Mark Caserta: Time for common sense on birthright citizenship

1 Apr
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Regarding Birthright Citizenship:

The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 with a very specific purpose—to ensure that formerly enslaved people and their children were recognized as full citizens of the United States, and to permanently overturn the disastrous Dred Scott decision.

Today, however, we’re being told that this same amendment should apply to anyone in the world—regardless of legal status—who enters our country and has a child here.

Let’s be clear: that means any of the 8 billion people worldwide could come across our border, have a baby, and that child would automatically be granted U.S. citizenship.

This isn’t just a theory—it’s already happening. There are reportedly hundreds of “birth tourism” companies, including over 500 in China alone, that specialize in arranging travel for pregnant women to give birth in the United States for the purpose of securing citizenship for their children.

This raises serious questions about fairness, the intent of our Constitution, and whether current policies truly serve the American people.

This is a perfect example of my campaign theme, “It’s time for some common-sense”.

Here is the bottom line from a common-sense perspective:

Democrats have so dramatically lost a reliable voter base, they must bring viable illegal voters across the border to vote for the liberal hands that feed them, as well as encourage a long-term plan to “birth” additional voters for the future of their party. They are truly in a fight for their survival!

In our Republic, only the voters can stop the madness. I need your vote in the Primary, May 12th, please, along with your support of every true conservative GOP candidate.

Let’s do this.

Mark Caserta: Congress should not get paid during a government shutdown.

27 Mar

With no retroactive pay once reopened!

Regarding Congress using government shutdowns as a political weapon—holding America hostage and creating hardship for innocent citizens just to force one side to cave for votes—

The American people have had enough.

Given opportunity, I would support a constitutional amendment allowing the withholding of pay from members of Congress whenever the U.S. government is shut down and for the full duration of that shutdown.

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment, while well-intentioned, has become outdated in light of the repeated failure of elected officials to fulfill their most basic responsibility: keeping the government functioning.

If the American people must bear the consequences of a government shutdown, members of Congress should share in that burden.

I would also support removing the ability of members of Congress to vote to increase their own salaries. Decisions regarding congressional pay should be determined by an independent process, not by those who directly benefit from it.

Mark Caserta – Candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates – Wayne County D-28

http://www.markcasertawv.com

Mark Caserta: Democrats are working to see America fail.

7 Mar

Simply because they hate President Trump

Look around you.

Take an honest look at the direction our country is being pushed and ask yourself what it means for your children—and your grandchildren.

The liberal left is working diligently to desensitize our youth to destructive behaviors. And too many politicians are legitimizing their efforts by providing them means and opportunity – they already have motive.

Are you comfortable being represented by leaders who support policies such as these?

• Allowing biological men to enter women’s locker rooms and private spaces, compromising the safety and dignity of our daughters.

* Male Drag Queens being allowed to perform in front of our children or read transgender books to them in public venues.

• Using taxpayer dollars to support individuals who enter our country illegally and commit serious crimes against American citizens.

• Spending American tax dollars on questionable international programs while many needs at home remain unmet.

• Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, undermining decades of hard-fought opportunities for female athletes.

• Redefining long-standing biological realities and requiring employees to undergo ideological training to conform to evolving language and pronoun standards.

• Promoting political philosophies rooted in socialism that conflict with the principles upon which our nation was founded.

• Tolerating or excusing hostility and intimidation toward those who simply hold different viewpoints.

• Putting partisan political battles ahead of the safety, prosperity, and unity of the American people.

• Supporting abortion policies that fail to recognize the value and dignity of unborn human life.

• Pursuing energy policies that drive up costs for hardworking Americans while weakening our energy independence.

• Removing faith and moral foundations that have historically guided our communities and public life.

These are not abstract debates. These policies affect our families, our communities, and the future of our nation.

America was built on common sense, personal responsibility, respect for life, faith, freedom, and the rule of law. When those principles are ignored, the character of our country begins to change.

I believe the people of our district deserve representation grounded in those founding principles—not radical experimentation.

It is time to stop the insanity and restore common sense leadership, respect for our values, and a commitment to the future of our children.

Get informed, pray and vote to protect our future.

http://www.markcasertawv.com

Mark Caserta: President Trump shows leadership with attack on Iranian military capability; not only for U.S. but for Israel.

1 Mar

And he was well within his power as commander-in-chief to do so.

Let’s cut through the emotional responses from those more focused on President Trump’s shortcomings versus his successes, which is unfortunate. Despite presidents and legislators espousing for decades that Iran must not become a nuclear power and that we must protect our ally, Israel, President Trump showed leadership in making it happen.

And while the Iranian people celebrate, Democrat politicians choose, once again, to posture politically against Donald Trump rather than be intellectually honest regarding his brave initiative. Some even choose to refer to our military successes as “failures”.

