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Thomas J Rooney Thomas J Rooney Congressman Florida Congressman Florida

District 16District 16

Party Affiliation Party Affiliation RepublicanRepublican

http://rooney.house.gov/index.cfm?http://rooney.house.gov/index.cfm?

sectionid=3&sectiontree=3sectionid=3&sectiontree=3

Thomas J RooneyThomas J Rooney

About Thomas J RooneyAbout Thomas J Rooney• Tom Rooney was raised in Palm Beach Tom Rooney was raised in Palm Beach

Gardens, FL.  Following high school, Tom Gardens, FL.  Following high school, Tom went on to play college football at went on to play college football at Syracuse University and Washington and Syracuse University and Washington and Jefferson College.  After receiving his BA Jefferson College.  After receiving his BA in English Literature, Tom worked for in English Literature, Tom worked for Senator Connie Mack in Washington, DC. Senator Connie Mack in Washington, DC. 

• Tom returned home to Florida to attend Tom returned home to Florida to attend the University of Florida where he the University of Florida where he received a Masters Degree and the received a Masters Degree and the University of Miami, School of Law where University of Miami, School of Law where he earned his J.D. and met his wife Tara.he earned his J.D. and met his wife Tara.

  

About Thomas J RooneyAbout Thomas J Rooney• After graduation, Tom and Tara After graduation, Tom and Tara

spent over four years in the United spent over four years in the United States Army JAG Corps.  Most States Army JAG Corps.  Most notably he served as Special notably he served as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney on Fort Assistant U.S. Attorney on Fort Hood, TX prosecuting all civilian Hood, TX prosecuting all civilian crimes on post.  In 2002, Tom was crimes on post.  In 2002, Tom was selected to teach Constitutional and selected to teach Constitutional and Criminal Law at the United States Criminal Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Military Academy at West Point. 

About Thomas J RooneyAbout Thomas J Rooney• In 2004, Tom returned to Florida and went In 2004, Tom returned to Florida and went

to work as an Assistant Attorney General to work as an Assistant Attorney General under Charlie Crist.  After leaving the under Charlie Crist.  After leaving the Attorney General’s office, Tom became Attorney General’s office, Tom became CEO of “The Children’s Place at Home CEO of “The Children’s Place at Home Safe,” a home for abused and neglected Safe,” a home for abused and neglected children.  Tom was later appointed by children.  Tom was later appointed by Governor Bush to the Children’s Services Governor Bush to the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County Board of Council of Palm Beach County Board of Directors.  In 2006, Tom entered private Directors.  In 2006, Tom entered private practice and joined a Stuart law firm. practice and joined a Stuart law firm. 

About Thomas J RooneyAbout Thomas J Rooney• On November 4th 2008, Tom was On November 4th 2008, Tom was

elected to represent Florida’s 16th elected to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District in the U.S. Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Tom House of Representatives.  Tom currently serves on the House Armed currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Judiciary Services Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Agriculture Committee, and the Agriculture Committee. Committee. 

• Tom and Tara currently reside in Tom and Tara currently reside in Tequesta and with their three young Tequesta and with their three young sons: Tommy Jr., Sean, and Seamus. sons: Tommy Jr., Sean, and Seamus. 

IMMIGRATION:IMMIGRATION:• Protecting our nation is a top Protecting our nation is a top

priority for Congressman Rooney. He priority for Congressman Rooney. He believes the federal government has believes the federal government has a firm duty to protect her a firm duty to protect her citizens. With that philosophy he is citizens. With that philosophy he is fighting to secure our borders to fighting to secure our borders to crack down on illegal alien criminals crack down on illegal alien criminals and fighting for our intelligence and fighting for our intelligence agencies to have the tools they need agencies to have the tools they need to keep us safe. to keep us safe. 

