Libertarian – Governor

Phone: (602) 843-3827

Age: 57. (01/29/57, Garden City, MI).

Arizona since: 1980

Occupation: Author. Currently working on my second full-length novel. The first was, The PeaceMonger, published Jan. 2013 [www.ThePeaceMonger.com (available on Amazon)]. Currency/options trader since 2000; small business owner (water treatment) since 1986; small business owner, Manufacturing the Ten Commandments in (simulated) granite, sold 2010; small business owner, multi-level, telecom calling cards, DCI, sold out in 2004.

Marital: Married

Children: 1

Education: B.A. Fordham University, 1978. I left high school after 2 1/2 years, (for college), so no H.S. graduation.

Political experience: Appointed to the Arizona State H.A.V.A. (Help Americans Vote Act) Committee (central leader of the largest and most diverse coalitions in Arizona history); Libertarian precinct committeeman; vice chair, AZ Libertarian Party; gubernatorial nominee for AZ Libertarian Party, 2002, 2006, 2010; worked on campaign for Dr. Ron Paul, 2008 and 2012; freshman call president, Littleton High School, 1972; freshman class president, Plymouth State College, 1975.

Interests: Writing, wood working (building fine furniture), experimenting in physics, a variety of sports, skiing in particular, scuba diving, and one day, I’d like to take a re-fresher course and jump out of an airplane again.

GOV – Two biggest issues: The two biggest issues are taxes and unemployment/loss of manufacturing jobs. Both relate to our stagnant economy. I propose an end to ALL direct taxes on the earnings of private individuals (including the repudiation of federal impositions) and personal property taxes; that will immediately put 30% more spending power into the hands of the working public to stimulate the economy where it is most necessary – all without costing employers a dime. The state would primarily be funded by a no-exceptions 9.9% retail transaction tax, and a 4% (of gross receipts), corporate veil ‘fee’, along with several service revenue streams. Along with removing useless regulations that now hinder new businesses, we can provide a stable and inviting business environment. Both problems solved.

GOV – Budget priorities: Increasing revenues (raising taxes) is simply not possible, nor necessary. What is necessary is eliminating all departments, divisions and agencies where there is no authority for the state to be involved. Next would be to identify and sell off excess state land holdings to pay down the debt, as well as recovering ownership of our official state buildings. I intend to focus on education, since it consumes most of our budget (with virtually no return for the taxpayer). I believe that we can significantly reduce the extravagance of current costs, and at the same time, get better educational results by expanding our online offerings.

GOV – Fiscal philosophy: I subscribe to the fiscal philosophy of the Austrian School of Economics, so I realize that expenditures must always be subservient to income in hand, and not the reverse (Keynesian economics). Therefore, I will first look to fund those items that have the greatest impact on the people as a whole (infrastructure, fire control, peacekeeping, etc), and then to broader concerns (education, temporary housing for the needy, etc.). I will leave it to the Legislature to decide if there are other programs that deserve funding if there are funds left over. My goal is to set aside next year’s entire budget by the end of my third year in office.

GOV – Job creation: The single best way for Arizona to increase job creation is the immediate and complete elimination of the personal income and property taxes, because such an act will immediately infuse local economies with a flood of usable capital, stimulating the economy exactly where it is needed [and] necessitating business expansion and employment opportunities. At the same time, it will starve unnecessarily subsidized government activities and functionally eliminate most of the regulations that currently inhibit new business start-ups. Not the least important of side benefits of taking such a bold step in a way that people can see first-hand, will be to give reason for citizens to have confidence in their government.

GOV – Common Core : I believe we need to look beyond the mechanics of the system to the objective we hope to achieve. If economic efficiency is our objective, without regard to the benefits students get from their government education, CC is a good idea. But if our objective is to help students reach the pinnacle of their individual abilities, then we must encourage active competition between individual schools to try to find the best way to teach a given course of study, then CC is a very bad idea. I favor voluntary competency testing, and I will oppose the attempt to impose Common Core curriculum and standards in Arizona.

GOV – Medicaid expansion: I did not approve the expansion and neither did a majority of Arizonans. It was approved by a mere handful of individuals only. My goal is to freeze its implementation and re-evaluate its stated objectives along with the likelihood that further implementation would move us toward or away from those objectives. Ultimately, I believe Arizona should take direct control of all such programs and refuse federal input or control over the distribution of funds or determinations of coverage.

GOV – Pro-life / Pro-choice: I am pro-life personally, (there is no point in the conception process where life is not present), and I am also aware that at best, abortion is an issue that is well outside the authority of the federal government to impose on all citizens. This issue needs to be decided by the conscience of the individual, or by the collective conscience of the citizens of each state. At no point can, or will I authorize state (taxpayer) funding for abortion, and I hope to encourage alternatives that do not necessitate terminating life; like embryonic transplantation.

ALL – Public policy advice: Largely, I turn to the sage and proven advice of those who have wrestled with such questions in the past. I note what happened when specific policies were implemented or not. Then I turn to contemporary experts without regard to ideological perspectives or backgrounds. After that, I turn to the general public for ideas and perspectives. Finally, I turn to the Constitution and my own conscience to insure that I am not irresponsible or taking liberties outside the legitimate authority of my office. That’s when I make my decision, and I stick to it.

Hess, Barry

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