Michele Bachmann's platform (should she choose to run)

c-span ^ | April 29, 2011

[ejdrapes]

Michele Bachmann spoke at the Americans for Prosperity Forum in New Hampshire (along with Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum). From her speech you get a good idea of what Bachmann's campaign would be should she choose to run.

• 25% cut in federal discretionary spending

• Cancel outstanding stiumulus; return repaid TARP funds to US Treasury

• Reinstate 1994 welfare reform act with 5 year lifetime cap

• A balanced budget with no tax increases and no spending increases outside of population growth + inflation

• Federal government would send letter to every state announcing it will not bail out any underfunded public employee union pension or healthcare plan

• Would do the same for private business (union and non-union); no more federal bailouts

• No more federal ownership of private business - put Fannie and Freddie on the auction block; end future federally backed mortgage securities

• Sell government share in AIG, Chrysler, GM, Bank of America and Citibank

• Legalize private student lending, end federal government involvement in student loan business

• Repeal Obamacare; allow Americans to purchase any healthcare policy they want from any state with no minimum mandates using tax free dollars and fully deductable on tax returns; tort reform

• Downsize EPA; no cap & trade; legalize all American energy production, all without federal subsidy

• Cut business tax rate to 9%

• No capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no alternative minimum tax

• No marginal income tax rate would be higher than 20%

• Implement a national consumption or flat tax

• Pass a “mother of all repeal bills” to repeal the last 4 years of Obama/Pelosi/Reid

[ejdrapes]

For as much as Bachmann is painted as a radical or extreme she comes across to me as about as policy wonkish as anyone in the GOP. What other candidate or possible candidate is talking with this much specificity? This is what we need. I'd love Bachmann to get in. Even if she doesn't have a chinaman's chance in hell if this is where she forces the debate to go, if these are the issues she forces all GOP candidates to talk about and take positions on that is a good thing. And who knows what might happen. If a nobody like Obama can make it to the white house anyone can.

[ilgipper]

Extreme = anyone who does not adopt a far left position.

We need extreme.

[jla]

Works for me. Now if only Mrs Bachmann would officially get it the hunt.

[impimp]

That platform is great.

[upchuck]

That list paints with a very broad brush. But, like you said, it’s the most complete platform put forward so far. May this serve as a kick in the ass to the other candidates!

Michele BUMP. Plain talk. Straight talk.

[DaveyB]

This is a good start, but only a start. There must also be cuts in non-discretionary spending, protection of the border etc. If she runs, she has my support.

[Grunthor]

I ADORE this woman.

Bachmann/Cain 2012!

[RockyMtnMan]

Sign me up!!

[screaminsunshine]

This list will not comply with the GOP rules of engagement.

[CheezyD]

Bachmann has my vote!

[rob777]

What other candidate or possible candidate is talking with this much specificity?


None that I have see so far. Most of the other candidates are dealing in sound bites and platitudes.

[VRW Conspirator]

She needs to say something about borders and illegal immigration. Probably already has.

[ejdrapes]

I hope she does. I haven't heard her speak about it that much. I wish she'd get asked about it because I'd love to know her views.

[ejdrapes]

In this forum in NH Bachamm also said we need to deal with balancing our budget THIS year. That's quite bold. I'm not even sure if the RSC put out a balanced budget. But I'd still rather have someone be bold and not get everything they want than be timid and have the same result (and yes I'm referring to John Boehner here).

[Texas Eagle]

*Drill, baby, drill.

[Errant]

25% cut in federal discretionary spending (or 38 Billion).

[VRW Conspirator]

I hope she does. I haven't heard her speak about it[borders/immigration] that much.

It is a wedge issue. Whe approximately 75% of America wants illegal immigration stopped and the borders secured, a candidate MUST comedown on the issue. It is a win-win for someone like Bachman and lose-lose for the Dems.

[Cicero]

She already has a job to do in congress. Couldn’t she possibly spend a little time on that? She certainly hasn’t done very much to get Boehner in line or to fight the constant cave-ins taking place in congress—again.

That’s what she was elected for, and instead she’s running around smiling at the cameras and completely neglecting her job.

Her campaign has been bugging me with phone calls the past couple of days, because I donated last year to support her for congress. I just told them I don’t take phone solicitations, and I’m wondering if I made a mistake donating to her congressional campaign.

[FlyingEagle]

This is awesome. Looks like a Maggie Thatcher platform. Its what the economy needs.