THE CENTRIST

By Sen. Pat Toomey

As a parent, I try to teach my three children the value of fairness. My wife and I encourage them to work hard and enjoy their successes. Children being children, they sometimes try to test the limits of this system. When they break the rules or attempt to skate by without effort, we try to teach them that there are consequences for their actions. We all know that “life isn’t fair” but my wife and I believe — and want our children to believe — that their perseverance and resolve will pay off in the end.

So when the president called for fairness in his State of the Union address last week, I wanted to embrace the theme. Who doesn’t like fairness? But I was disappointed to learn that President Obama has an altogether different definition of fairness.

In his speech, the president argued for achieving fairness by using the government to exact punishment on people who have done nothing wrong and have broken no rules. Instead, his only criterion for exacting punishment is success. In the name of fairness, he called for higher taxes on those who have been deemed to make too much money and on risk takers who invest in our economy.

The president’s vision of fairness is defined by his fundamental faith in government. Government certainly has a role to play in creating an environment conducive to wealth creation and success and punishing those who break the rules. But instead of allowing people to rise and fall on their own merits, the president believes that Washington should be picking winners and losers based on his own political judgment. During the past three years, he has practiced this notion of fairness to the detriment of the American people and our economy.

Was it fair to bail out the big banks and some of the auto companies on the backs of their competitors and the American taxpayer? Was it fair to pile up trillions of dollars in debt, forcing our children and grandchildren to pay for our mistakes down the road? Was it fair to dump $500 million of taxpayer dollars in a nearly bankrupt Solyndra? Is it fair to reject the Keystone XL pipeline project which will create thousands of jobs at the behest of a few environmental special-interest groups?

The president’s concept of fairness does not appear to be very fair or consistent. It is an ever shifting concept that is defined by the maxim that government knows best.

The traditional American notion of fairness means giving people an opportunity to succeed, and when they do, allowing them to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. When rules are broken, the rule breakers need to be held accountable — no matter who they are and no matter who they know.

Under this notion of fairness, American companies should have the ability to compete with their foreign competitors by lowering one of the world’s highest tax rates — rates that encourage our companies to move overseas. Instead of punishing companies who go to more business friendly climates, let’s remove the regulatory and tax burdens that make America a needlessly challenging place to do business. Instead of investing American tax dollars in failing companies such as Solyndra, let’s help Americans keep more of their hard-earned money and make decisions about how to spend and invest their money themselves.

I want my children to grow up believing that if they work hard, study hard and play by the rules, they can achieve their dreams. I don’t want them to look to government for approval, for permission to be successful, or for subsidies or bailouts.

America’s greatness doesn’t lie in Washington. It doesn’t depend on the maze of government bureaucracies that carries out the president’s edicts. Our greatness and our spirit lies in the people of the towns and cities like the ones I visit in Pennsylvania, where people work hard on their farms, in their factories and in their businesses. Pennsylvanians are capable of unimaginable successes — if only the government will step back and let them.

Sen. Pat Toomey is a Republican who represents Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate.

Opinion: No Hope or Change Under Obama

2012-02-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

The breath of fresh air was not to be - dailylocal.com

Concord Coalition: New CBO Report on Nation's Fiscal Crisis Should be Required Reading

2012-02-02T13:49:00.000-05:00

Concord Coalition Says New CBO Report Should be Required Reading on the Campaign Trail

PA Department of State Announces Disciplinary Actions Taken Against 30 Licensed, Commissioned Professionals, Organizations

2012-02-02T12:16:00.000-05:00

PA Department of State Announces Disciplinary Actions Taken Against 30 Licensed, Commissioned Professionals, Organizations

Lancaster County Hunter Exposed to Rabies by Field Dressing Deer

2012-02-02T12:15:00.000-05:00

Hunter Exposed to Rabies by Field Dressing Deer

Groundhog Day 2 Trailer: Dem's Dilemma

2012-02-02T12:13:00.000-05:00

January 2012 PA Slot Machine Revenue 7.4% Higher Than in 2011

2012-02-02T11:18:00.000-05:00

January 2012 PA Slot Machine Revenue 7.4% Higher Than in 2011

Study: Many federal workers out-earn private sector

2012-02-02T00:14:00.000-05:00

The Mercury - Study: Many federal workers out-earn private sector

Hollywood Big Wigs Among Obama's Top Campaign Donors

2012-02-01T23:34:00.001-05:00

Half of America can't stand Obama, but they still love him in Hollywood.

