As I walked in the door at BrewErie Friday evening to meet Mike Kelly, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Sure, I had seen his web site, but that is totally different from talking one-on-0ne about the issues that face our corner of Pennsylvania, and on a larger scale, our entire country today.

Mike Kelly is seeking to nail the Republican nomination for the Pa-3 Congressional District seat now occupied by first-term Congresswoman Kathleen Dahlkemper.  Frankly, he wants to pull the seat out from under her. (my words).

Mike is a life-long resident of Butler County, a football player at Butler, who went on to win a football scholarship to Notre Dame, where he and Mike McCoy were team mates.  After graduation from Notre Dame, he returned home to work in the family business.  He purchased the business in 1995, and now now provides his 100+ employees with good, family-sustaining jobs.

As a businessman, Mike has seen what happens when government gets in the way of business.  When the economic climate took a turn for the worse, the banking industry loans to business dried up.  He saw sales at his automobile dealership evaporate.  He saw the same thing happen during the fuel crisis, when gasoline prices hit $4.00 per gallon.  Not many larger vehicles are sold when gas prices are high.  Mike didn’t go running to the government for a bail-out, instead he obtained franchises for smaller cars, which people could afford to drive.  The business continues to grow today,

When I asked his thoughts on how government can create new jobs, his answer was frank and to the point.  Anyone who tells you that he or she can create jobs is not to be believed.  The only way to create jobs is to allow the economy to balance out without government interference.  The more layers of regulation, taxes, and subsidies, the less chance there is for successful businesses to remain that way.  Government must get out of the way.  More government spending will only hurt the economy more.

As to the health care plan, the answer was essentially the same.  The bill which is about to come up for a vote this weekend is not the answer to our problem.  Rather, it is another step in the ongoing government take-over of business and industry.  The result will be further driving our economy  down.  Competition is the key to lower prices, not government regulation.  As an interesting side topic, we discussed how giving someone a share in the ownership of their health care expense will actually tend to lower the overall cost.  When faced with having to pay a portion of that expense, people will tend to be more careful with health care spending.  An example would be to inquire of a provider how much a particular test or procedure will cost, and if it is definitely necessary.  Many times a provider will suggest tests just to protect themselves, rather than as a diagnostic tool.  With governmental subsidy, there will be no reason for trying to keep medical costs down.  This will result in a massive increase in the federal budget.

Mike Kelly has been in business long enough to have learned well how to balance a budget and meet his payroll.  We hope he can help the federal government do the same.

I invite you to visit Mike’s website, here.