They obviously have a different definition of winning for Americans.

Let’s look at it in it’s true light.

Situation: 

  • Iran openly states “death to America” and “death to Israel”
  • U.S.  State Department named Iran as the “top” state sponsor of terrorism in the world.
  • Since Oct 17, 2023, Iran-backed militias carried out more than 200 attacks on U.S. (and allied) targets in Iraq and Syria (CFR summary)
  • The first round of negotiations with Iran attempting to stop nuclear proliferation began April 12, 2025.  They consistently failed.
  • Iran insists on becoming a nuclear power and would surely use nuclear warheads without discretion.
  • Iran has recently murdered thousands of its own people because they demonstrated against the regime.

Article II, Section 2 — Commander-in-Chief Clause

This is the key provision:

“The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States…”

This gives the President operational control of the military. From this, flows the authority to:

  • Direct military forces
  • Respond to attacks
  • Defend the nation from imminent threats
  • Constitutional scholars generally agree:
  • If credible intelligence shows an imminent attack, the President has authority under Article II to act defensively without waiting for Congress to formally declare war.
  • Factor 1: Long-term or sustained military campaigns typically require congressional authorization.  This conflict is currently 2 days.
  • Factor 2: Congress currently has less than a 17% approval rating per the Gallup Organization.
  • Factor 3: Approximately 49 percent of Congress are Democrat and have displayed time and again the willingness to sacrifice America’s safety simply to see President Trump fail.
  • Factor 4: It makes no sense to wait to an initial strike from Iran.  That’s the same as waiting for a mass murderer compiling guns and ammunition, to take the first shot.
  • Factor 5:  For decades, presidents and legislators, alike, have agreed Iran must not obtain nuclear capabilities and that the U.S. must support Israel.

Bottom line:  Given President Trump’s access to intelligence and the aforementioned information, we must fully support his decision to move without authorization from a congressional body comprised of a large portion unable to separate hatred and ideology from representation of their constituents.

I trust this president based on his record of putting America first – period.

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Mark Caserta: A clear choice before us in the November mid-term elections – Obstruction or Representation

28 Feb

Let me be clear: the upcoming elections — including the November midterms — present a defining choice for our nation.

When political opposition moves beyond policy disagreement and becomes rooted in obstruction, distortion, and ideological hostility toward a sitting president, the American people must take notice. At some point, this ceases to be about party preference and becomes about principle.

During the president’s recent address to Congress, Americans were given a rare and revealing moment. President Trump issued a simple invitation:

“The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

He asked members of Congress to stand if they agreed with that fundamental premise.

What followed was not a procedural maneuver. It was a statement. In full view of the country, almost all Democrats chose to remain seated. 

That moment was not about theatrics. It was about priorities. The moment was revealing for Americans.

We live in a constitutional republic. We elect representatives to safeguard the interests of their constituents and uphold the rule of law. The oath of office is not symbolic — it is solemn:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

That oath binds members of Congress to the Constitution and to the citizens they serve — not to party loyalty, not to personal ambition, and not to ideological movements.

When elected officials appear unwilling to affirm that protecting American citizens is the government’s first duty, voters are right to question whether representation has been replaced by resistance and to vote accordingly.

This is not an isolated incident. Across issue after issue — border security, crime, national sovereignty, and foreign policy — Democrats have positioned themselves in reflexive opposition to President Trump, even when the policies in question align with the safety and prosperity of the American people.

President Trump has made no apologies for placing American interests first. Whether one agrees with every method or not, his central premise has been clear: government should work for its citizens.

The question before voters now is equally clear: Who will strengthen that mission, and who will obstruct it?  Democrats have chosen to obstruct it.

If we believe in a government that protects its people, enforces its laws, and prioritizes national strength, then we cannot be passive observers in this midterm election.

Analysts may say the odds are difficult. But as Scripture reminds us in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Faith, however, is not passive. It requires action.

Pray – Vote – Engage – Encourage others to participate.

If you are an independent voter and wish to have a voice in a primary election, consider your options carefully. Do not allow labels to silence your influence.

The future of this republic depends not on outrage, but on participation.

If our elected officials fail to represent the will and security of the American people, then it is our responsibility — peacefully, lawfully, and constitutionally — to replace them.

The time is now.

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Mark Caserta: Democrats must “stand up” for the SAVE Act

25 Feb
Legendary actor Jimmy Stewart filibusters on the Senate floor in the classic movie, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”

Regarding the SAVE Act — legislation that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections — this is a straightforward, common-sense safeguard.

Under the bill, acceptable documents would include a U.S. passport, a birth certificate, or other federal or state-issued identification verifying citizenship status.