IMMIGRATION:IMMIGRATION:• Congressman Rooney believes we Congressman Rooney believes we

should do a better job enforcing should do a better job enforcing current immigration laws, we need to current immigration laws, we need to continue to work to secure our borders continue to work to secure our borders and crack down on illegal and crack down on illegal aliens. Rooney supports the continued aliens. Rooney supports the continued construction of the fence on the construction of the fence on the Southwest border.Southwest border.

• Rooney is a member of the prestigious Rooney is a member of the prestigious House Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee and the Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security SubcommitteeSecurity Subcommittee..

NATIONAL DEFENSENATIONAL DEFENSE• Keeping America safe is Keeping America safe is

Congressman Rooney’s top Congressman Rooney’s top priority. The enemy America faces priority. The enemy America faces today is ever changing and today is ever changing and unconventional; the only constant is unconventional; the only constant is their desire to harm their desire to harm Americans. Congressman Rooney has Americans. Congressman Rooney has the honor and privilege of serving on the honor and privilege of serving on the House Armed Service Committee. the House Armed Service Committee. As an Army veteran the Congressman As an Army veteran the Congressman understands the importance of understands the importance of ensuring that the men and women of ensuring that the men and women of the military have the support they the military have the support they need to achieve their mission. need to achieve their mission.

NATIONAL DEFENSENATIONAL DEFENSE• One of the first bills Tom introduced One of the first bills Tom introduced

would prevent Guantanamo Bay would prevent Guantanamo Bay detainees from being transferred detainees from being transferred into Florida.into Florida.

• He believes we have the most He believes we have the most professional and talented fighting professional and talented fighting force in the world.force in the world.

• Supporting the families of our Supporting the families of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen is essential to preserving a Airmen is essential to preserving a robust and effective all volunteer robust and effective all volunteer force. force.

HEALTH CAREHEALTH CARE • Reforming and modernizing our health Reforming and modernizing our health

care system is a top priority for South care system is a top priority for South Floridians and citizens across the Floridians and citizens across the country. With over 40 million uninsured country. With over 40 million uninsured Americans, this is not a partisan issue, Americans, this is not a partisan issue, rather, it is one that Americans must rather, it is one that Americans must come together to solvecome together to solve ..

• Of the different plans being considered. Of the different plans being considered. One in particular that Congressman One in particular that Congressman Rooney supports and has cosponsored Rooney supports and has cosponsored is appropriately named the is appropriately named the “Empowering Patients First Act”.“Empowering Patients First Act”.

HEALTH CAREHEALTH CARE

The bill provides real affordable The bill provides real affordable solutions such as:solutions such as:

• Making the purchase of health care Making the purchase of health care financially feasible for all Americans by financially feasible for all Americans by incentivizing private insurers to cover those incentivizing private insurers to cover those with pre-existing conditions, protecting with pre-existing conditions, protecting employer-sponsored insurance, and shining employer-sponsored insurance, and shining light on existing health care plans. light on existing health care plans.

• Granting greater choice and portability to Granting greater choice and portability to the patient by expanding the individual the patient by expanding the individual market by creating several insurance pooling market by creating several insurance pooling mechanismsmechanisms..

HEALTH CAREHEALTH CARE • Establishing doctor-led quality Establishing doctor-led quality

measures, ensuring that you get the measures, ensuring that you get the quality care you need. The plan quality care you need. The plan reimburses physicians to ensure the reimburses physicians to ensure the stability of your care, and encourages stability of your care, and encourages healthier lifestyles by allowing healthier lifestyles by allowing employers to offer discounts for employers to offer discounts for healthy habits through wellness and healthy habits through wellness and prevention programs. prevention programs.

• Finally, the bill addresses tort reform, Finally, the bill addresses tort reform, one of the driving reasons for one of the driving reasons for increased medical costs.increased medical costs.

Health CareHealth Care

• Many people are pointing to Many people are pointing to “universal” health care or the “universal” health care or the “government option” as the answer. If “government option” as the answer. If a government option is implemented, a government option is implemented, bureaucrats, not doctors will be making bureaucrats, not doctors will be making medical decisions for patients.medical decisions for patients.

