08/22/18 Questions Posed by Representative Brat to Democrat Spanberger

 

Press Release: Joe Walton for Congress Answers Questions Posed by Representative Brat to Democrat Spanberger

Joe Walton for Congress – VA 7^th District
For Immediate Release: 08/22/2018
804-476-0768
press@joeforvirginia.com

Joe Walton for Congress Answers Questions Posed by Representative Brat to Democrat Spanberger
Joe for Virginia is happy to have an opportunity to answer Representative Brat’s campaign questions in this format and during the upcoming debates.

Powhatan, Virginia: The Joe for Virginia campaign had an opportunity to review questions Representative Brat’s campaign created and posed to Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

Below are Joe’s answers to those questions which continue his effort to fully clarify his positions through his website and other media, including Ballotpedia.org’s candidate survey on issues and political philosophy (neither Rep. Brat nor Spanberger have completed this exposition) available here: https://ballotpedia.org/Joe_Walton

Below are the questions from Representative Brat and Joe’s answers:

• Will you impeach President Trump?

Impeachment – particularly of a President – is a very serious proceeding and should not be a political talking-point.  Joe supports the Constitution and its original intent and context for such proceedings, wherever the evidence  gathered for such a proceedings may lead.  Joe has been vocal about the importance of Congressional oversight of the Executive branch – White House and agencies. 

Representative Brat has demonstrated no interest in or appreciation for asserting the House of Representative’s traditional oversight and Congressional authority.  With a House of Representatives properly asserting its oversight role, with a courageous Speaker of the House, there will be thorough investigations of the executive branch which will finally provide clarity about matters of significant national security, foreign policy, and domestic policy importance.

• How will you pay for your $32 trillion ObamaCare expansion?

That is not a responsible projection of ACA costs with which Joe is familiar and Joe wouldn’t support the ACA if that were actually true. Joe supports the Senate’s Murray/Alexander bill for improving the ACA and would be interested in other improvements to the ACA in the future which will provide flexibility within our federal system to help individuals and achieves the results of improved outcomes and lower costs with greater coverage for healthcare (e.g., the Massachusetts model as created through our wonderful federal system).

• Will you double everyone’s taxes to pay for your ObamaCare project?

No, Joe doesn’t support raising taxes and that is not a responsible nor credible assessment of the ACA.  Joe supports the Senate’s Murray/Alexander bill for improving the ACA and would be interested in other improvements to the ACA in the future which will provide flexibility within our federal system to help individuals and achieves the results of improved outcomes and lower costs with greater coverage for healthcare (e.g., the Massachusetts model as created through our wonderful federal system).

• Will you cancel our tax cuts and stop growing the economy?

This question is a false dichotomy.  The 2017 tax legislation did not cause the current growth.  No responsible, longitudinal analysis of economic activity indicates the current economic metrics are not part of a larger trend that predates any recent legislation or regulatory changes – or sitting President’s term.  Joe supports making the individual tax cuts permanent (they are not, currently) from the 2017 tax legislation and otherwise improving the tax code to reduce the burden of taxes on the individual and redirect our political economy to reduce inequality and the fiscal bias to the corporatocracy.

• Will you work across the aisle and support Supreme Court justice nominations?

This question is properly addressed to the Senate.

• Will you send a better tone to Washington, DC by asking your supporters to stop swearing at pastors during town halls?

This is an intemperate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• Will you help the national tone and ask Blue Virginia to stop the incivility and shutting down of free speech?

This is an intemperate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• Will you please explain to the voters of the 7th District why you are opposed to a border wall?

Joe supports border control and no responsible projection or immigration analysis indicates a border wall is necessary for border control or a good use of taxpayer dollars.  All responsible analyses of immigration to the U.S. concludes historical, current, and even more modern immigration laws and regulations are beneficial for our political economy.    Joe does not support family separation in general nor as a bargaining chip in political negotiation for any political end as Representative Brat did recently.

• Do you support Governor Northam’s plan to make Virginia a sanctuary state and harbor for drug cartels and crime?

This is an intemperate and inaccurate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• Do you support Governor Northam’s plan to raise everyone’s taxes?

This is an intemperate and inaccurate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• Do you support the Democratic Party’s plan to eliminate I.C.E.?

Joe supports the mission of ICE and its execution of that mission under modern immigration laws and regulations.  Beyond that, it is an intemperate and inaccurate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• Will you vote for a balanced budget amendment?

We believe that an as-small-as-possible government plays a critical part in the political economy and that a ten-year time-horizon balanced budget for the federal government is the most appropriate way to keep our economy vibrant and growing. Amendments to the Constitution should not limit the federal government’s ability to respond to unforeseen disasters, calamities, or wars.

• Do you support former President Obama’s diplomatic strategy of leading from behind?

This is an intemperate and inaccurate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• Will you support the sovereign state of Israel?

Yes, Joe supports Israel.  Joe also believes Israel and the Palestinian Authority and all regional and global stakeholders to the region have a responsibility to create a two-state solution.

• Do you oppose government officials using FISA warrants to spy on American citizens?

Joe opposes government officials using FISA warrants to spy on American citizens. While the FISA program may need improvements to protect contemporary civil liberties, Joe does not believe it is used or abused to the level this intemperate question implies.

• Will you condemn the Democratic Party’s decision to remove language referencing God from their party platform?

Joe believes in the Constitutional separation of church and state in original intent and context; he is particularly of a Jeffersonian persuasion on this issue.  The Libertarian party welcomes people of all faith or no faith and is socially inclusive for all free-thinking people of good conscience.

• Do you support Senator Elizabeth Warren’s plan to nationalize American businesses?

This is an intemperate and inaccurate question and should be beneath an incumbent’s dignity to ask.

• You have been endorsed by Senator Warren. Do you support Democratic Socialism?

Joe has not been endorsed by Senator Warren but Joe welcomes her to review his candidacy.

• Do you support Congresswoman Pelosi for Speaker? Or is Congresswoman Pelosi too conservative?

Joe does not support Representative Pelosi for Speaker of the House.  Joe would caucus with the other Libertarians elected this fall and negotiate for a Speaker that is interested in and capable of leading a dynamic House of Representatives toward the future with social inclusion and fiscal responsibility.

• Do you support Congresswoman Maxine Waters to be Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, as she is the ranking minority member?

Joe does not support Representative Waters for House Financial Services Committee Chair.

/end

About Joe for Virginia: Joe Walton is a candidate for Virginia’s 7^th Congressional District and a proven accountable and effective leader in central Virginia.  He is a sensible centrist with a genuine interest in working with constituents, leaders across the state, and federal peers to solve problems in Washington.  He believes in and advocates for socially inclusive and fiscally responsible approaches to public policy.  He holds a Master of Public Administration degree and is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Learn more: Web: www.joeforvirginia.com | Twitter: @joeforvirginia | Facebook: @joeforvirginia

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