In March 2009, Guthrie participated in a GOP working group crafting a policy blueprint for encouraging Americans to save money. The blueprint's recommendations included raising the contributions limit for retirement accounts, offering more tax credits for college savings accounts and lowering Social Security taxes and taxes on capital gains and dividends.

Guthrie warns that the February 2009 economic stimulus and other Obama-administration government expenditures are making the economy worse, not better.

"We're lingering in this recession because people don't want to invest, because they're concerned about what's happening here in Washington, DC," he said.

Economic prosperity and quality education are inseparable in Guthrie's view, and as a member of the Education and Labor Committee - where he is ranking member of its Higher Education subcommittee - he has been active in encouraging skills and workforce training to "make sure that we have the workforce for the twenty-first century, that our people have the skills to be successful in the twenty-first century."

He authored a September 2009 amendment to extend the Ensure Continued Access to Student Loans Act program (instituted in the wake of the 2008 recession, the program empowers the Education Department to purchase federal student loans and guarantee that the lenders have the necessary capital) through 2014 and to create a commission tasked with developing a new private-sector model for student lending. The amendment failed, 111 to 256.

The Environment

Guthrie is against cap-and-trade legislation on the grounds that it might raise energy costs and eliminate jobs. He prefers expanding U.S. energy production through more offshore drilling for oil, construction of new nuclear facilities and greater investment in alternative energy.

Social Security

During his 2008 House campaign, Guthrie made plain his opposition to privatizing Social Security. He urged all lawmakers to keep funding Social Security as it exists and guarantee that persons retiring now or in the near future will receive their promised benefits.

"I think we absolutely have to guarantee the benefit, that people who are at retirement or nearing reitrement can plan that into their retirement plans. I think that it would be unfair overall to change that," he said.

Health-Care Reform

Guthrie opposes a public option in the 2009 health-care reform debate. He voted against the November 2009 House health-care reform bill, in part because he thinks that "the bill raises taxes for just about everyone."

His ideal reform plan would be primarily market-based.

"We should let Americans who like their health-care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to find the health care that best meets their needs," he said.

He is for increased health-care supports for military personnel and veterans. In February 2009, he introduced a bill to increase health benefits for spouses, children, and any other dependents of servicemen and women who die from combat-related injuries.

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