Hollywood Big Wigs Among Obama's Top Campaign Donors

Pennsylvania Revenue Gap Grows to Nearly $500M

2012-02-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Revenue Department Releases January 2012 Collections

Pennsylvania Proposes New Asset Test Limits for Food Stamp Program

2012-02-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Proposes New Asset Test Limits for SNAP

Public Can Now Watch Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Meetings Live

2012-02-01T19:55:00.000-05:00

Public Can Now Watch Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Meetings Live

Pennsylvania DEP Seeks Information About Antique Medical Kit Containing Radium-226

2012-02-01T19:51:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania DEP Seeks Information About Antique Medical Kit Containing Radium-226

Poll: Obama Approval Above 50% in Just 10 States

2012-02-01T14:38:00.001-05:00

Obama Approval Above 50% in 10 States and D.C. in 2011

A VOTERS' GUIDE TO REPUBLICANS

2012-02-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

Report: Illegal Aliens Leaving Arizona in Response to State Immigration Enforcement Policies

2012-02-01T13:28:00.000-05:00

New Report from FAIR Finds Illegal Aliens are Leaving Arizona in Response to State Immigration Enforcement Policies

ABC Celebrates Indiana's New Right-to-Work Bill

2012-02-01T13:26:00.000-05:00

ABC Celebrates Indiana's New Right-to-Work Bill

Obamanomics Has Gov't Workers Happy, Others Miserable

2012-02-01T11:59:00.000-05:00

Jobless And Debt Are Obama's Legacy - Investors.com

Taxpayer: Start cutting at the top

2012-01-31T23:56:00.000-05:00

When school boards can't balance district budgets, they threaten to cut programs or raise taxes. Why not lay off administrators earning six-figure salaries?

From a letter to the editor from a frustrated taxpayer: "Once again, we are taking away from the students. Instead of starting at the bottom and punishing the kids, why don't we consider looking at the top level of administration and what it costs the district?"

Start cutting at the top (1/31/12)

Whoops! No Global Warming For the Last 15 Years

2012-01-31T13:38:00.000-05:00

Whoops! No Global Warming For the Last 15 Years - HUMAN EVENTS

NewsBusted 1/31/12

2012-01-31T11:53:00.000-05:00

Rep. Marino Introduces DownsizeDC.org's "One Subject at a Time Act"

2012-01-31T11:49:00.000-05:00

Rep. Marino Introduces DownsizeDC.org's "One Subject at a Time Act"

Opinion: Obama would hurt the middle class

2012-01-31T00:43:00.000-05:00

Obama would hurt the middle class (1/30/12)

Your Daily Dose of Liberal Media Bias

2012-01-30T17:01:00.000-05:00

NY Mag Editor Admits On National TV He Never Reported John Kerry's Income Tax Rate in 2004 | NewsBusters.org

Pennsylvania's oldest state lawmaker, 84, won't seek re-election

2012-01-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania's oldest state lawmaker, 84, won't seek re-election

Nationally, Mitt Romney Leads Newt Gingrich By 6%

2012-01-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

Nationally, Mitt Romney Leads Newt Gingrich By 6%

Cash 5 Ticket Worth $330,000 Sold in Pottstown

2012-01-30T13:46:00.000-05:00

Cash 5 Ticket Worth $330,000 Sold in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Turns out the rich make good presidents

2012-01-29T12:41:00.000-05:00

The liberal media is up-in-arms about Mitt Romney's personal wealth. But what's wrong with a successful person holding the nation's top job.

If Mitt Romney were elected president, he would rank No. 4 on the all-time list of richest presidents. He would also be in good company.

Here's is Forbes magazine's ranking of the 10 richest presidents:

George Washington
Herbert Hoover
Thomas Jefferson
John F. Kennedy
Andrew Jackson
Theodore Roosevelt
Zachary Taylor
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Lyndon Johnson
James Madison

The Mercury - How rich is Mitt Romney?

