On the Issues
Why I am Running 
I have five primary reasons for running for office. Their names are Garrett, Adrian, Alli, Will, and Sieger. These are the names of my five children. I’m not satisfied with the world they’re inheriting, and I am adamant about cleaning up the mess that has been created. I watched most of the last financial crisis, not as a legislator, but as a businessman, and I was not satisfied with the manner in which we dealt with the situation. I couldn’t look at my children and say, “Daddy decided to sit this one out. Daddy decided that he had already served his time.” We are at a crossroads in this country, and I have a unique set of experiences that will enable to lead and participate in the movement that will maintain our country’s unparalleled history of success.
On Job Creation
It is not the government’s responsibility to create jobs. It is, however, the government’s responsibility to create a suitable atmosphere for the private sector to succeed. In today’s America, this means that the federal government needs to loosen the shackles it has placed on businesses by lowering taxes and eliminating the regulatory barriers that are an obstacle to entrepreneurs everywhere.
As a long-time private business owner, I understand exactly what American industries need in this difficult economic time: less interference and lower taxes. Over regulation has forced the private sector to have to divert resources toward dealing with excessive legislation instead of creating wealth. At the same time, excessive taxes have stripped down the resources businesses need to pay their employees. This two edged sword cuts at the heart of American prosperity.
On the Current Federal Debt Levels and a Balanced Budget Amendment
Our nation is around $14 trillion dollars in debt. Not only is this kind of debt incomprehensible, it’s unsustainable. I plan on tackling this issue by supporting the amendment of a national Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. The Balanced Budget Amendment would forbid the federal government from spending outside its means. No more credits cards for Uncle Sam. The state of Michigan already has a Balanced Budget found in Article V Section 18 of our Constitution. We need to do the same in DC, and make sure we stick by it. During my time in Lansing I voted against spending increases and tax hikes over 700 times. I will do the same in DC. The solution to solve our debt crisis does not rest in higher taxes. The answer is simply to eliminate spending, and the Balanced Budget Amendment will help us do so. Of course, safeguards need to be established so that the federal government could spend during wars and cases of extreme national emergency. But, any excessive spending outside a national emergency would need to fall within the tax structure. Requiring a balanced budget is a major step toward renewed prosperity.
American debt is not just a domestic issue. It becomes an international issue when our nation’s creditors begin using the debt we owe them to influence how we act in the world. The United States government needs to be free to defend itself. Prudence dictates that we take advantage of relatively peaceful times to prepare for the future.
On the Sanctity of Life
Life begins at conception, and I believe that all life, no matter how small, ought to be protected by the laws of the United States, which guarantee life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all of its citizens. My family has been involved in this battle for years. I have been serving as my church’s representative to Michigan Right to Life for the past nine years, and my wife currently serves on the board of Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, which promotes life as it operates crisis centers in Allegan, Holland, Allendale, and Grand Haven. I will carry my passion for the unborn with me when I go to DC to proactively defend our youngest citizens.
Why We Need a Flat Tax Now
I am a strong advocate of a Flat Tax system. Today’s tax system is an accounting disaster that limits investment, taxes death, and hampers business. A flat tax would greatly simplify the tax system, improving the efficiency of American businesses. This is an especially timely issue that we cannot afford to postpone any longer. In 2011 tax rates are scheduled to skyrocket. Let me give you an idea of what is in store for us. Each income tax bracket is set to rise 3 to 5%, the marriage penalty will return, child credits will drop, the capital gains tax will jump, the dividends tax will nearly triple, the death tax will rob inheritors of 55% of all capital over one million dollars, bracket creep will force millions of Americans into paying the Alternative Minimum Tax, charitable contributions will be slashed, and given the demands of Obamacare this might only be the beginning.
I have faith in the American people to emerge from the recession; our work ethic and ever-present optimism are two of our greatest assets. But when the government overtaxes our capital, they also drain our spirit. I want to protect the American spirit from a leviathan government. The flat tax is one of the best means of doing so.
