What TPA Wants to Hear in Tonight's First Trump-Clinton Debate

With just more than six weeks until the 2016 Presidential election, tonight will mark the first of three debates between Republican candidate Donald Trump and the Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton. The event is expected to shatter ratings records because the race is tightening up and voters want to see the first one on one debate between the two candidates.  There has been way too much rhetoric and not enough substance so far in the campaign.   Voters want to hear about the issues, not personal attacks.  The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has a long list of issues to address, but there are four areas in particular that taxpayers want to hear about from the candidates: Tax Reform, Defense Spending, Agency/Regulatory Reform; and how the candidates intend to work with Congress. 


Tax Reform

The 30^th anniversary of the last time comprehensive tax reform was passed is less than a month away so the timing to talk about tax reform couldn’t be better.  Passing comprehensive tax reform is the key to helping the economy get back on track, helping small businesses grow, and helping working families all across the country. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) released A Better Way Forward on Tax Reform this past summer.  Brady’s plan is a comprehensive plan that addresses individual and corporate tax reform.   TPA featured Chairman Brady at our bi-partisan panel on tax reform in July (watch the event here).

Donald Trump released his revised tax reform plan a few weeks ago, but Secretary Clinton has been vague on how or even if she would push for comprehensive tax reform.   Donald Trump’s plan proposes to cut both individual and corporate tax rates significantly, and eliminate the death tax. The plan would reduce the corporate rate to 15 percent. Those components are a good start but the plan isn’t perfect, as some of the business-side aspects of his plan including “deemed repatriation” and shifting the tax treatment of “carried interest” as ordinary income may be more about revenue generation for government than tax reform.

Even though Hillary Clinton hasn’t released many details about her tax plans, she did just announce that she wants to increase the Estate Tax (aka the Death Tax) to 65 percent.

TPA interviewed people from across the country this past April right before Tax Day to find out what they want in tax reform (watch video here).  It was clear that people from all political persuasions and all walks of life want comprehensive tax reform.  It is time for the candidates to listen t the people.


Defense Spending

The issue of national security has been at the forefront of the 2016 Presidential campaign since the primary debates. However, while the candidates talk at great length about their plans to take on the threats the country faces both at home and abroad, they leave out the important discussion of how they are going to pay for their plans.

Aside from their own plans on securing the nation, there are a number of key issues regarding defense spending that have yet to be discussed by either candidate.  The first step is to support for an audit of the Pentagon.  Despite it being mandated by law since 1995, the Pentagon has never submitted to a complete financial audit. The Defense Department cannot provide a full accounting of how it’s spending the taxpayer dollars it currently receives.

They candidates should also be asked about the F-35 as it continues to fail and waste taxpayer money. The candidates must also detail their plan do stop billions of dollars in earmarks from being snuck into Defense appropriations.

Efficiency at the Pentagon is critical to keeping our nation safe, but that can’t be done if resources and money are being wasted.  It is entirely appropriate (and necessary) to have a discussion on how the candidates can reform the agency where security takes priority over the next government contract.


Agency/Regulatory Reform

Reforming the way our agencies operate is an issue of great importance that doesn’t get enough attention. There are executive actions and agency rules that are impacting the lives of all Americans.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to assert more power (even after being rebuked by the courts) on net neutrality, expansion of government broadband, and privacy.  Click here to read more about the FCC.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a disaster with zero accountability and totally lacking in leadership.  From targeting conservative groups to exposing sensitive taxpayer information to hackers, the IRS is in desperate need of reform.  Click here to read more about the IRS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been responsible for some of the most crippling regulations to our economy, and they have also been derelict at their own mission to protect the environment. Click here to read more about the EPA.

TPA wants to hear from both candidates how they would fix our agencies and how they would reduce the rules and regulations being promulgated at a rate that is costing the economy more than a trillion dollars in economic activity each year. 


Working with Congress

The House and Senate promised that regular order would return to Congress and that the new majority would be able to make sure the era of short-term continuing resolutions and massive omnibus spending bills was over.  That didn’t happen.  Congress has once again run out of time to pass appropriations bills.  That means another short-term spending bill is being rushed to avoid a government shutdown.

Trump and Clinton must provide people with a clear vision about how they will end these end-of-year budget showdowns.

Tonight’s debate won’t give answers to all the questions that voters have, but there should be more known about the candidates’ plans on spending, taxes, and other important issues when the debate concludes.

Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton have been avoiding substance for much of campaign, both in the primary and in the general. The time for empty rhetoric is over. It is time for taxpayers to get some definitive policy ideas and the details of how they will be accomplished.