Mary Fallin on Families & Children Republican

Apply faith & family values to public service

Looking at some of the policies coming out of Washington, it is easy to conclude that some lawmakers no longer see a need for these values, for families, for the Constitution, or even for God.

I am not one of these lawmakers. My faith, my family and my love of freedom define me not just as a public servant, but as a person.

Efforts to redefine marriage hurt families & society

Value one defines what a family is... and that begins with a marriage between a man and woman. I oppose efforts to redefine marriage, an institution that has endured and worked for thousands of years.

Value two concerns every family’s hopes for a secure future. That includes lasting reforms to eliminate the marriage penalty and implement a flatter tax code to benefit ALL families.

Voted NO on four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes:

Rep. STEVE LYNCH (D, MA-9): This bill takes an important step toward improving the Federal Government's ability to recruit and retain a highly qualified workforce by providing paid parental leave to Federal and Congressional employees for the birth, adoption or placement of a child for foster care, which is a benefit that is extended to many in the private sector in other industrialized countries.

Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. DARRELL ISSA (R, CA-49): This bill sends the wrong message at the wrong time to working American taxpayers and families that are struggling in difficult times. Our economy is in crisis, and deficits are already soaring. This bill does not have one provision to say if you make $170,000 a year, why do we have to give you this benefit, because you have to choose between feeding your children and being with your children? Certainly not. There are no protections against, in fact, those who do not need this special benefit getting it. There are no safeguards at all. As a matter of fact, this bill envisions the $1 billion over 5 years, swelling to $4 billion over 10 years or more because, in fact, they believe it should be 8 weeks of special leave. Federal employees enjoy one of the highest levels of job security, without a doubt, anywhere in the United States. I would venture to say many of them the highest. More importantly, in good times and bad, they keep their jobs.