Fred Thompson candidate platform from
The Boston HeraldBy Associated Press | Thursday, December 27, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Candidate Profiles
High priorities: tax reform, immigration, war in Iraq and terrorism, education reform
Abortion: Pro-life.
Capital Punishment: Supports capital punishment.
Education: Thompson believes that the federal role in education is “too intrusive and too bureaucratic.” He calls for state and local governments, which are closest to the parents, the kids, and the schools, to implement changes and innovations that improve their education systems. He supports giving parents more choices in public education, reviewing federal programs for cost-effectiveness, reducing federal mandates, returning education money to the states, and empowering parents by promoting voucher programs, charter schools, and other innovations. He pledges to promote transparency to assess performance, promote accountability, and share innovations in education at all levels.
Energy/Environmental Issues: Thompson believes that U.S. dependence on foreign sources of oil threatens national security and puts economic prosperity at risk. He pledges to increase U.S. energy independence and invest in alternative energy sources to produce a healthier environment. He also plans to encourage research and development of technologies that will improve the environment, especially the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Experience: Former senator, lawyer, lobbyist, character actor.
Gay Marriage: Opposes same-sex marriage; would let states decide whether to allow civil unions
Health Care: Thompson believes that access to affordable, portable health care can be made available for all Americans without imposing new mandates or raising taxes. He believes current government programs must also be streamlined. His health care plan calls for: (1) realigning programs and creating a system around individual consumers and patients by providing more information and more opportunities to choose affordable health care options, (2) improving the individual health of Americans by shifting to a system that promotes cost-effective prevention, chronic-care management, and personal responsibility, (3) modernizing delivery and administration of care by encouraging the widespread use of clinical best practices, medical information technology, and other innovations, (4) increasing competition and consumer choice while streamlining regulations through market solutions that benefit individuals and reduce costs for employers, and (5) promoting and speeding up medical research and life-sciences innovation.
Immigration: Thompson opposes the comprehensive immigration reform proposal that called for increased border enforcement combined with a path to legal citizenship for illegal immigrants already living in the U.S. Supports concept of “attrition through enforcement” – a reduction in the number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. by stepping up border security and enforcement against illegal immigrants and their employers. Pledges to double number of immigration agents to handle interior enforcement, to increase the number of border patrol agents and increase detention capacity. Also pledges to maximize prosecution of “criminal alien” gangs such as MS-13. Also pledges to strengthen entry/exit tracking of illegal immigrants and to reduce backlogs for legal immigrants.
The war in Iraq: Thompson calls for an effort to defeat terrorists abroad, beginning in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thompson has plans for: (1) a larger, more capable, and more modern military, (2) a missile defense system that can protect the U.S. and its allies from long-range ballistic missiles, (3) an enhanced intelligence community, with robust human-intelligence capabilities, focused on terrorism and proliferation, (4) a robust approach to homeland security that will protect the nation from terrorists, (5) a strengthened system of global alliances, and (6) a judicial system that deals with the realities of terrorists and unlawful enemy combatants.
Social Security: Thompson’s plan for Social Security reform would allow individuals to set aside 2 percent of their payroll into a private retirement savings account with a government match. Thompson would also index Social Security payments to inflation, not to wages, for future retirees. Combined, Thompson says his plan would save $4.7 trillion and preserve the Social Security system for future generations. Current retirees or those nearing retirement would not be affected.
Stem Cell Research: Thompson opposes expansion of federally-funded embryonic stem cell research.
Taxes and Budget issues: Thompson’s tax reform proposal ties economic growth to tax cuts. He supports making the 2001 and 2003 Bush administration tax cuts permanent and also supports permanently repealing both the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax. He also pledges to give individual taxpayers “choice” – either remaining under the current tax code or opting for a “flat tax” code that would simplify taxpaying for Americans who opt for it. He also supports abolishing the IRS “as we know it.”
http://www.fred08.com/
