Michael McMahon

Michael McMahon was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 13th district of the State of New York from 2009 to 2011.

The Economy
To enhance the economy, McMahon proposes fixing the Alternate Minimum Tax, expanding the Child and Dependant Tax Credit as well as strengthening the Earned Income Tax Credit. He supports cutting capital gains taxes for small businesses and investing in transit, infrastructure and green technology. He also supports fair trade legislation, and getting rid of tax cuts for companies who outsource jobs.

Veterans
McMahon supports making the Veteran's Affairs (VA) budget an advanced appropriation, so that the VA can count on funding to institute long term programs. He also proposes increasing research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), increasing resources for those with TBI, and increasing the number of mental health professional working with people with PTSD. Additionally, McMahon supports increasing staff at the VA to deal with the backlog in claims, job training and placement services, education benefits. He also favors increasing support services for homeless veterans.

War in Iraq
McMahon supports removal of American troops from Iraq as soon as possible, without causing more damage, and using diplomacy to urge the Iraqi government to meet it's obligations. He does not support building military bases in Iraq

Fair Trade
McMahon supports the Employee Free Choice Act. He supports including labor and environmental standards in all international trade agreements, increasing funding for the Occupational Safety &amp; Health Administration, and increasing the federal minimum wage.

Infrastructure &amp; Transportation
McMahon believes that infrastructure is a vital part of economic growth. He wants to focus infrastructure planning on improving mass-transit systems, and fixing roads, bridges, schools and public housing units. He also supports the creation of the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel in New York and the MTA’s Bus Rapid Transit pilot program.

Environment
To help alleviate our environmental problems, McMahon supports using green building technology, waste reduction and increasing recycling programs. He supports the G8's agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050. McMahon also pledges to create new incentives for energy efficient technology usage.

Social Security
McMahon strongly opposes privatizing Social Security, and he believes that plans that tie Social Security to stocks are too dangerous.

Education
On his campaign website, McMahon supports fixing the education system by reforming No Child Left Behind to ensure that it is "fair, flexible and fully funded". He says that same solutions for falling performance cannot work across all schools, and that he supports getting local government the resources needed to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind. McMahon also supports fully funding special education, art and music programs, and programs that hire well qualified teachers.

Bio
McMahon was born September 12, 1957, in Staten Island, N.Y. He holds a B.A. from New York University, an A.A. from Heidelberg University, and a J.D. from New York University Law School.McMahon was a member of the New York City City Council from 2002 to 2008. He and his wife, Judith Novellino McMahon, have two children.

2008 elections
McMahon was the Democratic nominee seeking to replace retiring Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) in the 2008 congressional elections, which was in Sepetember, 2008. He won in primary elections which took place on September 9, 2008. . McMahon defeated Republican challenger Bob Straniere in November 2008 general elections.

Money in politics
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External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on New York’s 13th Congressional District
 * Green Papers New York Congressional Primary Candidates
 * McMahon for Congress