Paid for by Rick Torres for Congress.
Tom Freer Treasurer
Eftychis John Gregos Mourginakis
PO Box 3311
Bridgeport, CT 06605
203-923-1321
Issues
Socialism
Jobs & The Economy
Reduce Taxes
Taxes are a necessary evil, required to sustain a government. Cutting taxes as much as possible will leave more money in our pockets, and in the economy. I will always be your advocate in Congress for lowering taxes—across the board and on all the taxpayers.
Stop Obama tax hikes on corporate income earned overseas
The United States is the only developed country in the world which taxes its businesses on the income they earn abroad. In the name of fairness, the Obama Administration proposes to hike such taxes. If implemented, this would negatively impact competitiveness of the U.S.-based multinationals (such as Pfizer, a big CT employer), forcing many of them to relocate abroad—leading to further loss of jobs here.
Dramatically cut corporate tax
Our corporate income tax rate is 39.25% (35% of which is federal)—on par with that of Japan, and higher than any other developed country in the world. Lowering federal corporate tax dramatically—say to Ireland’s 12.5%—would make it tremendously attractive for international companies to set up their businesses here, creating many new jobs. It cannot be overemphasized that the burden of corporate tax is ultimately borne by the consumer, in the form of higher prices for goods and services—as well as by the employees, in the form of lower wages.
Abolish taxes on capital gains and dividends
In 2003, the Bush administration cut capital gains and dividend tax to 15%, spurring increased investment and economic growth. The Obama administration intends to allow this tax cut to expire at the end of this year. Instead, we should eliminate this tax altogether. This would stimulate savings and investments, and lead to creation of new, higher-paying jobs. Singapore, with its top corporate tax rate of 17%, has no capital gains or dividend tax—and per-capita GDP higher than that of the United States.
Reduce taxes for all tax payers
Steeply progressive income tax discourages economic growth. By punishing success through disproportionately higher tax rates, we attain less success in the society. It is often said that the rich “can afford” higher taxes. What this argument misses is that, the more money is confiscated from the rich, the less money the rich have left to invest into business. As a result, new jobs are not being created for the rest of us; higher, more competitive wages are not being paid to the rest of us—not to mention the new products which are not being developed to make life better for the rest of us. Everybody suffers. Everybody comes out less prosperous. The only thing that expands is the Government. Instead, we should encourage American entrepreneurial spirit and spur economic growth and job creation by making the tax code less progressive—ideally, by implementing a flat (single-bracket) tax.
Abolish the death tax
The estate (or death) tax forces small-business owners to divert substantial amount of resources from investing in their business—to estate planning. Others are enticed to spend their money away rather than to give it to the government. Permanently abolishing the death tax would therefore spur investment, savings, and economic growth—increasing prosperity and creating many more new jobs.
Reduce Spending
Corporate Welfare
The Cato Institute estimates that the Federal Government spends about $90 billion—that is $90,000,000,000—annually on business subsidies, choosing winners and losers, and rewarding its political allies. It is time to separate the government from the economy before the two become one.
Earmarks
Nothing more than a legalized form of bribery, earmarks are estimated by the Heritage Foundation to cost the American taxpayer $13 billion—that is $13,000,000,000—last year alone.
Eliminate redundant programs & agencies
Most Federal Agencies exist at the state AND local level. This is redundant and does nothing to improve services, but only increases the tax burden to every American. I will work to eliminate as many of these redundant programs at the federal level
Get the federal government out of the housing business.
100% of the budget savings must go toward federal deficit reduction
not new spending!
Reduce Regulation
The act has been an unnecessary and costly government intrusion into corporate management . It places U.S. corporations at a competitive disadvantage with foreign firms, driving businesses out of the United States. It assumes guilt of corporate fraud and forces companies to prove their innocence . More importantly, it failed to provide any transparency or accountability to the balance sheets of financial services firms leading up to the 2008 crash. The tremendous cost of compliance with the act has put a disproportionate burden on smaller firms. Sarbanes Oxley makes entry to market more difficult for small and mid-cap companies, stifling job growth and wealth creation for all Americans. The act has led many international companies to leave American exchanges and re-list in Europe or Asia taking good paying jobs with them.
Healthcare
I will work tirelessly to repeal ObamaCare. I have already signed the Club for Growth ‘Repeal it’ pledge. When I am your Congressman I will work to implement free market solutions that will result in lower costs to all consumers.
Constitution
While understanding that a government is necessary to secure our inalienable rights, the Founders also recognized that we the people must be protected from a government growing too large and powerful; from a government tramping on our inalienable rights. It is for this purpose—to protect us from the government—that the Framers gave us the Constitution, with its short list of enumerated powers for the Government.
In the words of Barack Obama, lamenting over the Constitution in a 2003 radio interview: “...the Constitution is a document of negative liberties: [it] says what the states can’t do to you, [it] says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or state government must do on your behalf.” So, every time the Government wants to do something “on our behalf”—going above and beyond the short list of its enumerated powers—it first has to confiscate more of our money, choke the private sector with more taxes and more regulations and, thereby, tramp more on our Liberty, and our Prosperity.
It is in the Government’s self-interest to expand and grow itself—at the expense of us, the People. The Government is constrained by the Constitution, and hence works actively to circumvent it. Make no mistake: our Constitution is constantly under attack—even more so today. In order to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” it is imperative that we defend it.
War on Drugs
As a biochemist, I know the horrible effects dangerous drugs can have on people. As a Constitutionalist I also know what is in the purview of the Federal Government to regulate, and what is not. While I would never vote to legalize all drugs, I would support the decriminalization of Marijuana and allowing it to be regulated by separate states, just like alcohol is.
Second Amendment
I will do everything in my power to protect every individual's right to bear arms. While I believe in the sanctity of the 2nd amendment, many laws have been written that weaken this vital protection from tyranny. I will work to redress these infringements. Foreign Policy
Islamic Terrorism
Foreign Aid
Most foreign aid ends up propping up dictators, breeding corruption, or discouraging self-reliance. I will never vote to use your tax dollars this way.
National Defense
One of the main enumerated powers—and responsibilities—of the Federal Government under the Constitution is to provide for the National Defense. We are, and must remain, the world’s only superpower, with our military fully equipped and supported to fight and win wars.
Israel
Israel is the only free country in the Middle East and has always been on the front lines in the global war waged by militant Islam. We must stop imposing our will on Israel and we should stop funding regimes who are unfriendly to her. The United States should not stand in the way of Israel defending herself against the likes of those who threaten to wipe Israel off the map.
Nation Building
I am, always have been, and will be against nation building in any form. US troops should be used to fight and win against enemies of the United States or they should be brought home.