By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Monday, April 21st, Dr. Chad Mathis unveiled his newest reform plan. This time it was his comprehensive “Agenda for Fiscal Responsibility and Tax Reform.” Dr. Mathis says that this proposal lays the groundwork for a fiscally leaner, more accountable Congress, and puts in place a two-step process by which we can simplify the tax code and abolish the Internal Revenue Service.
Dr. Mathis has already unveiled his “Twelve-Point Plan to Repeal and Replace Obamacare.”
Dr. Mathis wrote, “The United States tax code is out of control. Liberals in our government have enabled tax policies that are crippling the freest country in the world. Once elected, my focus will be on enacting legislation that will change the current tax code and eventually eliminate it. In order for this country to drastically change its ways, I believe members of Congress must set the example. Therefore, I will never vote for a taxpayer funded pay increase. I believe Congressional salaries should be tied to spending. For example, if federal spending is 5% over-budget in any given fiscal year, then congressmen/women salaries will decrease by that same percentage the subsequent year. (HR 284).”
Dr. Mathis continued, “Also, I will support ending lifetime pensions for members of Congress. In fact, I will introduce legislation that rids Congressmen/women of all retirement benefits. This will ultimately deter individuals from making a career of public office.”
Dr. Mathis said, “There are two steps to my tax reform agenda: flatten the code and repeal it.
Step one: I will partner with United States Senator Mike Lee with his Family Fairness and Opportunity Tax Reform bill. I will introduce my version in the House of Representatives so that we have comprehensive tax reform.”
Dr. Mathis said that once we have elected a new Republican President 2016 to replace President Barack H. Obama (D) Dr. Mathis will lead the fight to end the current tax code, eliminate the IRS, and introduce a flattened tax structure. Mathis would begin by reducing the number of individual income tax brackets to just two: 15% tax rate on income up to $87,850 or $175,700 for married couples filing a joint return and surviving spouses and a 35% rate for all income that level. (SB 1616).
Mathis said that he will support a one time 5% tax reduction for newlyweds and a 2% income tax reduction for student-workers. Mathis supports making mortgage interest, and charitable donations deductible from gross income. (SB 1616), making student loan interest deductible from gross income, and increasing the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,500. (SB 1616).
Dr. Mathis said that he also supports tax credits for start up expenses for small business creation. Mathis said, “Start ups are risky and we need a jump start to the economy.”
Mathis also supports a first time home-buyer tax credit of $5,000, repealing the Alternative Minimum tax. (SB 1616), and eliminating the unpopular Capital Gains tax. (SB 1616).
Dr. Mathis said, “Our tax code is now over 75,000 pages in its complexity, and will require a full repeal in order to put in place a system that makes filing one’s taxes as simple as filling out a post card. Not only will it make compliance simpler, but will rid the system of deliberate and inadvertent tax evasion.”
Dr. Mathis said, “My agenda will be to remove the IRS from the tax code and support a repeal of the income tax, the 16th Amendment to our Constitution (HJ Res 104), in order to provide a clean slate from which we can create a simpler, flatter tax code.” “Furthermore, I will call for a flat tax around 15% on all incomes, which would put money back in the hands of hardworking Americans and get government out of the business of picking winners and losers through manipulation of the tax code.”
Dr. Mathis said. “My substantive solutions to the problems facing Alabamians are refreshing compared to the tiresome, drone-like talking points consistent with the career politician and political insiders I’m up against.”
On Tuesday, April 22 Dr. Mathis’s campaign released an internal poll indicating that the six major candidates were all knotted up at 16% support or less with 44% of likely voters still undecided.
Mathis and State Representative Paul DeMarco (R) from Homewood are statistically tied at 16% and 15% respectively followed by Will Brooke 10%, Senator Scott Beason 9%, Gary Palmer 4%, and Tom Vigneulle 2%. Attorney Rob Shattuck was not included in that poll. Political insiders questioned the scientific methodology behind the poll which surveyed 445 voters (58% from Jefferson County and 56% female) and had a margin of error of 4.6%.
Dr. Mathis said, “While plenty of the political elite will likely do a double take at these results, it comes as no surprise to me and my supporters why my message of bold, new conservative leadership is resonating with voters.”
Dr. Mathis is running in a crowded District Six field that includes: state Representative Paul DeMarco (R) from Homewood, prominent Harbert executive Will Brooke, state Senator Scott Beason (R) from Gardendale, Pelham mattress manufacturer Tom Vigneulle, retired attorney Robert Shattuck, and longtime API President Gary Palmer.
Dr. Chad Mathis is an Indian Springs orthopedist.
Longtime Sixth Congressional District incumbent Spencer Bachus (R) from Vestavia is not seeking re-election. Bachus has served the Sixth District for 11 terms in the U.S. Congress.
The Republican Primary is June 3rd.