Nearly every important area of our lives requires some form of identification. We show ID to board a plane, open a bank account, or even enter certain buildings. The opportunity to vote — one of the most sacred rights in our republic — should be no different.

Protecting the integrity of our elections is not partisan. It is foundational. A free and fair electoral system depends on the confidence of the American people. That confidence must be earned and protected.

If Senate Democrats oppose the SAVE Act, they have the right to do so. But they should be required to stand on the floor and explain their opposition through a real, “talking” filibuster — holding the floor and debating continuously, as the Senate was originally designed to operate.

That is not changing the rules. That is honoring them.

Think of it as “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” — open debate, transparency, and accountability before the American people.

We must act now to ensure voter identification requirements are clear, consistent, and enforced. The integrity of our republic depends on it.

Mark Caserta: Hope Scholarship should not be political

20 Feb
It’s about the student’s educational experience

As candidate for the House of Delegates, my role is to represent the people of Wayne County, West Virginia — all of them.

When it comes to the Hope Scholarship, this cannot be about politics. It must be about optimizing the educational experience for every student.

Let me say this clearly: I love our teachers.

For many families, the public school system is their only option — and it must thrive and be successful. Our public schools are foundational to our communities.

But a great education is not built on the backs of state-of-the-art buildings, school boards, or even legislators.

A great educational system is built on great teachers.

West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship represents something very important to me: parental choice.

When families choose to leave the traditional public school system, they are sending a message. They are not acting out of anger or ideology — they are acting out of concern for their child’s future. Parents know their children better than any system ever will. If they feel their child is not being trained, challenged, or prepared correctly, they deserve the opportunity to seek a better path.

I fully support parental choice.

At the same time, we must approach this issue with integrity and responsibility. Public schools serve the overwhelming majority of our children and remain the backbone of many communities across Wayne County and our state. We cannot ignore that reality.

The answer is not to pit one system against another.

With proper oversight, transparency, and accountability, the Hope Scholarship and our public schools can both improve. When families have options, systems must respond. Accountability ensures taxpayer dollars are used wisely. And when excellence becomes the expectation across the board, all students benefit.

My position is simple:
• Parents should have the freedom to choose.
• Public schools should be strengthened, not abandoned.
• Taxpayer dollars must be responsibly managed.
• The focus must always remain on the child — not the system.

This is not about politics. It is about preparing our children to succeed in life, in the workforce, and as responsible citizens of West Virginia.

I will always support policies that empower parents while insisting on accountability, measurable results, and a commitment to excellence for every child.

http://www.markcasertawv.com

Mark Caserta: Political Bickering, False Narratives, and the Cost to Minnesota

30 Jan

Whose interest is being served in Minneapolis?

Political bantering today is replete with false narratives and froward assumptions. When truth is absent from an argument, the only way to sustain it is to begin with a completely false supposition.

Such is increasingly the case with progressive leadership in Minnesota.

I frequently hear talking points—and see protest signs—declaring, “I support the people of Minnesota.” While this sounds noble, it collapses under even minimal scrutiny.

Does allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the city—while straining healthcare systems, overwhelming schools, and compromising public safety—truly improve the lives of Minnesotans?

Based on reporting from numerous sources, many of the protestors are neither residents of the city nor the state. Others appear to be paid antagonists, deployed to inflame tensions, disrupt civic order, and manufacture chaos. Meanwhile, local businesses suffer, schools are disrupted, and respect for the rule of law erodes. One must ask: how does any of this benefit Minneapolis?

Ironically, these same protestors decry the presence of law enforcement, while leadership’s refusal to cooperate with federal agencies—such as ICE and Customs and Border Protection—forces law enforcement into unnecessarily complex and dangerous operations. Instead of a single coordinated arrest, officers must deploy multiple layers of personnel: one team to locate and apprehend the individual, another to secure the scene, and still others to manage potential unrest.

This escalation is not only inefficient—it is avoidable.

If local leadership cooperated with federal authorities, individuals already in custody could be transferred cleanly and quietly. Fewer officers. Less disruption. Lower risk to the community. Fundamental common sense is missing from this approach.

Worse still, some leaders appear to welcome the chaos, perhaps as a convenient distraction from the billions of dollars lost through massive fraud at the city and state level. While attention is diverted, the lives and futures of Minnesotans are diminished by the very officials elected to protect them.

Three Steps Forward

In my humble opinion, three immediate actions are necessary:

  • Identify and shut down the financial sources funding faux protest movements. Once the money dries up, many of these “activists” will promptly head back to their basements.
  • Direct local law enforcement to cooperate fully with federal authorities. This would allow Border Czar Tom Homan to reduce the federal presence and ease tensions across affected communities.
  • Hold all lawbreakers accountable—without exception. This includes officials at every level of authority, up to and including the Governor, Attorney General, and Mayor.
  • Restore order, complete the mission, and exit swiftly.

