Budget

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.

In order to balance the budget,

There is no need for the U.S. to spend more than the rest of the world combined on defense. Even 3.5% of GDP is more than adequate. Health care costs - not just Medicare - are the primary cause of the deficit. That is why strengthening health care reform to control costs is vital. Taxes are at their lowest share of the economy in over 60 years. We can raise them some for those who can afford it.

Spending

Indicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Taxes

Indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Additional revenues and the elimination of wasteful tax breaks are part of any solution to balancing the budget. Increased excise taxes on fuel are necessary for infrastructure improvements. Corporate taxes can be reduced, while eliminating numerous tax breaks to simplify business taxes. Capital gains tax rates mainly benefit the wealthy who earn more of their income from investments rather than wages. Payroll taxes are necessary to preserve Medicare and Social Security.

With the exceptions on abortion noted above, I support the views of the Catholic Church on abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment.

Tax incentives to businesses distort the market, especially since Congress grants these based on political lobbying as opposed to sound economic principles. Spending on airports, bridges, highways, and rail (infrastructure) are necessary for the proper maintenance of interstate commerce and to keep our economy growing. Without this, the economy will suffer. The Bush tax cuts were a bad idea to begin with, and should have been allowed to expire.

Improving America's educational standards is vital to maintaining our standard of living in a competitive global economy.

Yes, human activity contributes to climate change. But carbon dioxide is not a pollutant. Plants need CO2 for photosynthesis. We cannot reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. We can only adapt to changes in climate. The world is facing an energy crisis as emerging economies continue to develop. All sources of energy must be part of a balanced mix.

Although we cannot stay in Afghanistan forever, the U.S. needs to consolidate its gains to make sure they are preserved, before withdrawing.

One only need to look at the Arab Spring to realize that governments which restrict access to firearms abuse their military and police powers when dealing with their own citizens.

Health care reform needs to be strengthened further to control costs. This is the only real way to bring the federal deficit under control.

I support a guest visa program for agricultural workers, since it is primarily illegal immigrants who harvest our nation's produce in extreme weather conditions that discourage American workers from performing those same jobs.

Education funding needs to be better spent, with more of the same money going to merit-based teacher salaries to encourage the best and brightest to enter the profession. This is vital for America's global competitiveness. Infrastructure spending needs to be increased by raising the gasoline tax to compensate for improvements in vehicle mileage. Without good infrastructure, the nation's economy suffers. Beyond that, health care costs need to brought under control, along with reduced defense spending, to bring the federal budget into balance.