Candidate for
US Representative; Pennsylvania Congressional District; District 16; Republican Party

Congressman Pitts believes that government can help farms, businesses, and families succeed--often by getting out of the way, but sometimes by getting involved. He believes that America is still the land of opportunity where entrepreneurship and ingenuity can make anything possible. But he also recognizes that government sometimes needs to level uneven playing fields and reach out a hand to those who need it.

"One of the reasons I joined the Air Force was that I couldn't support my family on a teacher's salary," he says. "When Ginny started staying home with our first child, we couldn't make ends meet. The government helped me then by training me and giving me a job I could support three children on. But the job I had also gave me a chance to serve and defend my country. I'm proud of that."

He believes in free market economics, but recognizes that greed and irresponsibility make government oversight important. "The current crisis is the result of predatory lenders making money on the backs of working people," he says. "However, the entire thing began with government regulations that pressed lenders to give mortgages to people who really couldn't afford them. Government makes mistakes too. That's why it's so important that we elect the right people to public office."