I had a call earlier today from The Club for Growth to remind me this was due today (it wasn't the deadline on the forms). I put a bunch of these aside for some reason when I got one from GovWatch. The name sounded like something to get behind but I found out that they are a lobbyist resource and it began to bother me that they pretty much only asked me what my hobbies are.
I don't want to make it any easier on special interests than I have to. It turns out that The Club For Growth has ties to GovWatch, but their questions seem like things people might want to know so I decided to fill it out anyway and for the challenge I went for the deadline (sent it in with only a minute to spare so keep that in mind)
1) Explain your approach to economic growth and development:
Economic growth comes from small to midsized businesses because they are best at finding niche markets and are adding to their workforce instead of trying to figure out how to reduce it. Larger companies generally do not have room to grow without breakthroughs in technology or changes in regulations. My approach to make sure that these smaller companies have a fair shot. For example franchises shouldn't be allowed to write off their franchise fee as an expense as if they do not benefit from that corporations national advertising campaigns and other benefits.
2.) If elected, would you support efforts by our government to regulate personal behavior by raising taxes on items such as alcohol, tobacco, salt, soft drinks, saturated fat etc.? Explain:
No and I don't support the prohibition of Marijuana either. I may, however, support taxes that counter a burden on society such as the healthcare cost from cigarettes. Some might argue that soft drinks cause a similar burden, but that is scewed by the fact that corn is subsidized. So the difference is that there is a more common sense fix to that problem. Stop subsidizing corn. My approach to
3.) If elected, do you pledge to not raise taxes? Yes or No
Explain
No. I don't make pledges. Well I have pledged not to kiss babies while campaigning and not to take pledges but that was to make a point about how immature and disingenuous I feel pledges have become.
4.)Do you believe tax credits/incentives to businesses are the correct approach to job development and economic growth? Explain:
No. A much better way to stimulate an industry with public funds is to be a patron of their products. For example if the Obama industry really wanted to support the solar industry the should have ordered a bunch of solar panels for government buildings. That way if the company failed we would at least have lower overhead on government facilities. Subsidies is just putting money in the slot machine.
5.) A proposal that would eliminate the Missouri state income tax and replace it with a broad based sales tax may be on the ballot in 2012. Do you support this proposal? What are your thoughts regarding the pros and cons?
I really wanted to like this model of taxation because I believe in a simplified tax system. My concerns are that consumption based taxes will shift more of a burden on low and middle class (aka the people who HAVE to spend a higher portion of their income to survive) and that our most heavily populated areas in Missouri are on the state line. Higher priced goods in Missouri will only encourage businesses to pop up on the other side of the line.
6.)How would you address significant tort and regulatory reform during your tenure?
I will seek to find a way to preserve the ability to address legitimate grievances and decrease the use of the courts as a way to harrass or rob others. For example if a doctor cuts off the wrong leg, they should be held accountable. If the doctor had a choice between two equally valid methods of treatment and bet wrong (or just didn't succeeed) then the suit should be thrown out. The problem politically with tort and regulatory reform the unwillingness to talk about common sense solutions instead of choosing a side. These are not simple topics and can not be solved with sweeping statements.
7.) Do you support Missouri becoming a Right to Work state? Why or why not?
No. Unions give workers a means to negotiate the value of their labor. I have some philosophical grievences with unions (more so when it comes to private companies than public sector) but Right to Work isn't the solution.
8.)What unique qualifications or experience do you have that makes you a unique leader?
I started out as a cartoonist making fun of politicians. I decided to run because I saw that it wasn't good enough to have a truth teller on the outside. As a cartoonist I have insight, which a lot of people have, but I also have the ability to figure out how to put into words what people are feeling or have on the tip of their tongues.
9.) If elected, what are your top three legislative priorities?
Create oversite/appropriations for tax credit programs (because it should be relatively easy to pass), lower the importance of political affiliation for electability, and create protections for civil liberties
10.) Please provide any additional information below or enclosed (campaign literature, online contact information, etc.):
My campaign website is http://www.electladendorf.us (which also includes an old version of the site that takes on more issues and has a list of things I shouldn't admit to hating, like the show Big Bang Theory).
You might also want to check out my US policy page. I previously ran as a US House seat as a performance art piece and created a series of comics tackling policy http://www.nilvsdcbs.com