Democrat challenger lives outside of new 16th district

2012-01-28T23:44:00.000-05:00

Democrat challenger lives outside of new 16th district

Obama TV ratings drop to all-time low

2012-01-28T22:43:00.000-05:00

Obama's SOTU speech attracts fewer TV viewers

Nebraska pays state lawmakers $12,000; Pennsylvania pays its lawmakers $82,000

2012-01-28T22:05:00.000-05:00

Lawmakers: Time right to revisit pay raise - Omaha.com

Tell the Truth! - National Debt Rose $4.6T Under Obama

2012-01-28T19:52:00.000-05:00

Bill Maher Falsely Claims Debt Only Increased $1.5 Trillion Under Obama - Tell the Truth! | NewsBusters.org

NewsBusted 1/27/12

2012-01-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Dumb Things Liberals Say

2012-01-28T19:43:00.000-05:00

Eleanor Clift Says Something So Dumb Mort Zuckerman Does Double Facepalm In Disbelief | NewsBusters.org

Poll: Over Half of Americans Still Not Likely to Vote for Obama

2012-01-28T17:36:00.000-05:00

Over Half of Americans Still Not Likely to Vote for President Obama This Fall

Actuaries Back End of ObamaCare

2012-01-28T17:35:00.000-05:00

Actuaries File Amicus Brief with Supreme Court on Health Reform Challenge

New Pennsylvania Regulations for Commercial Drivers to Take Effect Jan. 30

2012-01-28T17:32:00.000-05:00

New Pennsylvania Regulations for Commercial Drivers to Take Effect Jan. 30

Sen. Marco Rubio: Obama Has Made Everything Worse

2012-01-28T12:55:00.000-05:00

America's future explored in 'Monumental'

2012-01-28T02:38:00.000-05:00

CCRKBA Says Hypocritical, Anti-Gun San Francisco Sheriff Should Quit Over DV Charges

2012-01-27T20:03:00.000-05:00

CCRKBA Says Hypocritical, Anti-Gun San Francisco Sheriff Should Quit Over DV Charges

U.S. Border Control Joins Louisiana in Opposing Flawed Census Data

2012-01-27T20:02:00.000-05:00

U.S. Border Control Joins Louisiana in Opposing Flawed Census Data

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Bridge Over Pennsylvania Turnpike to Open Jan. 28

2012-01-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Bridge Over Pennsylvania Turnpike to Open Jan. 28

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett Signs New Commercial Driver Safety Law

2012-01-27T19:06:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Signs New Commercial Driver Safety Law

Newspaper: Is Obama Creating A Nation Of Dependents?

2012-01-27T17:05:00.000-05:00

Is Obama Creating A Nation Of Dependents? Nearly Half Now Get Government Benefits - Investors.com

Taxpayers Still In Hole $133B From Gov't Bailouts

2012-01-27T16:56:00.000-05:00

Bailouts Still $133 Billion Short Of Being Fully Paid Back — And May Never Be - Investors.com

IRS: 36 Obama aides owe $833,000 in back taxes

2012-01-27T16:14:00.000-05:00

As Obama demands rich Americans pay more in taxes, the IRS reveals 36 Obama aides are far behind in their taxes by Andrew Malcolm - Investors.com

74,000 visitors to THE CENTRIST

2012-01-27T12:34:00.005-05:00

My site counter has recorded 74,000 unique visitors to THE CENTRIST. Thanks for checking us out ... and come back again.

Comedian-In-Chief

2012-01-27T12:34:00.002-05:00

Gov. Corbett Announces Recent Confirmations, Nominations, Appointments

2012-01-27T12:27:00.000-05:00

Governor Corbett Announces Confirmations, Nominations, Appointments

Pew: New Reforms in 47 States and D.C. Improve Military and Overseas Voting

2012-01-27T12:26:00.000-05:00

Pew: New Reforms in 47 States and D.C. Improve Military and Overseas Voting

"I'm Spending And I Know It," A New Hit Song By Barack Obama

2012-01-26T17:17:00.000-05:00

MRC's Bozell Announces Launch of 'Tell the Truth! 2012' Campaign

2012-01-26T16:39:00.001-05:00

MRC's Bozell Announces Launch of 'Tell the Truth! 2012' Campaign | NewsBusters.org

