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July 5, 2008

Hackett lays out campaign ‘principles’

Candidate pledges to vote certain way

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Andrew M. Seder on Facebook   |   @TLAndrewSeder on Twitter

While Chris Hackett might be running for Congress, he says he’s not “your typical politician.” To emphasize that claim, he released a “Declaration of Principles” on Tuesday detailing a commitment to vote a certain way on certain issues. If he fails to do so, he said the people of the 10th District should “throw me out.”

Among the 10 values he promises to abide by are voting against all earmarks, supporting a suspension of the federal gas tax and supporting conservative pro-life values including bans on abortion, abstinence education and traditional marriage.

His opponent in November, incumbent freshman U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township., scoffed at Hackett’s release, calling it a means of getting his name in the paper and rehabilitating his image after a nasty, negative primary race against Dan Meuser.

Carney, 49, said he will not release a similar list of campaign issues, choosing instead to run on the record he’s established the past 17 months.

A sampling of some of Hackett’s promises, if elected, include voting to make English the official language; supporting drilling for oil in Alaska and the outer continental shelf; and banning the practice of adding earmarks to unrelated bills.

By putting his principles in writing, he said he’s doing what most politicians would not do: Give voters a list of promises to hold him accountable.

Hackett said if he votes or acts in a manner contradictory to his pledge, the electorate should vote him out of office.

“We need members of Congress who will give their word, keep their word, and expect to be held accountable to their word. These principles are the basis upon which I will ask my fellow citizens for their vote in November, and they are the basis upon which they should judge my performance in office,” Hackett, 45, of Kingston Township said.

Carney agreed that officials should be held accountable but disagreed with many other stances his opponent takes.

During an interview Tuesday about his positions, Hackett touched on a broad range of topics from the war in Iraq to the English language. Among his comments:

• He would vote to make English the official language of the United States.

“We have common laws, common currency and we should have a common language. I believe the surest way for someone not to get ahead is to not learn the language.”

He said he would support legislation that prohibits using any language other than English on government-funded signs, booklets or literature. He said he wants to put an end to calling a government agency and being asked to press “1” for English.

• He would vote to extend President Bush’s tax cuts that are set to expire in 2010. He said the tax breaks essentially act as an economic stimulus tool and ending them would increase taxes and put a greater burden on working Americans.

Carney, on Tuesday evening, said he wouldn’t extend the tax cuts unless they benefit middle-class workers rather than the wealthy. He said he and Hackett are “180 degrees opposed” when it comes to earmarks. Hackett said he’s unequivocally opposed to them while Carney said if they benefit the district, he’s not going to turn away funds. Carney also said he’s opposed to suspending the federal gas tax, calling it “short-sighted” and “a temporary fix.”

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