O'Donnell For Congress

Background:

I served in the United States Navy, and is a Vietnam-era veteran. After receiving my Master's, I worked as a social worker for 25 years, specializing in assisting mentally retarded individuals. I retired from social work and formed a successful holding company. My wife, Carol, and I now own Nisar, Inc., a company that provides special-needs services to families and children with behavioral health problems. I served on the Monroeville Human Needs and Resources Advisory Board and have been active in the American Red Cross and the Westmoreland County Private Industry Council. I was also active for a number of years as a volunteer with his children's youth swimming clubs.

Goals:

I feel passionately that our country is currently headed in the wrong direction, and that George W. Bush and his Republican cohorts in Congress are solely to blame. My goals are to bring progressive values to the United States Congress.

Issues:

The number one issue for me is bringing the troops home safely and in a time-specific manner from Iraq. The second most important issue to me is insuring the 47 million Americans who currently do not have health care with a single- payer not-for-profit health care system. The third most important issue to me is to ensure that America invests in environmentally friendly alternatives to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Grassroots Support:

I intend to make grassroots organizing THE key to my campaign. In my District, PA-18, no one has ever challenged the incumbent like I will. No one has ever raised the kind of money I am raising currently and will continue to raise. More importantly than that, however, no one has ever put together the field organization that I have. I will have four regional field directors who will collect volunteers to canvass the neighborhoods of my district. I believe strongly that my campaign cannot be won by my staff alone, and I intend to use grassroots methods such as canvassing to increase my network. Currently we have over 20 house parties for me to recruit new volunteers and supporters, and I make it a point to attend events in the District personally nearly every day. I believe I can only win this race with grassroots tactics, and that is why members of my staff have attended DFA training.

DFA Values:

I am progressive on every social issue. I am pro-choice (I have the endorsement of NARAL and Planned Parenthood), pro-gay rights, in favor of a strong education system, etc. I also completely reject the Bush/Murphy tactics of increasing spending and decreasing revenue. I am in favor of a government that provides social services in an efficient and responsible manner. For example, on education, I don't believe America's educational system can be bettered by simply throwing money at it. While I believe America's education system is in need of great reform, I also believe that state and local officials should be in control of the funds that come from the federal government.

Balancing America's budget and restoring fiscal responsibility is a key component to strengthening our dollar and turning our struggling economy around. I am committed to reducing America's debt without damaging our progressive values.