The Candidates' Positions

Election 2008

REPUBLICANS

MIKE HUCKABEE

ECONOMY

Supports abolishing the Internal Revenue Service

Supports replacing current federal income, payroll, corporate and other taxes with a national "flat" sales taxSupports a presidential line-item veto

Supports Washington's economic stimulus plan but urges spending on infrastructure projects

IRAQ

Opposes setting a timetable for withdrawal

Supports a regional summit for neighboring countries to help stabilize Iraq

Supports Gen. David Petraeus and the troop buildup

Sees Iraq as a battleground in a "generational, ideological" war on terrorism

NATIONAL SECURITY

Supports expanding the Army, increasing defense budget

Supports empowering moderate Muslims by dealing with "underlying conditions" of terrorism

Supports focus on renewed diplomacy and cooperation

Supports closing Guantanamo prison

HEALTH CARE

Opposes mandatory universal health care

Supports working with the private sector, Congress and health care providers to overhaul the health care system

Believes the private sector and states can find ways to bring down costs

Supports making health insurance policies portable and expenses tax-deductible

IMMIGRATION

Supports a 120-day window for illegal immigrants to register with the government, leave the United States and then apply to immigrate; supports barring offenders from re-entering for 10 years

Supports tough penalties for employers that hire illegal immigrants

Supports ensuring the border fence is completed by 2010

Supports increasing the number of border agents

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Supports mandatory cap-and-trade measures (which would cap greenhouse gas emissions and let companies trade emissions allowances)

Believes energy independence is the way to address global warming issues

Supports increasing fuel-efficiency standards to 35 mpg by 2020

Supports nuclear power as an alternative energy source

EDUCATION

Believes that there is "value" in the No Child Left Behind law but that states must have the authority to enact education programs for their students

Supports making art and music an "essential" part of curriculum

Supports public-school choice and the right of parents to home-school children

Supports providing bonuses and forgiving student loans for "high-performing teachers" in low-performing schools