Asa Hutchinson on Budget & Economy

	Asa Hutchinson on Budget & Economy Former Administrator of D.E.A.; former Republican Representative (AR-3)

I plan to reduce federal civilian employment by 10%

Whenever you look at reducing the size of the federal government and controlling spending, I presented the idea, the plan to reduce federal civilian employment by 10%. I can do that because we reduced it by 14% in Arkansas. And so these are specific plans that I present, and it's about the future. It's about the strength of America. It's about our leadership. So no, it's not about the past. It's about the future. And I think that resonates. Source: Meet the Press on 2023 Presidential hopefuls , May 7, 2023

Repair infrastructure; don't support unnecessary spending

It is long past time for a nationally robust infrastructure package. Highways, roads, and bridges across this country are in desperate need of repair. Additionally, access to high-speed broadband--for all Americans--is imperative to our future success as a nation. Republicans on Capitol Hill support this endeavor, but they do not--nor should they--support the out-of-control and unnecessary spending promoted by national Democrats. Supporting critical infrastructure can be accomplished without abandoning our responsibility to the American taxpayers. Source: 2024 Presidential campaign website Asa2024.com , May 2, 2023

Free enterprise is key to national prosperity

Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.

Hutchinson: Strongly Agree

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2013 Arkansas Governor campaign , Sep 28, 2014

AdWatch: Worked for lobbying firm after leaving Congress

The Democratic Governors Association said a group affiliated with it, "Jobs and Opportunity," has made a six-figure ad buy. The ad claims former Rep. Asa Hutchinson has a history of "wheeling and dealing" while the Democratic candidate, former Rep. Mike Ross, displayed common sense & fiscal responsibility during his term. "D.C. lobbyist Asa Hutchinson has forgotten what Arkansas values look like," a spokesman said.

Hutchinson's campaign criticized the Democratic group's new ad. "This ad is misleading and hypocritical. They need to check their facts. Asa was practicing law in Arkansas while Mike Ross was voting for these very bills in Washington."

The ad says Hutchinson and the firm where he worked after leaving Congress benefited from the stimulus program. "While Hutchinson and his lobbying firm were cashing in on a stimulus bill and the Wall Street and Detroit bailouts, Mike Ross was fighting for a balanced budget amendment and voting against congressional pay raises," a Ross spokesman said.

Source: Miami Herald AdWatch on 2014 Arkansas gubernatorial race , Feb 18, 2014

Allow $3 on 1040 form to pay off National Debt.

Hutchinson co-sponsored allowing $3 on 1040 form to pay off National Debt

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual to designate three dollars on his or her income tax return (six dollars on a joint return) to be used to reduce the public debt of the United States.

SPONSOR`S INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT: Pres. Eisenhower apparently once said that he believed that there could be no surplus as long as our Nation was in debt. I come from that school of thought, and yet that is not exactly where we are right now in Washington.

Where we are right now is debating whether or not 90 percent or 50 percent, or some number in between, of these projected future surpluses should be allocated to the debt. What struck me is the fact that really more than just the Congress should be involved in that debate. It is for that reason that I introduce today the Taxpayers` Choice Debt Reduction Act.

What this bill would do would be to simply take the 1040, the tax return as we now know it. And right now, we can send $3 to the presidential campaign. This would create another box wherein we could send 3 bucks to debt reduction. That is not enough money to change our national debt, but it is enough money to make a small step in an important debate that we all ought to be a part of.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means; never called for a House vote.

Source: Taxpayers' Choice Debt Reduction Act (H.R.5349) 00-HR5349 on Sep 29, 2000