Sick of the tea party being portrayed as nothing more than a collection of obstructionists, a national branch of the grassroots movement has teamed up with dozens of conservative lawmakers on a book that offers solutions to the nation’s biggest challenges.
Tea Party Express plans to roll out the “Tea Party Solutions For America” book (www.TeaPartySolutionsForAmerica.com) on Wednesday that includes a foreword by Steve Forbes, as well as contributions from more than 30 members of Congress — including a couple of the GOP’s 2016 presidential candidates, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, who rode into office as part of the tea party wave of 2010. Hard copies will be made available as well.
Taylor Budowich, executive director of Tea Party Express, said the group’s goal has always been to enact polices that reduce the size and scope of the federal government.
“Ultimately, the Tea Party’s contribution and success should be measured by the ideas to reform government that are introduced, debated and enacted into law,” Mr. Budowich said in a press release that will go out Wednesday. “The first step was Congressional control, and the final step will be winning the White House in 2016.”
“Now, however, is the time to bring forward the new ideas that will transform our government to be more responsive to the American people and provide for less government and more dynamic economic growth,” he said.
In the book, Rep. Steve King of Iowa calls for abolishing the IRS, and enacting a “Fairtax” on retail sales, and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner calls for more oversight of the NSA.
Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama offers his ideas on immigration enforcement and Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio makes the case for balancing the federal budget.
Mr. Rubio, meanwhile, recommends repealing and replacing Obamacare, investing more in the military and modernizing the education system.
The freshman lawmaker advocates for expanding school choice, increasing the child tax credit and removing the “marriage penalty.”
“This new era requires new ideas that are still rooted in the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and individual responsibility, but adjusted to meet the new challenges of a new day,” Mr. Rubio writes.
Mr. Paul reiterates his push for “Economic Freedom Zones,” arguing that the idea would help revive economically depressed areas like Detroit. Under the plan, the income tax burden on individual and corporations would be reduced to 5 percent in a specified area. It also calls for the tax on capital gains to be frozen, lower payroll taxes and the creation of “entrepreneurial visas” for immigrants.
“These Economic Freedom Zones allow blighted and bankrupt areas to remove the shackles of government by reducing taxes, regulations and burdensome union work requirements,” Mr. Paul writes. “These zones will give parents and students the flexibility to find better schools, allow talented immigrants to pursue entrepreneurial and job-creating endeavors, and provide additional incentives for philanthropy to help those in need.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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