Geoff Diehl in 2018 MA Senate race


On Principles & Values: Served as Trump campaign co-chair in Massachusetts

Most candidates hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in next year's election aren't shying away from President Donald Trump's criticism of her claims of Native American heritage, although all but one say they won't be adopting Trump's habit of deriding the Massachusetts Democrat as "Pocahontas."

Warren has called the Republican president's use of the name a racial slur. "At the same time she claims she is so outraged, her campaign is sending out fundraising emails using the term 'Pocahontas,'" Republican state Rep. Geoff Diehl said. "Once again, Sen. Warren is speaking out of both sides of her mouth."

Of the four main Warren challengers, Diehl has the closest ties to Trump, having served as co-chairman of his campaign in Massachusetts. Diehl said Warren "brought these attacks upon herself by being the chief obstructionist in Washington" and called her criticism of Trump's ridicule "more phony political outrage to build her national profile to run for president."

Source: Boston Globe on 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial race Dec 5, 2017

On Environment: Compromise on allowing fishing despite fraud in reporting

South Coast officials and seafood industry interests were stunned by Monday's federal decision to shut down a sector with ties to disgraced fishing magnate Carlos Rafael. The decision stems from the fraud perpetrated by fishing magnate Carlos Rafael, but there's collateral damage involved for people whose jobs are tethered to the harvesting of groundfish.

Republican state Rep. Geoff Diehl spoke up for both "accountability in reporting" and the fishing industry. "It is a tragedy for New Bedford that federal regulators are prohibiting 60 permit holders from fishing until next May," Diehl wrote. "There needs to be a better solution than putting hundreds of New Bedford fishermen out of work as we head into the holiday season. Understanding the need for accountability in reporting within the fishing industry, I believe there should be a compromise allowing the fishing fleet to comply instead of unilaterally shutting them down over the next six months."

Source: State House News Service on 2018 Massachusetts Senate race Nov 22, 2017

On Corporations: Get government off the back of small business

Has a track record of supporting the economic engine of our state and country - small business. Geoff will push for regulatory and tax reform that will get government off the backs of small business so they can create more jobs. When employment grows, there is competition for employees which raises wages. Geoff Diehl will grow small business jobs, not government jobs.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Education: Charter schools have more flexibility

Ideas we need to support to include charter schools. The schools have more autonomy than traditional schools when it comes to staff, budget, curriculum and assessments, and calendar, which allows them more flexibility to address student needs.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Energy & Oil: Fought linking gas tax hikes to inflation

In 2014, Geoff saved Massachusetts taxpayers from a $2 billion gas tax increase. The Legislature had voted to link the state gas tax to inflation. Geoff led a grassroots effort for a ballot question to repeal the tax hike. Massachusetts drivers have avoided three straight gas tax increases as a result.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Government Reform: More public access; more checks on state spending

Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Health Care: Reduce the number of healthcare mandates

Small-sized employers should be allowed to choose high-deductible and mandate-lite plans. Given the desire for greater cost containment overall, legislators should revisit the mandated benefits and repeal those that impose unnecessary costs.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Health Care: Opposes single-payer healthcare

As Elizabeth Warren took to the stage, alongside Bernie Sanders to promote a single-payer healthcare bill, Diehl stated his opposition. "As a husband and a father, I know that healthcare is one of the most important things, especially when there is an illness in the family," said Diehl. "I want to make sure people get the best care possible. Elizabeth Warren is for single-payer government controlled healthcare. That's not the answer."
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Immigration: Build wall; fight illegal immigration

Protecting our borders is about protecting our future. Illegal immigration jeopardizes national security and is costing us billions of tax dollars. Geoff Diehl supports building the wall, requiring employer verification, withholding funds to sanctuary cities, and prohibiting illegal aliens from receiving taxpayer-funded government benefits.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Tax Reform: Voted against all tax increases

Geoff led the successful ballot question to repeal automatic gas tax hikes--saving us $2 billion. We have avoided 3 gas tax increases due to Geoff. He made and kept the promise to vote against all tax increases. He is the only candidate in the race to have earned a 100% rating from Citizens for Limited Taxation and Government in standing up for taxpayers.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts Senatorial website DiehlForSenate.com Oct 1, 2017

On Gun Control: Unwavering support for gun rights

Diehl is an unwavering supporter of the Second Amendment and Sportsmen's rights. He has a proven track record and has earned our support. We are under constant attack at the State House. Last year when Speaker Robert DeLeo released a report with 44 so-called recommendations to tighten up gun laws, Geoff Diehl stood with us. He spoke at our rally to protect our rights and he did not bend due to political pressure.
Source: AmmoLand.com on 2018 Massachusetts Senate race Oct 23, 2015

On Abortion: Conscientious taxpayer objection to abortion

The Taxpayer Conscience Protection Act-Bill Number: H2542 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Geoff Diehl

"An Act relative to taxation." This bill would allow taxpayers the opportunity to indicate on their state tax return that they would like the portion of their taxes usually spent on government-funded abortions to instead fund the Baby Safe Haven program.

Source: Mass. Citizens for Life on 2018 Massachusetts Senate race Feb 22, 2013

The above quotations are from 2018 Massachusetts Senate race: debates and news coverage.
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Geoff Diehl on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology
War/Peace
Welfare
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Page last updated: Apr 07, 2019