REPUBLICANS
MIKE HUCKABEE
ECONOMY
Supports abolishing the Internal Revenue Service
The Candidates' Positions
Election 2008
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
ABORTION
Believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned
Supports a constitutional amendment banning abortion
GUN CONTROL
Supports a national "right to carry" law that would require states to recognize concealed-weapons permits issued by other states
Opposes restoring federal ban on assault weapons
Belongs to the National Rifle Association
JOHN MCCAIN
ECONOMY
Supports cutting corporate tax rate to 25 percent, from current 35 percent
Supports first-year deductions of equipment and technology investments
Supports permanent research-and-development tax credits for business
Supports repealing the alternative minimum tax
Supports making Bush tax cuts permanent
Supports curbing congressional earmarks and "pork-barrel" projects
Supports requiring a three-fifths vote in Congress to raise taxes
Supports reducing estate taxes
IRAQ
Was an early proponent of the U.S. troop buildup
Believes there are not enough U.S. forces in Iraq to halt violence, secure strongholds, rebuild the economy, dismantle al-Qaida and stabilize the country
Opposes setting a withdrawal timetable for troops
Believes the war is justified but has been mismanaged
NATIONAL SECURITY
Supports increasing and modernizing the U.S. military
Supports expanding and improving human intelligence capabilities
Supports developing and deploying theater and national missile defenses
Supports engaging in "battleground of ideas" to thwart terrorism recruitment
Supports closing Guantanamo prison
HEALTH CARE
Supports controlling health care costs as a fundamental priority
Supports promoting competition and reforming tax code to "eliminate bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance"
Supports $2,500 tax credit for individuals, $5,000 for families
Supports making plans portable and available across state lines
Supports reforming Medicare payment systems
IMMIGRATION
Co-sponsored 2006 legislation that called for temporary-worker program and pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants
Now proposes conditional pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants after they pay fines and learn English
Believes a secure border is "essential to national security"
Voted for border fence; supports securing ports and other points of entry
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Supports mandatory cap-and-trade measures (which would cap greenhouse gas emissions and let companies trade emissions allowances)
Supports increasing fuel-efficiency standards
Supports nuclear power
Opposes opening Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration
EDUCATION
Supports K-12 school vouchers
Sponsored Senate legislation for tax-free savings accounts for education
Supports community college aid
Supports home schooling
ABORTION
Believes Roe v. Wade is a "flawed decision" that should be overturned
Supports nominating judges who do not "legislate from the bench"
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