Issue Position: Taxes and Spending

Issue Position

Congress needs to manage their spending just like many hard-working, honest families and businesses back in Michigan who work every day towards maintaining their responsible bottom lines.

For too many years, Congress has acted irresponsibly by spending and taxing too much and fostering an economic environment that stifles job creation. If our country is to get our economy back on track, we need to begin promoting reforms that embrace fiscal discipline, lower taxes and smaller government. Below are some of my priorities to help get congressional spending and our nation's economy back on track:

Simplify the Tax Code -- Our federal tax code has become too complex and outdated. We need to revise our tax code so it is simpler, fairer, rewards innovation and investment and delivers permanent tax relief under the 2001 and the 2003 tax cuts passed by Congress.

Balance the Budget -- I support an amendment, H.J.Res. 1, to the Constitution that requires Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues, require a 3/5 majority vote to increase the debt limit and require the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress.

Reduce Tax Burden -- America needs to distance itself from a tax system that seeks to raise taxes on hard-working American families and job-creators. We need to develop a tax code that is simpler and encourages investment.

Get Rid of Government Waste -- Congress needs to do a better job of identifying and stopping funding for ineffective programs that have lost their intended purpose or impact.

Line-Item Veto -- We need to give the President the authority to single out wasteful spending items in legislation and send these specific line-items back to Congress for an up-or-down vote on whether to drop funding for these items.

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