U.S. Representative, 7th District: Roy Blunt, Republican

Roy Blunt, Republican

Elected in 1996 to his first term in the House, Blunt serves as the Chief Deputy Majority Whip. He serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, is co-chairman of the House Education Caucus.

What is your position on the death tax?

I have voted for and will continue to support the permanent elimination of the death tax. The Permanent Death Tax Repeal Act (HR 2143) ensures that the death tax relief enacted last year does not expire in 2011 and that the death tax is, instead, permanently deleted from the tax code.

What is your position on tort reform to alleviate frivolous lawsuits and excessive jury awards?

I support reforms of the jury award system. Punitive awards are a sort of punishment, and are not part of the compensation a party receives for their economic loss or actual damages.

Over the last 40 years, general liability insurance costs have increased more than four times the national economy's rate of growth. Missouri doctors and hospitals have been forced to reduce services or close because of soaring malpractice insurance costs.

What is your position on association health plans?

I support the creation of AHPs. AHPs allow expanding access to health care for the uninsured and provide millions of the uninsured with access to quality, affordable health care.

AHPs will remove the barriers that exist for small businesses that want to purchase health insurance and will increase consumer choice among health plans.

What is your plan to stimulate the national economy?

First, Congress must hold the line on federal spending. Congress can strengthen the economy by resisting deeper deficits, which tend to encourage higher interest rates.

Second, Congress should accelerate the timetable to allow increased savings and investments through larger IRA and pension contributions. That creation of capital will underpin the next economic expansion necessary to create new jobs, but economists estimate it takes $150,000 in capital to create one new job.

Congress must address terror risk insurance by passing the legislation the House had already adopted. After Sept. 11, many insurance companies stopped covering builders and real estate owners against the risk of terrorist attacks. Other businesses are seeing increases in their insurance rates of 30 percent or more while the amount of property coverage declines.

What are your top five legislative priorities in terms of business issues and economic growth?

Making the tax cuts approved in 2001 permanent, including repeal of the death tax and marriage penalty.

Accelerating the timetable for allowing increased savings and investments into IRAs and 401K plans, and legislation allowing workers greater flexibility and control over their retirement and 401K accounts.

Keeping government spending in check.

Terrorism risk insurance.

Tort reform.

by Clarissa French

SBJManaging Editor