vibrant in this exciting new century.