On the Recent Economic Bailout
I did not support the recent economic bailout and was disappointed when it passed. I was one of the frustrated citizens calling government offices and demanding an explanation. The national government is not a national bank. It is not designed to be one, and it does not function effectively as one. Furthermore, I credit much of the current economic problems to over-regulation. The bailout added new regulations, making it even more difficult for businesses to survive. And, we’re still not nearly out of the woods. When we are, it will not be because the federal government rescued us from our woes. It will be because when the going got tough Americans kept striving to get out of the red themselves!
Often people justify the bailout by saying that it is no different than a home mortgage. I am a former realtor, and I know that there is an fundamental difference between the economic bailout and a home mortgage. A mortgage is an investment in an asset, and if it is done properly, the investment will mature, leading to a profit. However, the current economic bailout is not an investment in an asset. The types of loans used by the federal government are not going to develop into long-term economic success. They actually do just the opposite, and they put future generations of Americans in jeopardy. We need to encourage a culture of moderation to pay off our debt.
On “Cap and Trade”
“Cap and Trade” means putting a cap on American success and trading away our prosperity. I do not believe that further congressional action is needed to address climate change, especially via the job killing “Cap and Trade” legislation. Today’s global warming doomsayers simply lack the scientific evidence to support their claims. A host of leaders in the scientific community have recognized that the argument for drastic anthropogenic global warming is no longer based on science, but is being driven by irrational fanaticism. Clearheadedness and a moderate temperament are the best antidotes to this kind of rhetoric. As a good steward of our environment, and for national security reasons, I do support the development of alternative, cleaner sources of energy like nuclear, batteries, and solar. However, the market, not the government, needs to drive that transition. Our President admitted in 2008 that his proposal to cap greenhouse gases would necessarily cause energy prices to skyrocket. A recent study from the Heritage Foundation confirmed the President’s prediction. The Waxman-Markey Emissions Bill would cost the average American household $3,000 per year. This legislation is not needed, and the American people cannot afford it.
On Immigration
The first act Congress must take is to seal our border. Until this legislation is passed and implemented, no comprehensive immigration legislation should be considered. According to polls, 3/4ths of Americans agree that we have not done enough to secure our borders. A secure border is a matter of both national security and the rule of law. After we secure the border, I support the creation of a realistic and practical guest worker program. This guest worker program will not be a path to citizenship; it will only allow a for temporary work permits that will not simply turn into green cards later in the future. I recognize that foreign workers play a role in Michigan’s economy, particularly in the agricultural community, and we need to provide a method of enforcing the law and documenting the movement of temporary workers over the border.
Repealing Obamacare
I strongly favor repealing the massive healthcare reform legislation because it gives government too much power to dictate every aspect of our lives. Washington is not even capable of providing long term universal healthcare. Obamacare did expand coverage, but it did nothing to control costs. We need to introduce market based solutions to controlling health care costs like allowing health insurance to be purchased over state lines, enacting tort reform to limit doctor’s liability, encouraging the use of health savings accounts, and allowing small businesses together to purchase insurance, and cutting excessive taxes and regulations imposed on the pharmaceutical industry. Lastly, individuals should be able to deduct the cost of purchasing health insurance from their taxes, making it more affordable. I believe in allowing individuals and their doctors to make decisions about their healthcare. Progressives have dreamed of universal health care since FDR proclaimed a New Bill of Rights over fifty years ago. I believe in the old Bill of Rights, the one that the American people gave their assent to through the constitutional process.
On Reforming Social Security
Social Security is not sustainable without significant reform. Future benefits cannot be paid under current taxation levels. And, raising taxes to pay for an unsustainable system will only make the problem worse. Continuing to subsidize the system is like having candy for breakfast. It may provide you with a jolt of energy for the morning, but you will crash by lunch and have nothing left by dinner. There are are a limited number of options for addressing this actuarial time bomb. We can increase the retirement age, raise tax rates, or increase the cap on on earnings subject to taxes. The sooner adjustments are made the smaller the adjustments need to be. Keep in mind that younger workers already don’t believe social security will provide for them. The government has to honor its promises to protect retirees and those nearing retirement. But a long term fix should include the option of a personal retirement account that younger workers can count on as their own individual asset. I will vote to ensure that Congress quickly reforms the program, making it workable for all generation.
