Issues
Taxes and Spending
John agrees with the opinion expressed often by the late President Ronald Reagan that it is not that the federal government taxes too little; it is that it spends too much. As a member of the United States House of Representatives, John consistently voted for tax cuts including the creation of the child tax credit, lowering of capital gains rates and dividend tax rates, accelerated depreciation schedules and the phase out and outright elimination of the estate tax. John will work in the Senate to make permanent the tax cuts passed in 2001 and scheduled to sunset in 2011.
Beyond supporting tax cuts under the current income tax, John believes that fundamental tax reform is necessary to grow the economy and create long term job growth. John has voted to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which authorized the income tax. As a senator, John would vote for repeal again in order to move the country to a national retail sales tax similar to the type used in Indiana to fund state government. Short of repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, John sponsored legislation that eliminated the requirement that employers “withhold” taxes from their employees’ paychecks. If all taxpaying Americans were compelled to write a check to the federal government for the taxes that are currently withheld, those same Americans would demand that Congress reduce spending and stop taking so much of their hard-earned income.
Speaking of spending, John has time and again cast the tough votes to reduce spending and not create new spending programs. He’s done this in support of his party and, at times, in opposition to his party. John voted with Republicans to reform welfare. This welfare reform halved the number of Americans on that program. John voted against the unprecedented disaster relief package that Republicans pushed after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. 100% of this immense spending bill was borrowed and is never projected to be paid back adding to the crushing weight of debt placed upon our children’s shoulders. Not only that, the reports of massive waste, fraud and abuse continue as a result of this unprecedented move by the federal government that may likely be repeated if Americans do not elect people like John who are willing to say, “Enough is enough!”
Free-Market Health Care
John opposes the government takeover of the US health care system recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. The people of the United States of America enjoy the best health care system in the world. In order to optimize the access to our current system, Congress should allow for more competition and work to reduce health care costs by:
- Building on the success of Health Savings Accounts by making 100% of health insurance premiums either deductible or a tax credit
- Creating Health Marts which allow individuals and families to negotiate, collectively, for health care services based on where they live
- Creating Association Health Plans which allow individuals and families to negotiate, collectively, for health care services based on an association defined by profession, religion, membership in an organization, etc.
- Allowing health insurance plans to be purchased across state lines
- Enacting tort reform that will result in lower health care costs because medical professionals will not be compelled to practice “defensive medicine” which they do now for no other reason than to defend themselves in a potential lawsuit
As Indiana’s next senator, John will oppose any expansion of the federal government into our health care system and work to repeal any such expansion that may happen this year as a result of the enactment of ObamaCare.
Fighting for the Right to Life
John is pro-life. John believes that it is no small thing that Thomas Jefferson observed in the Declaration of Independence that we are “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” First and most important of these God-given rights is the right to life.
While serving in the United States House of Representatives, John was a member of the Pro-Life Caucus. These members were instrumental in 1995 in the legislative reinstatement of former President Ronald Reagan’s “Mexico City Policy” which prohibited the use of US taxpayer dollars for abortion and abortion counseling in foreign countries. Mexico City Policy had been revoked by then-President Bill Clinton in 1993 and supported by a majority of the Congress which was controlled by the Democrat Party. As a new member of the newly sworn-in Republican majority in Congress in 1995, John joined other pro-life members to end the practice of US funding of abortions in foreign countries.
John also co-sponsored the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and was present when it was signed into law. John was a co-sponsor of the Right to Life Act which would give legal protection to the unborn under the Fourteenth Amendment. Due to this record, John’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives was consistently endorsed by the National Right to Life and Indiana Right to Life.
As Indiana’s next senator, John will exercise the constitutional obligation of a senator and not give his “consent” to a judicial nominee if he concludes that the nominee in question believes the constitution allows the destruction of innocent preborn human life.
Marriage
John believes that marriage is between one man and one woman. As a member of the United States House of Representatives, John co-sponsored and voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 after the Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled that that state may not be able to prohibit the issue of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton, DOMA utilizes Congress’ authority under Article IV of the United States Constitution to regulate “full faith and credit” relationships and protects states that do not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples from being compelled to recognize such licenses issued by states that do.
After the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled in 2004 that that state could not prohibit the issue of same-sex marriage licenses, a national discussion of the fate of DOMA began. Prior to this court ruling in Massachusetts, John was concerned that a United States Supreme Court decision may possibly strike down DOMA, John sponsored the Marriage Protection Act (MPA) in 2003. MPA was based on the explicit authority found in Articles I and III in the United States Constitution for Congress to create federal courts “inferior” to the Supreme Court and the inherent authority to limit their jurisdictions. Also, MPA utilized authority found in Article III to limit the appellate jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court. MPA in essence said that no federal court could consider a case arising under DOMA and would effectively bar federal courts from overturning DOMA.
MPA passed the United States House of Representatives in July of 2004. While the bill was never considered in the United States Senate, John will introduce it there if elected and push for its passage so that Indiana is not compelled by a federal court to recognize same-sex marriage licenses issued by another state.
Defending the Second Amendment
John is a staunch defender of our Second Amendment Rights. He is a gun owner and hunter. During his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, John established a record that reflected his desire to stop the federal government from infringing on this crucial liberty. Among other things, John:
- Voted to repeal the Clinton Gun Ban on semi-automatic firearms and magazines
- Led the effort to defund the Smith & Wesson agreement between that manufacturer and the Clinton Administration that would have given preferences to Smith & Wesson after its previous corporate leadership arranged a deal in order to get out of legal proceedings against the gun industry
- Led the effort to allow civilian airline pilots to carry firearms on board after the 9/11 tragedy was perpetrated by terrorists who were able to overpower pilots and fly airplanes into buildings and a rural field
- Sponsored legislation to allow national reciprocity for conceal and carry of firearms
Due to this record, John’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives was consistently endorsed by the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America.
As Indiana’s next senator, John will build on this record of devotion to our fundamental liberties.
Protecting Hoosier Workers by opposing Illegal Immigration
John is opposed to amnesty that would grant legal status for the millions of aliens illegally in the United States. As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims, John led the efforts to stop House consideration of the amnesty bill passed by the U.S. Senate in 2006. John also voted to build the fence along the southern border and to authorize military personnel to aid in securing the border from the massive influx of illicit drugs and potential movement of terrorists attempting to enter the country from Mexico.
As a senator, John will lead the effort to oppose any attempt at another amnesty. Additionally, he will work to further strengthen our borders and give immigration law enforcement the resources and support they need as they protect us.
Additionally, John will press the Executive Branch to aggressively enforce employer sanctions – in place since 1986 – and turn off the “jobs magnet” that attracts wave after wave of illegal migrants into the United States.
