Issue Position: Taxes & Spending

Issue Position

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Our federal tax code has become too complex and outdated.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. I also support the bipartisan efforts to get this accomplished in addition to supporting H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act.

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. In March 2013 I voted to reduce the deficit by $4.6 trillion over the next decade and balance the budget in 10 years.

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 a comprehensive tax reform to make our tax code simpler, fairer and encourage investment for a healthy economy. Independent economists estimate that, when coupled with reduced federal spending, comprehensive tax reform could lead to the creation of 1 million jobs in the first year alone.

Get Rid of Government Waste
As member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I believe Congress needs to do a better job of identifying and stopping funding for ineffective programs that have lost their intended purpose or impact. In particular, I have been outspoken in addressing waste and the targeting of citizens for their political beliefs at the IRS. In July 2013 I also successfully offered a bipartisan amendment to cut $79 million from unnecessary Afghanistan infrastructure projects.

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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