Michael McMahon

Michael McMahon has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 13th district of the State of New York, since 2009 (map).

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 says he will cut capital gains taxes for small businesses, invest in transit and infrastructure and green technology. He also supports fair trade legislation, and getting rid of tax cuts for companies who outsource jobs.

Veterans
McMahon says he will work on making the 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 would support increasing staff at the VA to deal with the backlog in claims, job training and placement services, education benefits. He would also favor 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 says he will work to include labor and environmental standards in all international trade agreements, increase funding for the Occupational Safety& Health Administration, and increase the federal minimum wage.

Infrastructure & 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 also 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 says he will work to fix 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 will work to get local government the resources needed to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind. McMahon also says he will support fully funding special education, art and music programs, and programs that hire well qualified teachers.

Bio
McMahon is a member of the New York City City Council.

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.

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Committees
McMahon is assigned to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

External resources

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