Governor Johnson has stated that the U.S. tax system imposes an enormous toll on productivity through high marginal rates, absurd complexity, loopholes for the well connected, and incentives for wasteful decisions. Governor Johnson also supports the Fair Tax. His plan for the 2012 includes
Eliminate punitive taxation of savings and investment
Simplify the tax code; stop using it to reward special interests and control behavior
Adopt a flat tax on income or consumption
End the corporate tax rate
South Carolina Debate
In May of 2011, Governor Johnson participated in the Republican primary debate in South Carolina. He discusses his tax plan and specifically the ending of the corporate tax.
Our America Initiative
Governor Johnson started the Our America Initiative in early 2011. On that website he talks about the need to lower taxes and reform the system.
Economy
GARY JOHNSON’S THREE POINT PLAN FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Free markets and limited government are the foundation of prosperity. Economic policy should foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and individual choice, not direct economic activity to satisfy political interests in Washington. Americans should be free to make their own economic decisions because individuals, not government, know what is best for themselves and their families. This freedom unleashes the creativity and enterprising spirit that fuels economic opportunity and an equal playing field for all Americans.
To achieve these goals, the U.S. must adopt three approaches:
SLASH EXPENDITURE: Excess spending is rampant in the U.S. budget, producing an unsustainable path for federal debt. The U.S. must restrain spending across the board:rn
Scale back entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which threaten to bankrupt the nation’s future.
Eliminate the costly and ineffective military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan; target defense spending to actions that truly protect the United States.
Stop spending on the fiscal stimulus.
Reduce subsidies for agriculture, transportation, energy, housing, and all other special interests.
CUT TAXES: The U.S. tax system imposes an enormous toll on productivity through high marginal rates, absurd complexity, loopholes for the well connected, and incentives for wasteful decisions. The government must lower the tax burden to stimulate the economy. This means:rn
Eliminate punitive taxation of savings and investment.
Simplify the tax code; stop using it to reward special interests and control behavior.
Adopt a flat tax on income or consumption.
SHRINK FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE ECONOMY: Much federal intervention is a payout to special interests or counterproductive meddling that stifles competition, innovation, and growth. We should:rn
Reject auto and banking bailouts, state bailouts, corporate welfare, cap-and-trade, card check, and the mountain of regulation that protects special interest rather than benefiting consumers or the economy.
Restrict Federal Reserve policy to maintaining price stability, not bailing out financial firms or propping up the housing sector.
Eliminate government support of Fannie and Freddie.
Reduce or eliminate federal involvement in education; let states expand successful reforms such as vouchers and charter schools.
Legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana; emphasize harm reduction for other drugs.
Expand free trade and legal immigration.
Taxes
Taxes should not be raised. Just throwing more money at difficult problems does not solve anything. While he was Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson vetoed 750 bills to fulfill his promise to never raise taxes. He vetoed many of the bills because he believed they were fiscally irresponsible. Johnson was able to lower the cost of government in New Mexico without raising one tax. When discussing balancing the budget and lowering taxes …. actions do speak louder than words.
Twitter Statements
Governor Johnson has made a number of statements on his twitter cite noting his support for the Fair Tax.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! Fair tax -12 Sep
Everyone keeps what they make and we pay tax on what we consume--fair tax - 12 Sep
Fox News / Google Debate
On September 22, 2011 Governor Johnson participated in the Fox News / Google debate. He advocated several times for a fair tax consumption system.
2012 Presidential Campaign Website Statements
The Economy and Taxes
Americans are more concerned than ever before about the future of our economy, and those concerns are well-founded. As a nation, we simply can't afford to continue borrowing 43 cents out of every dollar we spend. Balancing the budget will mean making some serious changes in Washington, but these will be the corrections America needs to remain a free, prosperous, and secure nation.
The U.S. must adopt 3 approaches:
1 Cut Spending
THIS RECESSION HAS FORCED FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES across America to make hard choices and limit their expenditures. We must now expect our elected officials to make the tough calls that will keep our government on a sustainable path moving forward. We must restrain spending across the board:
Revise the terms of entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which threaten to bankrupt the nation's future.
Eliminate the costly and ineffective military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan; limit defense spending to actions that truly protect the United States.
Stop spending on the fiscal stimulus, transportation, energy, housing, and all other special interests. The U.S. must restrain spending across the board.
2 Cut Taxes
THE U.S. TAX SYSTEM IMPOSES AN ENORMOUS toll on productivity through high marginal rates, absurd complexity, loopholes for the well-connected, and incentives for wasteful decisions. The government must lower the tax burden to stimulate the economy.
Eliminate punitive taxation of savings and investment.
Simplify the tax code; stop using it to reward special interests and control behavior.
Eliminate the corporate income tax so that America will once again be a great place to start a business.
3 Reduce Federal Involvement in the Economy
MUCH FEDERAL INTERVENTION IS A PAYOUT TO special interests or counterproductive meddling that stifles competition, innovation, and growth.
We should:
Reject auto and banking bailouts, state bailouts, corporate welfare, cap-and-trade, card check, and the mountain of regulation that protects special interests rather than benefiting consumers or the economy.
Restrict Federal Reserve policy to maintaining price stability, not bailing out financial firms or propping up the housing sector.
Eliminate government support of Fannie and Freddie.
Reduce or eliminate federal involvement in education; let states expand successful reforms such as vouchers and charter schools.
Legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana, rather than wasting money on an expensive and futile prohibition.
Eliminate needless barriers to free trade and make it easier for would-be legal immigrants to apply for work visas.