Final Thought

It is everyone’s hope that lessons are learned, criminals are held to account, and other cities take note of the damage that results when leaders ignore the law and encourage protests that exceed constitutional boundaries.

Where there is no law, nothing good follows.

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Mark Caserta: Federal Law Enforcement working only to resolve Democrat open border policy.

27 Jan

I’ve written commentary for 25 years, long enough to realize I can’t change many minds over any emotional issue.

But let’s be clear in analyzing the situation.

The only reason ice agents and border patrol agents’ presence in our cities is heightened at this time is because liberal Democrat politicians have opened our borders to millions of illegal, unvetted individuals – period.

These illegals take refuge, largely, in sanctuary cities where their needs are provided at the expense of the taxpayer.

Some of these individuals entered the United States because they are criminals and have, sadly, continued their criminal activity in the cities.

Notably, many of these individuals did not come into this country to commit crimes, but committed a crime by coming into our country illegally.

When sanctuary city leadership does not comply with federal law-enforcement, it is very difficult to identify the hardened criminals from the ones who simply did not follow our immigration laws.

This situation forces ice agents to have to scour communities looking for and vetting criminals, which can be unsettling.

Our law-enforcement agents are not here to foment violence, quite the opposite. They are here to protect our citizens and enforce our laws.

Sadly, sanctuary city leaders are emboldening, and often paying protesters to insight violence and obstruct this process.

Even sadder, is the fact that some of these individuals want to incite a shooting so it can be captured on a cell phone and used to build an illegitimate argument against law-enforcement.

We are a nation of laws made by our elected officials. These officers cannot pick and choose which laws to enforce. They are here to serve and protect.

And they deserve protection in the process.

Let’s bring the heat and the rhetoric down. Let’s dispense with the conspiracy theories and allow our law enforcement agents to do their jobs.

These very law-enforcement people whom some would denigrate, are the first people they would call in case of an emergency.

Finally, this is not a move by the federal government to create a police state and move toward a monarchy.

This is simply an effort to remove people who are here illegally, with the primary focus on the criminal component.

Working with law enforcement will bring down the emotion and enable the process to be looked at through a much clearer lense.

Working against law enforcement who are simply enforcing the law, set in place by the people we elected, will only prolong the current state.

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Mark Caserta – Candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates in Wayne County, WV.

20 Jan

A Message to My Neighbors and Fellow Citizens

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

My name is Mark Caserta, and I am a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates, seeking to represent the people of Wayne County, West Virginia. I am asking for your support because I believe our community deserves honest, common-sense representation grounded in enduring values—not passing political trends.

I believe in West Virginians. I was born and raised here, have lived here my entire life, and this state is my home. The people of West Virginia—especially the families of Wayne County—have shaped who I am, my values, and my commitment to service. I would be honored to represent Wayne County to the very best of my ability, with humility, diligence, and with God’s guidance.

I have spent my entire professional life as a businessman, focused on training and developing others to be the very best they can be. I know what it means to build teams, solve problems, and help people succeed. As a business owner, I have also carried the responsibility of meeting a payroll, balancing budgets, and making decisions that directly affect the lives of others. That experience has taught me accountability, discipline, and the importance of practical, results-driven leadership.

I am a Christian and a conservative, and I strive to live by Christian principles such as faith, integrity, personal responsibility, respect for life, and service to others. These values guide how I view leadership and public service.

I believe strongly that the United States is a Republic, governed by a Constitution that protects our freedoms, and that we use a democratic process to elect representatives. Those representatives are meant to serve the people—not impose personal ideology, political fashion, or distant agendas that do not reflect the will or values of the community.

I am proudly pro-life, believing that every human life has value and deserves protection. I am a strong supporter of the First Amendment, which safeguards our freedom of speech and religious liberty, and the Second Amendment, which affirms the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families.

Like many of you, I am concerned by policies in recent years that prioritize ideology over results—policies often labeled “woke,” but which have too often led to division, higher costs, weakened public safety, and less accountability. I believe our community is ready to move forward with practical solutions, not political experiments.

My commitment is simple: to listen, to represent, and to act with common sense and moral clarity. I will work for policies that strengthen families, respect faith, protect freedom, and ensure that government serves the people—not the other way around.

I ask for your prayers, your consideration, and your vote. Together, we can restore responsible leadership that reflects the values of Wayne County, the strength of West Virginians, and the principles that make our nation strong.

Respectfully,

Mark A. Caserta
Candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates
Wayne County, West Virginia
“Serving with Faith, Integrity, and Common Sense”

www.markcasertawv.com

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