Posted on 03/23/2004 8:59:39 AM PST by ancient_geezer
Glenn cites national experience in bid for House seat
CONYERS — Describing himself as a “mainstream Republican,” Columbus native Dylan Glenn said he is able to stand out from his opponents in the Republican Primary for the 8th Congressional District [Georgia] by running on his experience at the federal level.
Active in national politics since serving as a college student intern with the 1988 Bush campaign, Dylan worked from 2000-2001 as a special assistant to President George Bush serving as a member of the White House National Economic Council. He was also named as deputy chief of staff in 2003 to Gov. Sonny Perdue, handing all external affairs during last year’s General Assembly.
Glenn, 34, is running to replace current U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, who is leaving his House seat to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Zell Miller. His opponents in the July 20 Republican Primary are State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Sharpsburg and State Sen. Mike Crotts of Conyers.
In a recent interview, Glenn admitted he shares a lot of the same positions with his opponents on social and fiscal issues. Where they differ is experience in Washington, D.C., he said.
“We all vote the same, probably, but there’s one person in this race that has a personal relationship with the president of the United States, a personal relationship with every chairman of every committee in the United States Congress and can be effective from day one,” Glenn said. “As our friends in the state House have worked on state House issues, I bring a federal perspective having worked on federal issues, particularly the president’s first two major tax cuts.”
Concerning taxes, Glenn said that as a freshman in Congress he would be in favor of simplifying the tax code and would push for a national sales tax (or fair tax as some call it), adding he would like to see more discussion on the issue.
“That would enable all Americans to know what they are paying, to understand why they are paying it and would have the added benefit of capturing everybody — people in the country illegally and those people participating in an illegal economy. They pay sales taxes as well as the law abiding citizens.”
Glenn called Social Security an issue very close to him. He explained that being 34 years old, he is concerned whether Social Security will survive by the time he retires.
“This is an issue that will impact my generation. I think you can protect and preserve Social Security, but also make it new for the new challenges that it faces,” Glenn said.
Glenn likes the idea of personal savings accounts by allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security in the private economy.
“I like the idea of having people invest what they already pay in payroll taxes and have the benefit of compound interest and gain a real return to alleviate some of the pressure on the system,” he said. “Right now, we have a $2.5 trillion unfunded pension liability out there, in terms of Social Security, that if we don’t address, it will be a burden that our children and our children’s children carry.”
On illegal immigration, Glenn said he favors more involvement with local law enforcement authorities, noting that federal agencies have become bogged down in handling the matter.
“The key word is illegal, so part of what I think we need to do is empower local communities to be able to prosecute and deal with these people,” he said. “Right now, that’s left to the INS and feds. I understand the concern about unfunded mandates as this a federal issue, but at the same time, local law enforcement generally know who’s in their community illegally, and right now they have to report that to the INS and wait.”
The 8th Congressional District includes precincts in south Rockdale and Newton counties.
Concerning taxes, Glenn said that as a freshman in Congress he would be in favor of simplifying the tax code and would push for a national sales tax (or fair tax as some call it), adding he would like to see more discussion on the issue.
“That would enable all Americans to know what they are paying, to understand why they are paying it and would have the added benefit of capturing everybody — people in the country illegally and those people participating in an illegal economy. They pay sales taxes as well as the law abiding citizens.”
If you would like to be added to this ping list let me know.
John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a pure consumption tax:
H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
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