Tom MacArthur Makes His Case to Moorestown Business Association

Tom MacArthur believes America is headed in the wrong direction.

“We spend too much and we borrow too much,” MacArthur told the Moorestown Business Association (MBA) at its monthly membership meeting Wednesday morning at the Moorestown Community House. “A lot of Americans aren’t working and those who are working are working for less.”

He went on to say that the unemployment problem is a “25 million person problem” and solving that problem should take precedence over any other problem facing America today.

It’s a problem he hopes to have the chance to take care of after voters in the Third Congressional District head to the polls Nov. 4.

MacArthur is running against Democrat Aimee Belgard for the seat Jon Runyan will vacate at the end of the year.

“It’s all about jobs and job creation,” MacArthur said.

When asked how private business is supposed to create jobs while dealing with escalating healthcare MacArthur said the Affordable Care Act was a mistake.

“We have to be able to have health care sold across state lines,” MacArthur said. “Small employers should be able to pull together to take advantage of large group discounts.”

The former Mayor of Randolph said there should be a type of “insurer of last resort” system for health insurance, similar to what many states have for auto insurance.

He also said solving the unemployment issue would take some of the stress off social security.

He said there is too much regulation in the housing market, but acknowledged the federal government should set limits on the amount of debt a business can incur before it begins to pay it off.

He also knows that changing anything is difficult in today’s Congress.

“There’s more finger pointing than problem solving,” MacArthur said. “ … We have to start with the understanding that just because other people have different opinions, that doesn’t mean their motives are suspect.”

He grew up in a home with a mother who was Catholic Democrat and a father who was a Protestant Republican. That alone helped him learn to respect other people’s convictions.

“There’s a reason I’m a Republican, but I won’t work in lock-step with my own party,” MacArthur said. “I’ll work with Democrats to get things done.”

He has received the support of business owners and unions across New Jersey, a fact he’s proud of given those entities often butt heads.

He said creative tension can prove productive in the workplace.

MacArthur spoke to the group one month after Belgard pitched her case to the MBA.

The MBA is run by President Mark Morgan and is an organization of retail, professional, and non-profit businesses working together to improve the business potential of its members.

The attached photo was provided by the Moorestown Business Association: (Left to right) Moorestown Deputy Mayor Stacey Jordan, MBA VP Don Powell (Power Energy and Solar), U.S. Congressional Candidate Tom MacArthur, MBA President Mark Morgan (Moorestown Theater Company) and Manny Delgado, candidate for Moorestown Council.