Issues Important to 18th District

For Matt Alexander, issue #1 is Jobs: Matt believes the Federal government can partner with local governments to invest in infrastructure to create business opportunities. He worked tirelessly to ease development by pursuing planning, community consensus and pre-approving sites, so that business investors will not be discouraged by excessive regulations. Accordingly, developers would not be persuaded to invest out of state or out of the country in less regulated areas.

Budgets & Deficit: Matt believes in the need to reign in spending and reduce the federal deficit. He believes that any budget reductions must be carefully considered but that spending will be necessary to rebuild our economy, improve our schools and ensure that American is truly attainable. During Matt’s three terms in office, he delivered modest spending increases.

Education: Public education is failing. We must stop cutting education budgets and start investing in our young people. Financial ability should not determine a child’s education attainment; every child deserves a quality education. Early childhood education is critical as well as investing in vocational, technical training and higher education so that all Americans have the opportunity to achieve their academic successes.

Energy: Matt supports sustainable energy but recognizes that alternative energy needs to be developed in some cases to break our dependence on oil. He believes that there should be a planned strategy to decommission Indian Point. Matt is anti-fracking, believing that there is too much we do not know about these extraction methods and their impact and ultimately too great a risk without further study.

Foreign Policy: Honoring the men and women in uniform, and their families is critical. Matt supports an orderly withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, he also supports ending the war and looking to the defense budget as a means to reduce our federal deficit.

Lending Practices and Market Regulation: As a CPA who worked in the securities industry, Matt learned the importance of financial regulations for Wall Street, including regulating predatory lending practices.

Social Security & Medicare: They represent a promise to the American people which cannot be revoked. Further, Matt believes in universal healthcare for all.

Veterans: Matt supports honoring the sacrifice of the men and women who have served us by increasing the benefits to returning veterans as well as those to families left behind.

Matt Alexander cares about our environment

Watershed Protection: Matt's advocacy for the Hudson River, its estuaries, and all watersheds led him to participate in the Hudson River Watershed Alliance and the Dutchess Watersheds Alliance. He serves as Chair of the Wappinger Watershed Intermunicipal Council, 13 municipalities which make up the largest watershed in his county. In this effort, he worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New York State Department of Conservation and private property owners. He negotiated incentives for landowners to improve the value of their property through zoning enhancements in exchange for environmentally innovative processes which remediate damaged areas. He believes that environmental protection and economic development can work hand in hand.

Working Families & Labor Unions: The middle class and the American Dream are under attack. Matt supports policies that empower the middle class and protect it as the basis of a sound economy. Matt believes that collective bargaining is an absolute right of every American.