The following are my answers to the Campaign For Liberty 2012 Federal Candidate Survey. The Campaign For Liberty people are closely aligned with the Ron Paul Presidential campaign. I agree with a majority of what they support, but I have some certain differences with them, also.
1. Will you co-sponsor and call for roll call votes on Ron Paul's Audit the Fed bill, designed to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve (HR 459/S 202 in the 112th Congress)?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I believe the Federal Reserve has become reckless with Americas money supply. Their poor behavior and decision making can put our country at risk.
2. Will you support legislation removing capital gains tax and sales taxes on gold and silver coinage?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I do not see the need to tax gold and silver possession, as it is a form of currency.
3. Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the Federal Government to prohibit the sale, use, or possession of firearms?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I am an NRA member and strongly support our Second Amendment freedoms.
4. Will you support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes hard spending limits and allows for no increase in taxes or other Federal revenue enhancements.
Phil Jennerjahn: No. Although I generally believe in lower taxes and balanced budgets, there are exceptions to the rule. During the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War Two, the country went incredibly over budget. We may eventually face some type of similar situation in the future.
5. Will you support legislation that forbids U.S. troops from serving under United Nations command?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes, and I'll go a step further. I will try to get the U.S. out of the United Nations and try to get their headquarters moved to another country.
6. Do you support and will you vote to protect States asserting their rights under the Tenth Amendment?
Phil Jennerjahn: Absolutely! I am a Tenther. I believe that many things our Federal Government currently does are illegal and prohibited by the Tenth Amendment.
7. Will you oppose Big Labors Card Check bill and any other legislation designed to empower union bosses?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I disapprove of most of the strong armed tactics used by unions.
8. Do you support U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes! In fact, as an elected lawmaker, it would be in my Top 20 list of bills to write and get passed.
9. Will you support legislation to shut down the Transportation Security Administration and place airport security back into private hands?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. Absolutely. The TSA has 4,000 bureaucrats in D.C. making 100K/year. That is staggering waste. And it makes us no safer than if they didn't exist. We need to privatize airport security and make each airport individually responsible. And we need to switch to the Israeli method...stop looking for the bomb and start looking for the terrorist.
10. Will you oppose using U.S. forces to occupy a foreign nation without a declaration of war?
Phil Jennerjahn: No. This is where I differ with the Ron Paul campaign. We live in a fast paced world. The lightning-quick assault on Bin Ladens compound shows that military leaders sometimes need to make sudden, tactical decisions. Sure, it would be nice to formally declare war, but what if our troops are in harms way and Congress is on vacation?
11. Will you support legislation that will repeal Obamacare, including HR 1101, the End the Mandate Act?
Phil Jennerjahn: I haven't read HR 1101, so I don't know if I would agree with every detail, but yes...repealing Obamacare is a top priority with me. I would either write a bill myself or sign on to another legislators efforts. The mandate is unconstitutional and should be struck down by the Supreme Court, so there is a possibility that it will crumble under the weight of its own corruption.
12. Will you oppose so-called "Cap and Trade" legislation?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. "Cap and Trade" is utter nonsense from Greenie activists. It is also a scam designed to make Al Gore rich.
13. Will you vote to eliminate the IRS?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. Absolutely. Our current tax structure is a violation of the Equal Protection clause and eventually becomes a recipe for tyranny. We didn't even HAVE income tax for the first hundred years in America. It's creation has turned our own government into looters. I support some type of limited Flat or Fair tax.
14. Will you vote against any budget that increases our debt?
Phil Jennerjahn: No. Again, as in question #4, I don't respect these questions that require absolutes for complicated situations. I generally believe in lower taxes and balanced budgets, but there are exceptions to the rule. During the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War Two, the country went incredibly over budget. We may eventually face some type of similar situation in the future.
15. Will you oppose Federal power grabs like roving wiretaps and warrantless searches and oppose Patriot Act renewal that includes such items?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I agree with Ron Paul here that the Federal government, in its overexcited pursuit of the War on Terror, is inflicting great damage on our Constitutionally protected freedoms. They need to go to war with terrorists, not with their own citizens.
16. Will you oppose any legislation that requires States and citizens to participate in a National Identification Card program?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. This is a trespass against personal freedom.
17. Will you vote to oppose all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I have always felt that we could much better handle the illegal immigration situation if we just stopped handing out checks to people who do it.
18. Will you support legislation that will exempt tips from income or payroll taxes?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. I prefer a Flat or Fair Tax.
19. Will you oppose all tax increases?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. It is the only way to stop the runaway growth of government.
20. Indicate the tax cuts you are willing to vote for: 1) Across-the-board Income Tax Cut 2) Capital Gains Tax Cut 3) Business Tax Cut 4) Estate Tax Cut
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes to all four. I believe our country works best when people have more control over their own income. Income tax cut? Absolutely. Capital Gains should be lowered. Business taxes, too...as that will stimulate more growth. There should be no financial penalty for dying. Eliminate the Estate Tax.
