Education: Graduated South High School, Worcester, Mass., and received BA degree from University of Massachusetts, Amherst; did graduate study in educational administration.
Occupation: owner - small business.
Political training and experience: I was a volunteer in the 1992 presidential campaign of John Hagelin. I ran for Congress in 1994 and 1996, and for state representative in 1998, all with the Natural Law Party.
Question: Given the current economic climate, what are your priorities for the budget surplus and why?
Answer: If the bulk of the surplus is in Social Security trust fund and the long-term solvency of that fund is secured, I would use a portion of that surplus as an added reserve for social security, a portion to pay down the national debt and a portion to increase benefits for our senior citizens who are most in need.
I would provide tax relief with a fair flat tax starting at 17 percent in 2001 and decreasing to 12 percent by 2006, with total exemption for a family of four earning $34,000 or less. Loopholes would be eliminated for corporations and the wealthy, resulting in more tax revenue from these groups. With this simplified system we could eliminate the IRS.
To ensure that surpluses continue we must reduce government waste and mismanagement, cut pork barrel spending, and encourage decentralization and privatization whenever possible. Moving away from shortsighted policies that benefit special interests only, to long-term solutions, can save hundreds of billions of tax dollars.
We will need sweeping campaign finance reform to unlock our government from the grip of big money politics and special interest control of our policies and legislation. This will open a flood gate of innovative, proven prevention-oriented solutions for improving education, protecting our environment, ending our energy dependence on foreign oil, ensuring the safety of our foods, and providing health care that emphasizes prevention and quality of life rather than just treating disease. Let us not be content with failed policies of previous administrations.
