10/28/18 Joe Answers Questions Posed by the Powhatan County High School Student Body

Joe Walton for Congress – VA 7^th District
For Immediate Release: 10/28/2018
804-476-0768
press@joeforvirginia.com

Joe Walton for Congress Answers Questions Posed by the Powhatan County High School Student Body
Joe is happy to have had an opportunity to answer questions from the Powhatan County High School Student Body and is grateful for being included in their speaker series of candidates on the ballot!

Powhatan, Virginia: The Joe for Virginia campaign recently appeared at the Powhatan County High School speaker series of candidates for election.  The students were very engaged and motivated by their government teacher, Mr. Greg Ownby, to review candidates’ campaigns and think of insightful questions.  Below are links to videos of Joe’s live answers and also included are ALL the questions submitted but for which there was not time to answer in the forum.

Said Joe of the event, “I am happy to see the level of engagement in the next generation and my home of Powhatan!  Keep up the good work, Mr. Ownby, of motivating your students to think and learn about our system of government!

We are making these answers available electronically so the voters of the 7^th District have a chance to learn more about Joe Walton and his campaign for the 7^th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Joe speaks consistently in all forums regardless of the audience and encourages all candidates to be as accountable.

This continues his effort to fully clarify his positions through his website and other media, including www.ballotpedia.org’s candidate survey on issues and political philosophy (neither Rep. Brat nor Democrat Spanberger have completed this exposition) available here: https://ballotpedia.org/Joe_Walton

Below are the questions from the Powhatan County High School Students and Joe’s answers.  His YouTube Channel Joe for Virginia HERE has the videos.

• Question from student RS: During a phase-out of social security, how do you address the lack of funds for those who qualify for it as the amount paid into it drops.?

Live answer YouTube Channel video: https://youtu.be/KLe_Bh5YG5c

• Question from student BT: How would you make college less expensive?

Live answer YouTube Channel video: https://youtu.be/G3EwtdiKudY

• Combined question from SB and CP: What do you consider an assault rifle and what would you do, as a Libertarian, about gun control in contrast to the Democrats and Republicans?

Live answer YouTube Channel video: https://youtu.be/h5aGWDHn9Wc

• Question from JM: With the recent reports concerning the state of the environment and global warming, how would you address environmental issues?

Live answer YouTube Channel video: https://youtu.be/45rhNP0y12s

• Question from JJ: What do you think we should do about energy efficiency?

In part, see the video above about environmental issues.  The government shouldn’t pick winners and losers in the marketplace but we know energy efficiency, recycling,solar and renewable energy is the best long-term solution for society on this planet and as we explore our universe.  Earth doesn’t have enough energy sources to sustain indefinitely life as we know it.  The sun does, and so does the moon (tides).  America should lead the world on renewable energy research, manufacture, and deployment. Nuclear energy, while not perfect, should continue to be a part of America’s energy production portfolio, as should coal.  However, sustainable production and efficiency is paramount. While market forces will continue to shape the sector for manufacture and deployment, publicly-funded research and economic incentives are important to develop new energy breakthroughs just as they have been for other sectors.

• Question from LL: What are your thoughts on veteran’s affairs, specifically concerning medical insurance for dependents?

Live answer YouTube Channel video: https://youtu.be/EWehtw1YyTc

• Question from AV: How would you be able to keep taxes low, fair, and equitable while also being able to pay back the national debt and providing for a growing economy?

To encourage and grow a modern economy, the federal government should shift to more usage and consumption-based tax systems.  The federal government should rely less on antiquated payroll and income taxes.  The growing impact of technology and economic mobility (the ease with which people can move up in socio-economic status over time, America is one of the lowest in the world) will require taxes to be applied more intelligently than via the payroll process.  It is inconceivable that in the future the payroll process is how the federal government is funded.  America should invest in new economic, fiscal, and monetary models befitting a technologically advanced, global economic leader.

• Question from TT: Do you support any limits on abortion?

In principle, no.  I trust women to make personal decisions of this nature with their medical and mental health professionals and social support networks.  The government shouldn’t criminalize deeply intense matters of personal conscience nor should the government make less safe such procedures by ‘outlawing’ them.  Taken to its logical conclusion, such restrictions would require the government to investigate a miscarriage or any medical procedure at any stage of gestation for whether the mother or other agents had any degree of culpability – this would be an inappropriate role for any and all governments

• Question from TB: How do you plan on handling the drug addiction/opioid crisis?

Marijuana decriminalization and legalization have started to show positive results for reducing opioid abuse issues.  The flow of opioids should be stemmed – doctors and manufacturers through investigative review of the indications and marketing – including rebates and kickbacks – of opioids.  The needs of opioid abusers should be met with improved social services and wrap-around care from the communities in which they reside.  Multitudes of U.S. states have bipartisan models for this; notably, this epidemic is particularly bad only in the United States.

• Question from JW, Jr.: Why don’t you support President Trumps recent tariffs?

I do not support the recent tariffs proposed by President Trump; leading on free trade and globalization are essential for America to stay relevant, economically influential, and safe in the world.  Even the incumbent has admitted or implied the protectionist trade strategies President Trump is employing are bad ideas but ‘temporarily’ necessary as negotiation tactics.  I think this is a very bad idea to hurt American farmers, workers, and industry as a bargaining strategy that has proven historically to be an endlessly futile strategy or to cause a massive trade war and increase in international political tensions with potentially devastating effects.

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About Joe for Virginia: Joe Walton is a candidate for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District and former Chair of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors with a record of accountable and effective leadership 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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