Taxes
This year, Congress approved a federal budget with a $685 billion deficit and last year approved a budget with a $450 billion deficit. According to the non-partisan Citizens Against Government Waste, Congress rammed 11,160 earmarks totaling $17.2 billion into spending bills for the 2008 fiscal year. We spend on programs we don’t need; and spend inefficiently on those we do need. My opponent, on the other hand, proposes expanding government on your dime. He advocates a new federal department of peace. Government programs bloat while taxpayers work ever longer and harder.
For example, according to the Heritage Foundation, out of the $25,117 the US Government redistributes, on average, per household, $455 goes to Mass Transit/Highways. However it is a grossly inefficient transfer: The dollars flow to Washington, flow back to the states minus administrative costs and with loads of strings attached. Local control and local decision-making are side-stepped . A more common sense approach is for the state to collect the taxes and decide, locally, how to spend it on buses, roads and rails.
This Congress led by the opposition has witnessed unprecedented hikes in fuel an food prices: has refused to take action on Social Security; nor has it constructed a coherent energy policy. Yet Democrat Congressional aspirants threaten to reward this governmental dysfunction by hiking taxes. We need a different approach: a common sense approach.
In 2001 and 2003, Congress signed tax cuts which lowered income tax rates, stimulated the economy, aided job creation and increased personal and business investments. These are set to expire if Congress allows. The Death Tax rate, capital gains rate, rate on dividends -- all expire. It is unlikely that a congress led by the opposition will approve $1000 tax credit per child, marriage penalty relief and tax rate cuts. Americans will face alarmingly higher taxes at a time when we are also facing high fuel and food prices.
We need to make these tax cuts permanent.
Energy Security
The goal of a Federal Energy Policy should be to enhance national energy security within the context of the global market. Therefore, we need to increase supply; change or diversify demand and allow for governmental incentives to both existing and emerging technologies in the form of tax breaks and research and development aid.
We need to repeal the $18 billion dollar ethanol subsidies. One quarter of American corn is turned into fuel. Fuel and food prices are now linked in the form of biofuels and have wreaked havoc on the world’s food markets and people are going hungry. The World Bank estimates the amount of corn needed to fill one SUV’s tank with biofuel is enough to feed 1 person for an entire year.
We need to boost supply and enhance productivity. The US is the only oil producing country which restricts development of a substantial amount of its energy production. We need to encourage environmentally responsible exploration of domestic energy supplies; limit red tape on domestic refineries, encourage alternative energy such as nuclear power and natural gas.
These programs will take time. What we can do immediately to affect the price of fuel is to change demand. The quickest, easiest and cheapest way to lower energy prices is by conserving energy. It is common sense to maximize the energy efficiencies of our industries and cars.
Immigration
America is graced by neighbors from diverse cultures and religions. We are recent immigrants, descendants of immigrants, even descendants of the earliest cultures on this continent.
However, by some accounts, 7 – 11 million of our neighbors are not in our country legally. Illegal immigration is stressing those systems which have helped newcomers in the past: our schools, hospitals and social services. Our porous borders also allow for the flow and transport of illegal substances, contraband, drugs, and human trafficking. The insecurity of our borders encourages an underground economy and the flaunting of the rule of law.
We must secure our borders and re-evaluate and revise a rational and fair immigration policy: Fair to those who have played by the rules and fair to the taxpayer. And rational with regards to the demand for labor and the high costs of repatriation. For example, the DREAM Act, which my opponent unreservedly supports, should only be enacted as part of a comprehensive immigration reform and border enforcement effort. Also, instead of conditional residence, beneficiaries (that is the children of illegal immigrants without legal status themselves) should get temporary student VISAS and Work VISAs upon completion instead of permanent residency.
We need to enforce immigration laws in the workplace and enact VISA reforms. We do not need to impose new and greater burdens on employers and on legal workers to get governmental approval before starting a job. The opposition has proposed such a program (SAVE) and it would punish legitimate labor pools and strangle employment opportunities.
It is common sense to increase legal immigration levels bringing labor and production out of the shadow economy. It is also common sense for Congress to provide employers and employees a temporary worker status which will sustain safe and efficient workplaces. It is common sense to aid assimilation : a common language, English, will facilitate greater participation in the civic and cultural benefits of these United States.
Finally, it is common sense to know who is in our country. Visas must be enforced; and photo voter and photo driver’s licenses with immigration status should be encouraged at the state level.
Q: Why should the community support Barb Davis White for Congress?
A: People who support Barb Davis White sometimes don't fall in the traditional "Republican" or "Conservative" categories; we like to call them either "Barb-o-crats" or "Barb-publicans."
These are men and women who have decided to break their traditional party allegiances to follow someone that speaks with them and for them. These individuals include professionals, service industry workers and entrepreneurs who have found it hard to make ends meet with the current Democratic infrastructure. What's special about this group who are fathers, sons, mothers and daughters is that they are concerned about the well being of their families, diminished job opportunities, the lack educational opportunities and effective social service programs within blighted areas of north and south Minneapolis. "People in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District want to work" says Barb Davis White. "People want to make a decent living wage that will support their families and give them the choice to invest in the future."
Welfare has not helped anyone; it has created a system of dependency and left low income families more poor; families falling on hard times have no chance to rebound due to a lack of effective strategic planning by government agencies that demand, if you lose your job and home, you have to sell your worldly goods before we can give you $211 per month. This is a great example of what's happening in north Minneapolis.
Barb is an advocate for the single working and non-working mothers and fathers. She understands that if you are single and have children, you must work. Mothers and fathers should not be penalized for having a good job and making a livable wage. For example, if you are a working mother living in Minneapolis, and you make over $12 per hour, in some cases you don't qualify for daycare assistance. The problem is local government agencies have not factored in the cost of gas, food and shelter as it pertains to the current economy, forcing some mothers and fathers to leave their children at home. What results is a rash of economic and societal problems that lead to shut-off notices, homelessness and the youth of the Fifth Congressional District becoming involved with gangs and crime. When elected to Congress, Barb Davis White will address these issues and others on a federal level by asking the right questions, re-directing the
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current and future funding streams to create jobs, education, wealth and independence for all people in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District.
Barb Davis White understands business!
As a business owner and entrepreneur, Barb understands that to create jobs there needs to be "sound business practices." One of Barb's missions is to create opportunities for new business in the Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District with focus on north Minneapolis, an area labeled by HUD as an "Empowerment Zone", one of 14 in the United States. People who live in the Empowerment Zone typically are of a racial or ethnic minority and are low income. If they are employed, they often earn $20,000 less that the median income of the people living in Minneapolis. The Empowerment Zone is designation by USDA (rural) or HUD (urban) that is based on four key principles: economic opportunity, sustainable community development, community-based partnerships, and strategic vision for change. These communities receive the same benefits as other areas, plus additional grants and tax benefits for businesses within the EZ.
North Minneapolis has not gained or built capacity in the last 40 years to successfully create and sustain a business that employees 50 Black, Asians, Hispanic, Native Americans or Somalians. Barb knows that by supporting small business, youth entrepreneurial programs, new business start-ups and attracting big business to north Minneapolis, this will create jobs with good living wages, education independence and wealth for a whole community.
Voting for Barb Davis White for Congress 2008 is a vote for you to help make a better community for everyone. Don't be tricked by the current political atmosphere. Barb encourages each and every person in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District to ask questions about what has been done by those in power. If you ask questions, you will see the only vote you can cast will be "Barb Davis White for Congress."
Thank you for your time.
Barb Davis White
Barb Davis White for Congress 2008
