// As you know, the Bush-era income tax cuts will expire at the end of this year. Do you support extending the cuts for all income levels, only on individual income under $200,000 (under $250,000 for families), or not at all? If you support an extension of some kind, should it be paid for? //
I believe in far larger tax cuts, across the board. These should be financed by reducing the size and scope of government. That includes ending the wasteful and costly War on Drugs, ceasing to use the military for nation building and policing the world, ending agriculture subsidies, and ending the backwards incentives that drive up the cost of education and healthcare.
// Is there any circumstance in which you would support extending a pay freeze on federal employees and/or requiring current federal employees to contribute more to their retirement plans? Please explain. //
Yes, and I also would end several federal agencies. As an educator, I have seen the large scale damage to education that the Department of Education has done. America is No. 2 in education spending, and No. 25 in math. I would put ending the Department of Education at the top of my list.
But the list certainly continues from there. I would work to end most federal agencies, as well as to audit and eventually phase out the Federal Reserve.
// The Congressional Budget Office projects spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other government health programs will more than double as a share of the nation's economy by 2037. What specific changes would you propose to reduce Medicare costs? //
Healthcare in America is overpriced for one reason: There are no incentives to lower costs. Patients don't see the bill and doctors get no extra business by being more cost-competitive. When there are incentives to lower costs, like the ones created by HSAs [health savings accounts] and catastrophic care insurances, the costs go down.
Medicare is a disastrous boondoggle that needs to be phased out. I would repeal the prescription drug subsidy, and gradually phase out Medicare. In the first phase, I would have Medicare means tested. At the same time, I would make Medicare unavailable to recent immigrants. If you haven't paid into social security and Medicare, it seems a bit absurd that you can receive it.
To continue to lower costs, I would end the bans on pharmaceutical reimportation, and other protections and subsidies given to large pharmaceutical companies.
// Would you support increased federal spending on highways and other infrastructure as a way to boost the construction industry? If so, how would you pay for it? //
I oppose all bailouts, subsidies, and corporate welfare. The only reason the government should undertake a task is if the people need the product. It should never undertake a task just to "create jobs." Any job "created" by the government has to be created with funds from the private sector. Those funds should be left with the private sector, so that they can create private sector jobs.
Thus, if we had an absolute national need for more roads, then we should build them. But we should never build roads just to subsidize an industry — no matter how many lobbyists they have.
// Would you support U.S. military involvement in Iran if there were evidence that it was close to developing a nuclear weapon? //
No, and I would end sanctions against Iran. Creating enmity with foreign nations is not in our economic interests.
I believe that an unnecessary war with Iran is essentially a bailout for defense contractors. No one else profits form war.
In a larger sense, I believe our military policy should focus on missile defense, not on interfering with other nations.
// Describe a specific policy you would pursue in Congress that would have support from members of the opposite party. //
I would repeal the Patriot Act. I believe a large number of Democrats and Republicans would support that.
Maryland's marquee race in 2012, the 6th District is drawing national attention after its boundaries were redrawn to make it more attractive for Democrats. The incumbent is Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, a Frederick County Republican.
