Jennifer Horn is featured in today’s GraniteGok Congressional Candidate Q & A Series. She is another of the four worthy Republican candidates in New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District. As with the others, we thank Jen for taking time to answer these questions and further continue to appreciate NH’s candidates acknowledging the growing importance of the readers here in the blogosphere. Jen joined us on MTNP radio several weeks back– to download the mp3, click here.
Jennifer’s responses are below and as always, feel free to leave a comment!
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QUESTIONS
1. If you could ask General Petraeus any question, but only one question, what would it be?
Jennifer responds: What do you need?
2. Do you favor Oil recovery in the newly found fields in Montana & the Dakotas?
Drilling in ANWR?
Drilling in the deep waters off Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico?
Creating a fast track process to license and build new nuclear plants?
Jennifer responds: We should start off-shore and ANWR drilling right now because energy independence is not possible tomorrow and we need to reduce the price of gas for the American people. Any viable, comprehensive energy plan must also include the use of the most contemporary nuclear power technology surrounding nuclear plants as well.
Energy independence is no longer an idea to be debated – it is an economic, environmental and security necessity that must be pursued with the greatest dedication. Our nation should be the leader in energy technology. When we are willing to stand together we are capable of anything – we put a man on the moon in eight years – we can certainly attain energy security within that same span.
3. In the area of healthcare, are you in favor of:
Giving tax credits for policies to individuals / families as well as businesses?
Allow policies to be purchased across state lines?
Allow individuals to buy lower cost policies by "unhooking" legal mandates?Jennifer responds: Yes,yes and yes. The answer to the soaring cost of health insurance lies in the free market – greater competition, more choices – a one size-fits all, taxpayer funded, government administered health care plan does not serve the needs of the people. If congress would pass legislation allowing the purchase of health insurance across state lines, individuals would experience immediate savings.
4. British Prime Minister Brown said that the US must give up the idea of absolute sovereignty in order to better cooperate in the global community. Agree or disagree, and why?
Jennifer responds: Give up the idea of absolute sovereignty? Absolutely not! Our forefathers crossed great oceans and fought massive battles in order to establish, protect and maintain our national sovereignty. There is no cost too great to protect and defend our freedom. What an extraordinary betrayal it would be to the men and women who have given their lives in defense of ours to agree that national sovereignty is negotiable – it is not. The United States of America has always been – and must forever remain – a beacon of hope for freedom to all nations around the world.
5. Guantanamo military prison:
Keep it open or close it?
If closed – where would you send those enemy combatants?
Would you be willing to try those enemy combatants in our civilian courts (with its accompanying mandatory rights as due to citizens)?
Jennifer responds: Keep it open. No one has the rights of citizenship except for citizens. Enemy combatants must be dealt with through military tribunals in accordance with the laws of war.
6. Should President Bush attend the Summer Olympics’ opening ceremonies in communist China?
Jennifer responds: No. So often the argument is about whether or not the United States is wielding its military might appropriately – here is an opportunity for the United States to wield her influence against one of the most repressive regimes in the world in a peaceful fashion. Personally, I don’t think China should ever have been given the honor of hosting the Olympics to begin with.
7. Are you in favor of using eminent domain in taking private property from one owner to another in order to expand taxable property values?
Jennifer responds: No.
8. Are you willing to sign an earmark moratorium?
Jennifer responds: Yes. Congress spends too much of our hard-earned money. I pledge to the voters of the 2nd District that I will fight to end wasteful government spending and pork-barrel legislation. Because of earmarks, the budget has ballooned and Washington has become more accountable to the special interests than the voters. I support ending the process of earmarking and will work to restore oversight and authorization to the Budget Process.
9. You have a choice: raise corporate taxes or eliminate five Federal programs. Which is your choice? If it is “eliminate five programs”, please list them. (Feel free to list more than five if you think more could go)
Jennifer responds: We must eliminate redundant and wasteful spending. In addition to fighting for the elimination of the earmark process, I will work to consolidate these wasteful duplicate programs and streamline government. Did you know that there are:
· 342 economic development programs;
· 130 programs serving the disabled;
· 130 programs serving at-risk youth;
· 90 early childhood development programs;
· 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities;
· 72 federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water;
· 50 homeless assistance programs;
· 45 federal agencies conducting federal criminal investigations;
· 40 separate employment and training programs;
· 28 rural development programs;
· 27 teen pregnancy programs;
· 26 small, extraneous K–12 school grant programs;
· 23 agencies providing aid to the former Soviet republics;
· 19 programs fighting substance abuse;
· 17 rural water and waste-water programs in eight agencies;
· 17 trade agencies monitoring 400 international trade agreements;
· 12 food safety agencies;
· 11 principal statistics agencies; and
· Four overlapping land management agencies
[Source: The Heritage Foundation]
We need to cut the corporate tax rate. At 35% it is the second highest in the world. By cutting it to 25%, businesses would begin to invest in America again, grow American jobs and contribute to the long-term economic stability of our country.
10. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are “demographic time bombs” in waiting. What steps should be taken to avoid future failures of these entitlements?
Jennifer responds:
1. Medicaid is a dual-run program. The Federal government must make the states more accountable. Medicaid must go through the same reform that the Welfare system did in the 1990s. Cutting away the excess cost of administering the program and making the states more accountable, Medicaid can be streamlined to better serve those who need it most while reducing the cost of administering it.
2. By further privatizing insurance, increasing competition Medicare can work better and more efficiently for America’s growing elderly population. We must do all we can to protect the elderly, a group who fought hard to maintain America’s freedom and strived to make our country a better and safer place to live.
3. I will not support anything that raises payroll taxes, increases the retirement age or cuts benefits for those about to enter the system. Next we need to look at options to fix the system. Americans must be given the option to invest their Social Security savings. The government needs to stay out of the way and give citizens the opportunity to invest money that is rightfully theirs.
11. How would you propose Con
gress and the president balance the federal budget?
Jennifer responds: Quite simply, reduce the size of government and eliminate earmark spending. Congress is bloated – too big, too corrupt and too controlled by special interests. When we rid America of Congress’ pet projects, useless Federal programs and reckless spending, we will be well on our way to balancing the budget. Congress must pass a constitutionally sound line item veto. I would also support a balanced budget amendment.
12. Would you vote for the “Fair Tax”? The “Flat Tax”?
Jennifer responds: The current tax code is one of the most corrupting influences in Washington. Paul Hodes just passed a tax break for trial lawyers after voting for a budget that will increase the tax burden of the average 2nd district citizen by nearly $3,00.00! The tax code as it exists today is inherently corrupting and unfair to the majority of tax payers. I have always liked the flat tax-it is equitable, enforceable, and if Steve Forbes’ calculations are to be believed, it will actually increase federal revenues.
~~~~~~~~ Visit Jennifer Horn’s website at http://www.jenniferhorn.org/
