Gregg Harper (R-Miss.)

Harper opposes a casino development proposed by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians that unlike 30 other casinos in Mississippi would not be state-regulated.

In October 2009, Harper voted against a defense authorization bill because of hate-crimes provisions attached to the legislation. "This reckless language that would criminalize thought should be removed from a bill that is intended to benefit our men and women in uniform," Harper said. "It is unfortunate that the Democratic leadership would jeopardize our national security interests by combining two completely unrelated bills in order to promote their liberal social agenda."

Energy

Harper believes that energy is the "number one issue," arguing that the U.S. has a failed energy policy. He said the focus should be on making the country energy independent, supporting tax incentives and benefits for domestic oil production.

Harper opposes the cap-and-trade approach to curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Harper said in August 2009 that such measures would hurt American industry worse than the North American Free Trade Agreement. "It would be worse than anything we could envision with health-care reform," Harper said.

Harper criticized the Obama administration's move to place a ban on deepwater oil drilling following the BP oil spill in April 2010, calling it a "job-killer."

The Economy & Federal Spending

Harper's conservative voting record is seen in his opposition to spending bills. In regard to job creation, Harper has said, "I support a conservative jobs plan that: eliminates job-killing federal tax increases; freezes domestic discretionary spending at fiscal year 2008 levels; removes unnecessary barriers to domestic energy production; and offers assistance to small businesses and community banks struggling with the downturn in the commercial real estate market."

In August 2010, Harper opposed a bill that sent $26 billion in federal funds to states, including $249 million in Mississippi to expand the state's Medicaid program and save 2,000 education jobs. "There is no question that states are struggling with their budgets, but where will the line be drawn with Washington bailouts?" Harper said.

Health-Care Reform

Like all other House Republicans, Harper voted against the health-care reform bill enacted in March 2010. "The bottom line is this health-care bill is so bad that the Democrats have to resort to trickery. I will not support a bill that will increase family's insurance premiums and force hundreds of millions of dollars in unfunded mandates to my home State of Mississippi," Harper said in a statement prior to the vote.

Immigration

Harper has said he doesn't support granting amnesty to illegal immigrants in the, but is an advocate for improving the guest-worker program in order to help businesses.

In July 2010, Harper issued a statement criticizing the Justice Department's lawsuit against the state of Arizona, which enacted a law allowing law enforcement officials to check anyone's legal residency status. "Arizona has taken a reasonable and constitutional approach to end this decades-old problem," Harper said.

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