Candidate for Congress talks at SRU
SLIPPERY ROCK — Dan LaVallee wants to make sure that the American dream can continue.
“We must do better,” LaVallee, 26, of Cranberry Township said. “We need new leadership in Washington.”
Democrat LaVallee is facing incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler for the 3rd Congressional District seat. He spoke Thursday to about 40 people at a Slippery Rock University College Democrats meeting.
If elected, he said he would work with Democrats and Republicans. He said that Kelly said he would work for the middle class and state residents. “But he failed to do so,” LaVallee said.
He said he supports development of shale natural gas and wants to support companies that want to explore it in the right way.
“We know there are issues ... but I do see the benefits of it in our area,” LaVallee said.
He also said that alternative energy sources need to be researched.
Regarding the Affordable Care Act covering medical insurance, LaVallee said the initial rollout of the program was a problem, saying that people should not have been kicked out of their insurance. He also said the website was a “disaster.”
However, he said the law increased enrollment in Medicaid and it made sure many people had insurance. He said he would work to ensure as many people as possible have insurance.
He said student loan reform is a big issue for him. He would support capping payments and lowering interest rates.
“It’s a huge problem,” LaVallee said.
He supports the Second Amendment for people to carry guns, but he would support the background checks that came with the Toomey-Manchin amendment that did not pass last year in Congress.
When asked about immigration reform, LaVallee said he would support a path to citizenship, would require those who become citizens to pay back taxes and would push to penalize employers who hire illegal immigrants.
To bring jobs to the state, he would back partnerships to bring and keep companies here, including giving tax credits and investing in university curriculums so they offer programs that companies want. He also would like the United States to have a more competitive corporate tax.
“I don’t want to miss those opportunities,” LaVallee said.
He said he supports President Obama’s drone strikes against ISIS and in Syria.
He added that, right now, he would not support using ground troops against them.
When asked about abortion, he said that is a private issue between a woman and her doctor. He said he supports equal pay for women and is supportive of gay and transgender people and of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
The election is Nov. 4.