NBC's Todd Desperately Tries to Spin 30% Seeing Country on Right Track as Good News

2012-01-26T16:37:00.000-05:00

NBC's Todd Desperately Tries to Spin 30% Seeing Country on Right Track as Good News | NewsBusters.org

Study: State Taxpayers Pay 14% Higher Prison Costs Than Budgets Reflect

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

First-of-Its-Kind Study Finds State Taxpayers Pay 14 Percent Higher Prison Costs Than Budgets Reflect

Pennsylvania Launches Justice Reinvestment Initiative

2012-01-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Launches Justice Reinvestment Initiative

New NRCC Web Ad: Every Day of Democrats

2012-01-26T11:33:00.000-05:00

Opinion: Pennsylvania Needs Voter ID Law

2012-01-26T11:18:00.000-05:00

Voter Photo ID bill must become law - dailylocal.com

Poll: Obama job approval at 40% in Pa.

2012-01-26T11:06:00.001-05:00

Highlights from the January 2012 Franklin and Marshall College Poll:

1. Most (47%) of the state’s voters believe Pennsylvania is headed in the wrong direction, a sentiment little changed during the past two years. The last time a majority of the state’s registered voters believed the state was headed in the right direction was September 2006.

2. More voters report they are worse off financially than are better off financially (26% and 15%, respectively) compared to one year ago, although most (60%) say their finances are the same as last year. Fewer voters expect to be worse off financially next year (13%) than they were last March (26%), the last time this question was asked. Most (51%) respondents report economic and financial issues are their most pressing personal problems.

3. President Obama has seen a minor improvement in his job performance ratings compared to the October 2011 Franklin and Marshall College Poll, rising from 37% positive to 40% positive. Voters’ rating of his handling of the economy, with only 29% providing a positive rating, is lower than his overall job performance rating. Generally speaking, more voters in Pennsylvania still believe it is time for a change (49%) than believe the president deserves re-election (44%).

4. Despite President Obama’s tepid job approval ratings, he continues to lead his Republican challengers in the state. Obama’s lead over both Romney and Santorum is still more than 10 points. The president is up two points on Romney from October; however, his lead over Santorum has remained stable at 13 points.

January 2012: Obama 41%, Romney 30%, other 8%, don’t know 24%
October 2012: Obama 35%, Romney 26%, other 10%, don’t know 30%
January 2012: Obama 43%, Santorum 30%, other 8%, don’t know 19%
October 2012: Obama 38%, Santorum 25%, other 11%, don’t know 26%

5. The explanation for the president’s current advantage may stem from several sources. First, less than half (46%) of voters are very interested in this year’s election; in January 2008, three in five (60%) voters were very interested in that year’s election. Second, President Obama is more personally appealing than either of the two Republican challengers tested with nearly half (45%) of voters having a “favorable” opinion of the president compared to around one-quarter who have a favorable opinion of Mitt Romney (25%) and Rick Santorum (29%). Importantly, this pattern holds true among independent voters.

Read the full poll results here.

AHI to Secretary Clinton: Turkey Is an Unreliable NATO Ally

2012-01-25T20:37:00.000-05:00

AHI to Secretary Clinton: Turkey Is an Unreliable NATO Ally

Bad news for bad teachers

2012-01-25T17:10:00.000-05:00

States weaken tenure for teachers - Washington Times

FACT CHECK: Obama pushes plans that flopped before

2012-01-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

FACT CHECK: Obama pushes plans that flopped before

Pennsylvania Department of Health to Move Office for Birth, Death Certificate Requests

2012-01-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Department of Health to Move Office for Birth, Death Certificate Requests

Governor Corbett Announces $98 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 19 Counties

2012-01-25T15:24:00.001-05:00

Governor Corbett Announces $98 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 19 Counties

PA Insurance Department Announces 2011 Enforcement and Market Conduct Actions

2012-01-25T15:24:00.000-05:00

PA Insurance Department Announces 2011 Enforcement and Market Conduct Actions

Has Barack Obama learned nothing in three years?