• Medical decisions should be Medical decisions should be determined by doctors and patients, determined by doctors and patients, and that is why the Congressman and that is why the Congressman supports a market-based health care supports a market-based health care system that would better serve system that would better serve Americans.  Americans. 

ECONOMYECONOMY

• We currently out-pace the national average We currently out-pace the national average in unemployment and home foreclosures in unemployment and home foreclosures

• Congressman Rooney is a vocal proponent Congressman Rooney is a vocal proponent of policies to help us get back on our feet, of policies to help us get back on our feet, not through increased spending and debt, not through increased spending and debt, but incentivizing growth with fewer but incentivizing growth with fewer government intrusions and lower taxes. government intrusions and lower taxes.

• Congressman Rooney has long advocated Congressman Rooney has long advocated reducing the tax burden on Americans at reducing the tax burden on Americans at the individual and the corporate level in the individual and the corporate level in order to spur investment back into our order to spur investment back into our economy.economy.

ECONOMYECONOMY

• Unemployment in Florida and the Unemployment in Florida and the 16th district is higher than the 16th district is higher than the national average, with counties like national average, with counties like St. Lucie reporting over 14%. These St. Lucie reporting over 14%. These numbers are startling, and drive numbers are startling, and drive home how important it is that we get home how important it is that we get our economy going again. our economy going again. 

• Congressman Rooney works Congressman Rooney works everyday to foster the economic everyday to foster the economic growth of South Florida and is a growth of South Florida and is a tireless advocate for getting people tireless advocate for getting people back to work. back to work.

ENERGYENERGY • Establishing our energy independence Establishing our energy independence

is Congressman Rooney’s top priority is Congressman Rooney’s top priority for any national energy policy. This is for any national energy policy. This is necessary for both our national and necessary for both our national and economic security.economic security.

• The Congressman supports The Congressman supports alternative energy tax credits for alternative energy tax credits for solar, wind and hydrogen projects and solar, wind and hydrogen projects and further nuclear power development to further nuclear power development to help reduce our dependence on help reduce our dependence on traditional forms of energy.traditional forms of energy.

ENERGYENERGY • This spring the majority offered their This spring the majority offered their

“Cap-and-Trade” bill. This bill does “Cap-and-Trade” bill. This bill does nothing to help us obtain our energy nothing to help us obtain our energy independence yet promises to slow independence yet promises to slow economic growth, penalize economic growth, penalize employers, reduce job opportunities employers, reduce job opportunities and ultimately increase taxes and and ultimately increase taxes and costs for American families.costs for American families.

• Rooney supported an alternative plan Rooney supported an alternative plan to the “Cap-and-Trade” bill that to the “Cap-and-Trade” bill that would incentivize development and would incentivize development and investment into new clean investment into new clean alternatives. alternatives.

ENERGYENERGY • Investment in clean energy from these Investment in clean energy from these

renewable sources is important for renewable sources is important for both our economy and our both our economy and our environmentenvironment. .

• Tom firmly believes, we have a Tom firmly believes, we have a responsibility to our children to take responsibility to our children to take control of our energy future and work control of our energy future and work for real solutions.for real solutions.

• Penalizing industry and consumers will Penalizing industry and consumers will not help us in obtaining this goal, and not help us in obtaining this goal, and the American family deserves a better the American family deserves a better planplan

VETERANSVETERANS

• President George Washington once President George Washington once said, “The willingness with which our said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our were treated and appreciated by our nation."nation."

VETERANSVETERANS

• As an Army veteran and a member of As an Army veteran and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Rooney is dedicated to Congressman Rooney is dedicated to ensuring our service members and ensuring our service members and veterans receive the benefits they veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.have earned and deserve.