On Protecting our 2nd Amendment Rights
I am proud to be an American citizen that “clings to guns and religion.” I am a longtime gun-owner because I recognize that the Second Amendment was written to insure that America would have not only an informed citizenry, but an armed citizenry. Our liberties fundamentally depend on the willingness of individuals to stand for their God given rights. We cannot lose the noble heritage of individual rights and corresponding responsibilities that are ancestors passed down to us. That is why I am an active member of various hunting clubs and have been trained in using firearms safely. I would take these principles with me to Congress. One piece of gun rights legislation that I would support as a congressman is a national ”Right-to-Carry” law. This law is already on the books in 40 states. While I applaud the efforts of these states, their legislation is confusing for travelers, who have to check the books every time they pass an interstate line. We have a moral duty to preserve our 2nd Amendment for future generations.
Education and a Parental Rights Amendment
My wife Natalie and I fully support the wide range of educational options that are coming under attack in this country. We homeschooled our children for a number of years before eventually enrolling them at Zeeland Christian, where I am a Director of Advancement and Promotion. Before I became involved in Zeeland Christian, I served on the board of a charter school, as well as that of a public school. Homeschool, charter, private, and public should all be options that are on the table. That is why I am proponent of a Parental Rights Amendment to our Constitution, which would ensure that parents’ freedom to educate their own children will not be threatened by the state. Our nation’s educators, K-12, wield tremendous power in their ability to shape the minds of our children and our nation’s culture in general. If for any reason, a parent decides that the neighborhood schools are not doing enough to educate their children intellectually, morally, or spiritually, they have the right to find alternate avenues. Lastly, I do not believe that the federal Department of Education should play a major role in education. Programs like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top constitute an unwarranted and unhelpful intrusion into matters that the people of Michigan or Ohio can decide on their own. Only by returning the federal government to its Constitutional role and expanding educational opportunities will we get our nation’s education system back on track.
On West Michigan Windmills
Windmills are generally not very effective and have numerous disadvantages. They still account for a minuscule fraction of the nation’s energy supply despite major subsidies. In August of this year the Oceana County Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 against the erection of windmills around their section of West Michigan’s beautiful coastline. While there may be special instances in which they are useful, they are not deserving of taxpayer dollars. While I support research of promising alternative energy sources, it is clear that coal, electricity, natural gas, oil and nuclear power will continue to be the driving force behind Michigan’s economy for the foreseeable future.
On Invasive Species and the Asian Carp
I am a long time duck hunter, and I recognize the importance of protecting our natural resources. To offer this protection, the Great Lakes ecosystem must be protected from all invasive species. This means that steps need to be taken to prohibit the infiltration of new species, while also working to limit the negative effects of those already in our lakes.
The Asian Carp are making their way into the Great Lakes predominantly through man-made canals, one in particular. I believe that ecological separation is the only way to deal with the Asian Carp problem. I believe that the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal must be closed and alternative-shipping methods must be pursued in order to make the separation the most effective. The canal is an important resource for numerous companies. However, the fishing and tourism industry, both of which will suffer immense losses if the Asian Carp become a thriving member of the Great Lakes ecosystem, are the backbone of hundreds of cities in all of the Great Lake states and Canada. Some of these cities’ economies are entirely dependent upon these two industries, and if they were eliminated, these already struggling tourism centers would have to overcome another daunting hurdle in an already stiff economy.
For Further Questions
Bill enjoys answering questions on where he stands on all issues. If you have a question on where Bill stands on something, please feel free to email him at bill@huizengaforcongress.com.
