Waters: ‘Eliminate the personal federal income tax altogether’

Matt J. Waters, Libertarian for Senate, joined the race against incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Corey Stewart because of his concern over federal spending. He faces an uphill battle against the two other candidates who have been entrenched in the national political scene and spotlight via their respective parties.

We sent survey questions to Waters and all local candidates running in the upcoming election. Below are Waters’ responses.

PL: What role can you play in helping to improve traffic conditions in Northern Virginia? What can Congress do when it comes to improving traffic or public transportation in the region?

Waters: This is an issue for the department of transportation and states to decide and a matter of priorities. 66, 64, 95, 81 are in awful shape. I’d explore a public-private partnership, and a possible look at privatizing roads (see Texas). As usual, the government is not getting the job done. This would mean eliminating reducing Dept of Transportation.

PL: How would you characterize President Trump’s first year and a half in office, in terms of his administration’s impact locally, nationally and internationally?

Waters: Rocky. I agree with instincts to reduce eliminate regulations and taxes, and efforts to meet with anyone overseas – NK and Russia, etc. We’ll see if anything positive comes of it. I agree with his instincts to pull troops from overseas.  Tariff policy I disagree with and don’t favor increasing tariffs. The trade deal he struck eliminates NAFTA, but replaces it with much of the same. His tone is awful.

PL: What’s your view on the recently enacted tax reform bill — and on the potential for a second round of tax cuts?

Waters: Fifty percent of the people don’t pay taxes, I’d attempt to make it fair so the other 50% don’t have to pay taxes – so eliminate the personal federal income tax altogether, and the 16th amendment; giving every taxpayer a $12,000+ pay raise. This would return the US to pre-1913 and force major cuts in spending, and a limited government.

PL: Where do you stand on immigration reform? What should happen with DACA and TPS recipients, particularly those in the Northern Virginia area? Do you support using taxpayer funding for a border wall?

Waters: I do not support the Wall – as 70% of illegals come to the U.S. via [jets]. They overstay visas. I’d keep DACA, and I’d move to expand immigration to the US via major reforms in Citizenship and Immigration (CIS), Immigration and Customs (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as changes in law.

Here’s the deal: the U.S. needs more workers, and we need a streamlined process to integrate folks to citizens. The process is a joke right now–which is why we have the issues we do.  It’s like we have two DMVs and the Post Office running Immigration. It’s called inefficient, ineffective, and unresponsive: the U.S. Government.

PL: What’s your view on salaries and retirement benefits for federal workers, particularly those in this area?

Waters: Retirement benefits nearly bankrupted Ford and GM, and they are responsible for the Post Office and Metro DC not turning a profit. I’d recommend pushing retirement benefits to the private market and make fewer promises to future employees.  Basically, the government overpromises and under delivers. We have got to trust the market more and the government less. We have to take ownership and responsibility for our retirement. I’d be a strong advocate to move them out of gov’t control, let the market manage, and secure critical services like Post Office, metro, and defense.  My dad was a state teacher here in VA and totally got screwed by the state because they didn’t have any pension for him, so they offered buy-outs for pennies on the dollar, or he could have stayed in the system and risked having zero. He retired because he knew the money would not be there that the state promised.

PL: What’s your position on how to improve the nation’s health care system and the status of the Affordable Care Act?

Waters: Get the government out. You don’t want the DMV running healthcare. I’d advocate health sharing which is what my family does, and we paid $20,000 in health insurance last year, under $4,000 this year. Put the consumer in the driver’s seat. I’d advocate allowing small businesses to pay health care premiums with pre-tax dollars (see the Harvard study in WSJ last month) and Health Savings Accounts.

These are very brief answers to complex challenges – thanks for the opportunity.