1. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
I want us out of Iraq. In November 2008, the United States and Iraq agreed that all US Forces will leave Iraq by December 31, 2011. We can partially solve the problems of a worn out military and budget deficit by leaving Iraq on that date. Operations in Iraq cost more than $80 billion annually. The government of Iraq does not appear to be planning for US Forces to leave. The United States has done all we can to help this country; the Iraqis are not doing their part. I will be the advocate for withdrawal as agreed.
2. BALANCED BUDGET
In order to get to a budget surplus, every spending program must be cut. This includes programs for farmers, soldiers, social security recipients, students, contractors, federal employees, and all those getting federal grants. This can be partially done by cutting defense and entitlement spending by 20 percent. Except for interest on out national debt, all other agencies must take a 60 percent hit. I will ask farmers to give up crop subsidies entirely. If the IRS is fully staffed, the tax gap of $300 billion should be cut in half. All of this should give us a 2011 surplus of $250 billion.
3. BUILD THE BORDER FENCE
We need to halt drugs and illegal aliens from entering our country. Each year Congress provides billion in funds for military construction projects worldwide. Next year, Congress can fund construction of a fence on the US and Mexico border. This is a matter of national security. The military can handle it. The Army Corps of Engineers can plan and design the project. Navy Seabees can build the fence. Air Force assets can supervise construction. The Marines can provide security. Tell a three-star general the project needs to be completed in 12 months and it will be completed in 12 months.
4. STOP UNLOADING BAD MORTGAGES ONTO THE TAXPAYERS
As you read this, private lenders are legally sticking taxpayers with loan losses by getting Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to guarantee or buy bad mortgages. The credit crisis was caused by poor mortgage underwriting. The actions of some mortgage banks inflated the prices individuals had to pay for homes. In order to collect huge loan origination fees on transactions that should not have occurred, they had appraisers mark the value of real estate to levels unjustified by the borrower's ability to pay. Congress let the bank industry lobby write the 2005 bankruptcy reform bill. No provision was made for homeowners to use bankruptcy to modify their loans when the value of homes fell from inflated levels. The industry has not learned its lesson. Banks are still promoting loans to persons who have little chance of making full payment. I hope to stop all of this with laws ending government involvement in guaranteeing mortgage debt and for borrowers to be able to modify their house payments in bankruptcy.
5. BUILD THE ELECTRIC CAR
Building and perfecting the electric car can be our new manufacturing base. In addition to making the car, there will be need for battery technology, mechanics, and the recharge infrastructure that must be developed along our highways. Our universities can lead the engineering effort. This could mean hundreds of thousands of US based private sector manufacturing jobs.
I believe in conversion to nuclear energy. It can replace coal as the principal energy source for our base load of electricity. I support the conversion to natural gas as the primary fuel for cars and trucks. However, our economy can eventually be converted to use of electric cars and trucks. Because we now have small reserves, use of crude oil should be limited to aviation and military purposes. I discourage conversion to wind energy because it is unreliable. I will also seek to end the tax subsidies for use of ethanol as transportation fuel.
6. FIX THE HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT
The Health Care Reform Act is problematic. The provision that mandates coverage of pre-existing conditions will cause insurers to leave the business. People now have incentives to stay uninsured (the yearly penalty for not purchasing health insurance is $695) and still be assured there is coverage for accident injuries, heart failure, and cancer. The insurance companies will not have a pool of healthy premium paying persons who provide funds to pay claims. With this law, as long as you are well, there is no incentive to pay premiums. Some uninsured person, who has a car wreck or sports injury, is able to pick an insurance underwriter who will then be responsible to pay the possible hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses for life. Before that happens, which is in 2014, insurance companies will be getting out of the business. My job is to get this provision removed.
I am also in favor of eliminating medical malpractice liability. Kansas doctors and hospitals will then have available tens of millions which would otherwise have spent to pay for malpractice insurance premiums. They could then invest that money into new equipment, more education, or hiring more nurses and other staff.
7. GET RID OF LOBBYISTS
I believe incumbent congressmen and senators have made promises to lobbyists, industries, and interest groups that they cannot break for fear they will fund an opponent. Congressman and senators need to be released from their obligations to lobbyists so they can be free to vote their conscience. This is the key to getting along. Lobbyists view the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances as unfettered access to incumbents. In exchange for access, incumbents then extract campaign contributions and fund raising out of lobbyists. Lobbyists then get favorable legislation and regulations for their clients. Regulators get jobs in the industry they regulate. Foreign nations have lobbyists. I am not hobbled by promises to lobbyists and government contractors. I intend to amend procedure in the Senate so that no one can vote on legislation until they certify under oath that they have read the text and understand its contents. This will halt the practice of lobbyists drafting the language of proposed legislation and getting it inserted into the bill before others have a chance to read it. Another procedural change I will advocate is if a private company or industry is seeking a cash or regulatory subsidy, their chief executive must testify before Congress and explain why they need government help. Lobbyists should never be needed.
8. NO MORE ASSAULT ON GAYS AND LESBIANS
Marriage is fundamental to the pursuit of happiness. Denying a homosexual couple the security and honor of marriage deprives our society of a happy household. No heterosexual marriage is threatened. I oppose all efforts to disallow same sex marriages. The same goes for service in the military. The criteria to serve are physical fitness, capability to excel in a military occupation specialty, and loyalty to the United States. Our country needs gays and lesbians who meet these requirements.
9. END THE ESTATE TAX
My goal is to permanently end the estate tax. This tax is disruptive to families and business planning. This tax survives because advocacy groups and lobbyists for art museums, college endowments, and life insurance companies block repeal. If repealed in conjunction with elimination of the death step-up in tax basis, the US Treasury will gather more in capital gain tax collections than the expected loss of estate tax revenue.
10. CEASE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND REIMBUSREMENTS TO DISABILITY INSURANCE COMPANIES
No incumbent will talk about this. The Social Security Trust Fund is being used to reimbursement private disability insurance companies for losses paid out to workers. They get full reimbursement including attorney fees. This unchecked depleting of Social Security goes on even though these private companies assumed the risk, accepted the premiums, and get to keep all profits. Now pension funds are getting into the act. This outrage has been going on for decades.