2012-01-25T08:50:00.000-05:00

John Stossel: The real State of the Union - HUMAN EVENTS

Gov. Mitch Daniels Delivers GOP Response to the State of the Union

2012-01-24T23:58:00.000-05:00

Sen. Toomey responds to State of the Union address 2012

2012-01-24T23:47:00.000-05:00

Creating Jobs at Home | House GOP Twitter Response

2012-01-24T23:44:00.000-05:00

Mitch Daniels' Response to the State of the Union

2012-01-24T23:40:00.000-05:00

Mitch Daniels's Response to the State of the Union The Weekly Standard

New York Times Ignores Massive Pro-Life March for Fifth Year in a Row

2012-01-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

New York Times Ignores Massive Pro-Life March for Fifth Year in a Row | NewsBusters.org

Editorial: Obama 'A Disaster for American Workers...'

2012-01-24T15:35:00.000-05:00

EDITORIAL: Obama's pipe-dream economy - Washington Times

Editorial Backlash Against President Obama’s Job-Destroying Keystone Decision Continues

2012-01-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

Editorial Backlash Against President Obama’s Job-Destroying Keystone Decision Continues | Speaker of the House John Boehner | speaker.gov

1,000 Days Without A Budget Under Democrats

2012-01-24T12:32:00.000-05:00

Illegal Aliens Can Get Free Government Cell Phones?

2012-01-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

10 Surprising Facts About Free Government Cell Phones

Consumers Face Higher Food Costs, Thanks to Congress

2012-01-24T11:52:00.000-05:00

Consumers Face Higher Food Costs, Thanks to Congress

11 stunning revelations from Larry Summers' secret economics memo to Barack Obama

2012-01-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

11 stunning revelations from Larry Summers' secret economics memo to Barack Obama

1,000 Days Without A Budget

2012-01-23T19:17:00.000-05:00

Lancaster County Girl Crowned as 2012 Pennsylvania Fair Queen

2012-01-23T18:33:00.001-05:00

Lancaster County Girl Crowned as 2012 Pennsylvania Fair Queen

Study: The Real State of the Union, Big Three Networks Covering Up Obama's Failures

2012-01-23T17:32:00.000-05:00

MRC Study: The Real State of the Union, Big Three Networks Covering Up Obama's Failures | NewsBusters.org

Number of Registered Sex Offenders in the U.S. Nears Three-quarters of a Million

2012-01-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Number of Registered Sex Offenders in the U.S. Nears Three-quarters of a Million

White House Pressed On Past Failed State Of The Union Promises

2012-01-23T16:57:00.000-05:00

James R. Billman, leader of Berks Patriots, seeks state House seat

2012-01-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

Leader of Berks Patriots seeks state House seat

Missing Rick Perry Already

2012-01-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

Top 6 Policy Issues Affecting Seniors in 2012

2012-01-23T16:31:00.000-05:00

Top 6 Policy Issues Affecting Seniors in 2012

Survey Finds Unity Among Americans on Abortion Restrictions

2012-01-23T16:30:00.000-05:00

Survey Finds Unity Among Americans on Abortion Restrictions

Rick Santorum: 40 million babies killed in the U.S.

2012-01-23T12:06:00.000-05:00

Rick Santorum on the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade:

This anniversary is both a day of sadness for the more than 40 million babies who have been killed since Roe v. Wade and a day of hope as more and more Americans embrace a culture of life and as more and more young people march in Washington and around the country in support of life.

Read the full column in The Wall Street Journal.

Pennsylvania Partners With Foursquare to Offer Groundhog Day Badge

2012-01-23T11:46:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Partners With Foursquare to Offer Groundhog Day Badge

U.S. Bishops Vow to Fight HHS Edict

2012-01-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

U.S. Bishops Vow to Fight HHS Edict

Detroit's Archbishop Vigneron: HHS Mandate Tramples Freedom of Religion, Conscience

2012-01-22T18:02:00.000-05:00

Detroit's Archbishop Vigneron: HHS Mandate Tramples Freedom of Religion, Conscience

Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Expresses Condolences on Death of Joe Paterno

2012-01-22T17:55:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Expresses Condolences on Death of Joe Paterno