Meet U.S. Rep. Candidate Evan Feinberg

Evan Feinberg, 27, said he fights for limited government, freedom and prosperity. A Peters native, he sat down with Patch at to discuss his campaign against U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair.

Patch: Why are you running?

Evan Feinberg: Our country is at a crossroads with $15 trillion in debt, soon to be adding $7 trillion. We're facing bankruptcy. The problem is career politicians who put their career before the country. Rep. Tim Murphy is one of the worst offenders. Since he's been in office, our government has doubled in size. He votes again and again for more and more government. He's bad on spending, jobs and works with big labor unions. He's part of the problem—somebody else can be the solution.

Patch: Take us up to speed on your background. 

Feinberg: I have extensive experience in the conservative movement. I grew up in Peters Township, graduated from in 2002, then received my degree from Grove City College (majoring in political science with minors in both business and religion). I moved to D.C. to work with the Heritage Foundation, then moved on to Capitol Hill to serve as Sen. Tom Coburn’s, R-Oklahoma, Legislative Assistant for Health Policy, where I worked for three years.

After the 2010 change election, I was offered a position with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, to serve as his top policy aide on healthcare, education, labor and entitlement reform, fighting against pre-ObamaCare.

Patch: What do you want to see change?

Feinberg: We have a federal government that has grown far beyond our ability to pay for. We're inhibiting jobs to grow because we can’t possibly pay the bills that are due. First thing is how do we rein exsessive spending and pay down our national debt. We need to look at how we reform major mandatory spending problems. We need real solutions to those problems. We need to keep our promises to the elderly, sick, disabled and to the poor—without bankrupting our country.

Patch: There are many people who are comfortable with Rep. Tim Murphy having been in office for 10 years. What do you want to tell those people?

Feinberg: A couple of things. Murphy is ranked one of the Top 10 Most Liberal Republicans in Congress (National Journal). People of PA shouldn't be proud—he doesn't represent the political values, nor does he meet the integrity standards. He's also rated in the Top 25 Most Corrupt Members of Congress by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. It's time to replace him for those reasons alone. I was working for a great job and I decided to quit and move home; I want to get in and get out having fixed these serious problems.

Patch: What makes you a qualified candidate?

Feinberg: I believe that I have the skills and experience that would make me a good candidate. I had no plans to run. I was fighting in the trenches and realized the nine percent approval rating is because of self-interested politicians. I accepted that challenge—I felt it was a serious calling to improve our fiscal situation. World Magazine this week talked about the generation that will pay—it’s becoming more and more clear that it is now my generation. I care about the future prosperity for (my son) Luke, and I care about the fiscal situation now.

Murphy has made two attacks: one about my age and the other about me moving back into the district to run.

I invite that attack because my age and youth is one my biggest assests—a fresh perspective. Youth and enthusiasm is not part of the status quo. Congress has a nine percent approval rating—Murphy is the reason why. D.C. is full of people who’ve been there for years and years and years. People are excited about a  young candidate who’s going with ideals rather than a self-interested career.

I grew up in Pittsburgh. It's laughable to think I'm not a deeply-rooted Pittsburgher. I lived in D.C. for almost five years fighting in the trenches of the conservative movement. I'm a Steelers season ticket holder and my family's presence here goes back nearly a century. My opponent was born and raised in Cleveland, OH.

I personally do all of my tweeting and Facebook posting. I take the opportunity to hear from people seriously. If you email the address on my site, it goes directly to me. I respond promptly. I believe in certain principles and I'm excited to share those principles. People can agree or disagree. Murphy's campaign contributors are major businesses on specific policy issues. I believe in the U.S. Constitution. I believe in limited government. I want to apply those things to every policy question.

Members of Congress swear one oath—to preserve, protect and defend the US Constitution. Tim Murphy is willing to violate his oath in order to do what he thinks he needs to do to get reelected. Our governement was set up based on the ideals of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

I plan to do what is right and hopefully the people of western PA support it.

Feinberg said he stands for: 

• Limited government and constitutional restraints 
• No more debt. A balanced budget by reducing spending 
• Traditional values: Protecting life and the Second Amendment 
• Cleaning up government: Ending pork-barrel spending and corporate welfare 
• An end to political careerism: Term limits to rein in self-interested politicians

For more information about Feinberg, visit his website, Facebook page and follow him on Twitter.

This article first appeared on .

Who do you plan to vote for in the spring primary? U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, Evan Feinberg or neither? Tell us in the comments.