Tom MacArthur
Office Sought: New Jersey 3rd Congressional
Political Party: Republican
Age: 57
Campaign Website: http://www.tmac4congress.com/
No. of Tweets: 530
No. of Facebook followers: 11,968
Biography: MacArthur is seeking a third term representing parts of Burlington and Ocean counties. The former insurance company profressional supported the Trump tax cuts and backs tougher immigration border security.
On the Issues:
Jobs & Economic Growth
"Relying on his 30-years of experience as a successful private sector entrepreneur and businessman, Congressman MacArthur has advocated for policies that lower taxes, reduce regulation, and put Americans back to work. The result: Since Congressman MacArthur took office in January 2015, the unemployment rate in Burlington County dropped from 6.4% to 3.6% and from 7.8% to 4.4% in Ocean County – a reduction of over 40%."
Delivering Middle-Class Tax Cuts
"Congressman MacArthur supported a tax reform bill that is increasing take home pay for middle-class New Jerseyans and has led to a simpler, fairer tax code, as opposed to one where the wealthy were able to pay experts to find loopholes. Even better, large companies like Comcast, Wells Fargo, and Boeing have responded to tax reform by rewarding frontline employees by doling out bonuses, voluntarily increasing their minimum wage to $15/hour, and spending more on capital projects that will create good-paying jobs for our highly skilled construction tradesmen across the state."
Drug Addiction
"Tom is proud to Co-Chair the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, and to have worked with Democrats and Republicans in Washington and back home in New Jersey to confront this epidemic head on. Tom convinced the Trump Administration to name Ocean County a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which has delivered additional federal resources, and he has been at the forefront of shaping and advancing legislation such as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and 21st Century Cures Act, which commits over $1 billion dollars over two years to fund vital programs. He also stood up to President Trump and his own party when they tried to enact drastic cuts in funding from the Office of National Drug Control Policy."
Air Force Joint Base
"Tom successfully led a bipartisan coalition of local, county, state and federal officials from New Jersey that secured the future of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) by convincing the Air Force to locate the new KC-46 air-to-air refueling fleet at JBMDL beginning in 2020. Tom also led the effort to secure nearly $150 million in military construction at JBMDL in support of the KC-46. This new mission will go a long way towards keeping the Joint Base off future BRAC lists, ensuring it remains critical to our national security and preparedness, and protecting the over 42,000 local jobs and $7 billion in economic investment that depend on its future growth and success."
Bipartisan Leadership & Problem-Solving
"The non-partisan Lugar Center ranked Tom as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress for his willingness to work across party lines with his Democratic colleagues on important legislation. In the most recent Congress, Tom has co-sponsored and supported more than 30 bills authored by Democrats."
Standing with Seniors
"Tom believes Social Security is a promise that must be kept to our citizens, and that Americans who work and pay into the system should receive the benefits they earn. Tom will continue to fight to protect and strengthen Medicare so today’s seniors, as well as future generations, have access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage, as well as the ability to make healthcare choices that best fit their needs and those of their family. Tom worked across party lines to sponsor legislation aimed at preventing elder abuse. He recently fought for and won a $5 million annual increase in Medicare funding for Deborah Hospital to improve medical technology and quality of care. Last but not least, Tom will oppose plans by Democrats to destroy the Medicare program for seniors with a European-style healthcare system that will increase taxes and give expanded benefits to illegal immigrants."
Healthcare
"While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) helped millions of people, it hurt many millions more by making healthcare unaffordable – many right here in Burlington and Ocean Counties. Healthcare choices dwindled, premiums skyrocketed, patients were separated from their doctors, and deductibles increased astronomically. Tom opposed his own party’s efforts at a speedy Obamacare repeal, but when that failed he rolled up his sleeves and worked to improve access to care for millions of Americans without quality care. Tom also pushed to eliminate Obamacare tax increases and expand access to care for working-class seniors, as well as calling for increased funding for new mothers, mental health care, and substance abuse care."
Immigration Reform and Border Security
"Tom believes we need comprehensive federal immigration reform that begins with strong and secure borders – and that any illegal immigrant who has committed a crime must be immediately returned to their country of origin. Tom supports a compassionate legislative fix that for young children who were brought here by their parents through no fault of their own, and have known no other home than America."
Pro-Life Values
"As a young couple, Tom and his wife Debbie found out in the 4th month of pregnancy that their first child would be born with special needs and might not survive. Their doctors suggested they end the pregnancy. Instead, Tom and Debbie changed doctors and chose life, raising their daughter Grace for 11 years before she passed away. They also adopted two children as infants – David now 27 and Isabella, now 20. Tom supports parental notification for minors and a ban on late-term abortions, and he opposes using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion."
Gun Safety & The 2nd Amendment
"Tom believes in the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families, to hunt, to collect, and to shoot competitively or recreationally. To many people in Burlington and Ocean Counties, that right is sacrosanct and should be respected. Tom has also fought for new laws that stiffen penalties for those who commit violent crimes with guns, and recently broke with the NRA to call for universal criminal and mental health background checks for all gun purchases."
Standing with Israel
"Following his visit there during the last Congress, Tom’s commitment to strengthening our relationship with Israel has only grown stronger. Israel is America’s most stable and reliable ally in all the Middle East. Tom values our shared commitment with Israel to the democratic ideals of religious, individual and economic freedom. Tom agrees with the President’s decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and to move the US Embassy there. Tom also secured $25 million to fund the U.S.-Israel Directed Energy Security Cooperation. This program would allow the Secretary of Defense to cooperate with the government of Israel on research, development, testing, and evaluation, to establish directed energy capabilities to detect and defeat ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, mortars, IEDs, and other explosive devices that threaten the United States and its deployed forces or Israel. Tom believes we must continue to provide both economic and military aid to Israel, and work in concert with Israel and other allies to prevent dangerous actors in the region from obtaining nuclear weapons."