• Congressman Rooney has been a Congressman Rooney has been a tireless advocate bringing awareness tireless advocate bringing awareness to the growing Post Traumatic Stress to the growing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) crisis facing our Disorder (PTSD) crisis facing our soldierssoldiers.  . 

VETERANSVETERANS

• Congressman Rooney firmly believes Congressman Rooney firmly believes we have a moral obligation to care we have a moral obligation to care for those who were wounded while for those who were wounded while serving to protect our Country and serving to protect our Country and continues to fight to protect that continues to fight to protect that commitment.commitment.

SOCIAL SECURITYSOCIAL SECURITY

• Congressman Rooney will never vote Congressman Rooney will never vote to raise the retirement age, privatize to raise the retirement age, privatize Social Security, or reduce Social Social Security, or reduce Social Security benefits to retirees and near Security benefits to retirees and near retirees. He firmly believes Social retirees. He firmly believes Social Security is a contract Congress has Security is a contract Congress has made with our retirees and has an made with our retirees and has an obligation to uphold.obligation to uphold.

• In Florida’s 16th District alone, In Florida’s 16th District alone, roughly 186 thousand seniors are roughly 186 thousand seniors are receiving Social Security benefits.receiving Social Security benefits.    

SOCIAL SECURITYSOCIAL SECURITY

• A significant gap between what the A significant gap between what the government promises to pay in government promises to pay in benefits and what it expects to collect benefits and what it expects to collect in Social Security taxes is growing.in Social Security taxes is growing.

• Administration announced in March Administration announced in March that Social Security recipients would that Social Security recipients would not receive a COLA for 2010. This only not receive a COLA for 2010. This only reiterates the need for seniors to reiterates the need for seniors to have stability and consistency in their have stability and consistency in their yearly benefit.yearly benefit.

SOCIAL SECURITYSOCIAL SECURITY

• To that end, Congressman Rooney To that end, Congressman Rooney cosponsored H.R. 2365, the cosponsored H.R. 2365, the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act. Consumers Act.

• Seniors need a pricing index that Seniors need a pricing index that takes into account the unique goods takes into account the unique goods and services they purchase, such as and services they purchase, such as healthcare and prescription drugs, healthcare and prescription drugs, and H.R. 2365 does just that.and H.R. 2365 does just that.

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE • Florida’s 16th district is one of the Florida’s 16th district is one of the

largest agriculture producing areas in largest agriculture producing areas in the country.   With dairy, sugar, the country.   With dairy, sugar, citrus, beef, fruit  and vegetable citrus, beef, fruit  and vegetable farmers South Florida’s agriculture farmers South Florida’s agriculture community is richly diverse and a community is richly diverse and a great economic engine for the region.great economic engine for the region.

• Congressman Rooney is an ardent Congressman Rooney is an ardent defender of our agriculture defender of our agriculture community and a strong voice for community and a strong voice for their needs in Washington.their needs in Washington.

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE • Unfortunately, there are some in Washington Unfortunately, there are some in Washington

who want to regulate, and tax agriculture who want to regulate, and tax agriculture and small business into extinction. and small business into extinction.

• Rooney strongly believes the federal Rooney strongly believes the federal government should be a partner with government should be a partner with agriculture, and not weigh it down with agriculture, and not weigh it down with unnecessary restrictions and bureaucratic unnecessary restrictions and bureaucratic red tape red tape

• Rooney is committed to once and for all Rooney is committed to once and for all eliminating the federal death tax that eliminating the federal death tax that threatens family farms and small threatens family farms and small businesses.  businesses.  

NO SPIN DISCLAIMERNO SPIN DISCLAIMER

• There has been no “SPIN” put on this There has been no “SPIN” put on this information by the creator or any member information by the creator or any member of the Tea Party. of the Tea Party.

• All information is obtained from the web All information is obtained from the web site “ON THE ISSUES” at issues2000.org and site “ON THE ISSUES” at issues2000.org and from the Candidates own web sites.from the Candidates own web sites.