Issues

By Mike Dugas

Issues

I believe in greater freedom of choice for parents to make decisions regarding their children's K-12 education. Parents should be given the right to choose which school their children attend. Parents should be able to receive public assistance to send their children to private schools that are appropriately regulated.

In 1992, Sweden adopted education reforms that allowed parents to choose which school their children attended, subsidizing 85% of the cost of private school education. These reforms resulted in greater parental control, an improvement in the public education system and a larger number of independent schools. I believe that we can use methods like these to revamp and revitalize our K-12 educational system.

Health Care

Easily the most complicated issue of American domestic policy, I believe that several changes are necessary to improve our health care system. These reforms need to address three primary areas of improvement.

We need to lower the cost of health care. We need to allow for doctors to make tough medical decisions free from undue pressure from insurance companies. We need to expand access to health insurance for working Americans. I propose three reforms to accomplish these goals.

Noneconomic medical damages should be reasonably capped. This reform will lower insurance liability costs by taking the money from the trial lawyers. Health insurers should be forbidden from coercing doctors into making decisions not based on the care of the patient. I support the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights passed by the House of Representatives, which has not yet become law. Social Security

First and foremost, I believe that a promise made is a promise kept. All Social Security benefits already promised should be paid.

However, the long-term outlook for Social Security is not secure. Under current projections, Social Security will not be solvent in the year 2042. We need real long term solutions, and we need them now.

The best way to reform Social Security is by granting all Americans the option to invest part of their Social Security payroll tax in the private market. Only then will Americans have assurance that the government will not use their retirement funds to support irresponsible government overspending. And only then will Americans have the freedom to invest their money where they wish.

Private accounts provide a better return on investment than our current system does. Over the past seven decades the real pretax rate of return on a balanced portfolio (60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds) has been slightly more than 8.5 percent. After paying federal, state and local taxes on financial investments, returns have averaged about 5.5 percent. By comparison, the Social Security system promises young workers a return on their payroll taxes of less than 1 percent.

Taxes and Spending

Currently, the fiscal matter of greatest importance is overspending. The War on Terror is costing us billions in extra military spending. The economic recession that we just emerged from is still costing us billions in tax revenue. And the past three budgets have seen domestic discretionary spending outgrow inflation by 8.2%. This reckless domestic spending must end. Until the economy fully recovers, domestic spending should be reduced to avoid mortgaging our future.

The tax cuts passed by President Bush should not be allowed to expire. Their termination would be equivalent to a tax increase- inhibiting economic growth and stability. All Americans deserve to keep their money so that they have the freedom to address their own needs.

Federal Income Tax

The federal income tax system needs a simplicity overhaul. There are too many complications, loopholes, and exceptions in the tax code. Those taking advantage of these complexities are the rich and the tax preparation companies, and not the average worker.

The simplification of the tax code will increase the ability of the IRS to reduce cheating and simultaneously decrease taxpayers' preparation costs. This is a surefire win-win proposal.

States' Rights

The 10 th Amendment in the Bill of Rights plainly states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." On issues ranging from social to fiscal, the states deserve the freedom to address their citizens as they deem appropriate.

I stand opposed to federal mandates to the states. I stand in favor of states deciding on their own the issues of gay marriage, abortion, drinking age laws, gun regulation, and euthanasia.

For further questions, please contact Campaign Manager, George Andrews - george@dugas04.com