Issues

I am a moderate Republican who wants to end partisan bickering and work on creative, practical solutions to the problems that face our country. The following is a summary of my positions on various issues. I plan to release more detailed papers on these and other subjects as the campaign progresses. Anyone wishing to discuss these issues, or suggest new ones, should contact me at my campaign e-mail mike@livingstonforcongress.com

Taxes

I support a comprehensive reform of the Federal income tax so as to make tax rates on working men and women as low as they can be, and take the working poor off the tax rolls altogether. This can be accomplished by reducing or eliminating unnecessary tax breaks that distort the economy and provide benefits to clever rather than productive taxpayers. Until this reform can be enacted, I favor expansion of the earned income tax credit and extension of the charitable and mortgage interest deductions to individuals–primarily the less wealthy–who do not otherwise “itemize” their deductions.

Education

I favor extension of the No Child Left Behind law, but believe that it must be modified to reduce the volume of testing and minimize interference in local decisions. I believe that the Federal Government should encourage school choice by means of tax credits, vouchers, or similar assistance to those attending private or nontraditional schools. The Government should likewise encourage states to adopt fairer school funding mechanisms, and universities to keep their tuitions within the reach of poor and middle class families.

Crime

I support aggressive law enforcement including “stop and frisk” and similar policies by local police departments. Laws which unfairly discriminate on the basis of race, such as uneven penalties and enforcement of the drug laws, ought to be changed or eliminated. I support reasonable gun control legislation but respect the individual’s right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.

The Economy

The best remedy for poverty and unemployment is a strong, growing economy. The Federal Government can help by adopting sound tax, education, and similar policies and by providing assistance to those who are in economic need. I oppose one-time tax cuts, stimulus packages, and other “feel good” remedies which have relatively little impact and do not address our long-term national needs.

Health care

The United States has the world’s best health care system but up to a third of our people do not have adequate access to it. I favor extension of health insurance to children and the working poor by means of S-CHIP and similar programs at the State and local level, with Federal assistance in extreme cases. I am opposed to national health insurance which I believe would be inefficient in nature and not sensitive to local differences.

Energy and Environment

I support efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign energy by enforcing fuel efficiency standards and increasing production of new and traditional fuels. I take global warming and other environmental threats seriously, but believe that they must be fought by a combination of new technologies and conservation efforts, and that foreign countries (especially China) should be pressed harder to share in these efforts. I am opposed to ethanol and similar subsidies which have a marginal impact on energy and contribute to worldwide food shortages.

Housing

I favor efforts to change tax, bankruptcy, and other laws so that those who have difficulty paying their mortgages will have a fighting chance to do so. I oppose the creation of new Federal programs which are likely to prolong rather than end the crisis.

Immigration

I support the building of a border fence and aggressive enforcement of our existing immigration laws. However, I believe that people who have followed the law, paid taxes, and otherwise contributed to the community should have an opportunity to regularize their status rather than becoming a permanent underclass. I oppose efforts to blame immigrants, the poor, or similar groups for policy errors.

Abortion

Abortion should remain legal, but this does not mean that we should be indifferent to the choice between abortion and birth. The disproportionate number of abortions among poor and minority women is a special cause for concern. I am opposed to “partial birth” and other late term abortions and Government funding of abortions.

Foreign policy

I favor a negotiated settlement to the war in Iraq but oppose an immediate withdrawal, which would undermine national security and encourage further terrorist attacks. In a similar fashion I am open to negotiations with Iran but would take all necessary steps to ensure that it does not acquire nuclear weapons, including military force if necessary. I am a strong supporter of Israel, which I have visited ten times, and oppose efforts to force it into unreasonable or dangerous concessions. Generally speaking, I believe that the United States should shift its emphasis away from Europe and toward Asia and Africa, including improved economic relations and assistance to areas, like Congo and Darfur, that have serious human rights crises.

National security

I support a strong military capable of defending our interests and taking the fight to America’s enemies. I favor a vigorous program of homeland security consistent with constitutional requirements. I am opposed to “waterboarding” or other forms of torture which I believe have limited effectiveness and are contrary to American values.

Veterans

I support passage of a new GI Bill and more generous assistance to returning veterans, including assistance with their medical, psychological, and economic needs.

Availability and constituent service
My opponent has one of the poorest attendance records in Congress and a reputation for weak constituent service. I pledge to be a full-time congressman and to be available to all of my constituents on a day-to-day basis.