Joe Carr in Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites
On Abortion:
Promote adoption; 100% pro-life
I am 100% pro-life and my voting record reflects the same. As adoptive parents, my wife Ginny and I believe strongly in promoting adoption as well. I believe our self-evident rights, as enumerated in the Constitution, come from
God--not from government, and that it's the governments' responsibility to protect our God-given rights. I believe those rights extend to the unborn.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Budget & Economy:
Spending caps are vital to our nation's survival
I believe it is vital to our nation's survival that the federal government not just reduce spending, but that we enact absolute spending caps. As your Senator I will push hard for repealing or defunding Obamacare. We the people will no longer tolerate
wasteful federal bailout programs like the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) or any other wasteful program that increases the federal deficit and debt. Washington must learn from Tennessee how to balance its budget.Limiting the size of the federal
government is key to saving our nation's financial future. We have too many programs, departments and too much bureaucracy. Future generations may fail to enjoy the freedom and prosperity we have due to out-of-control government spending
and crushing regulations. A combination of eliminating outdated and redundant programs and departments as well as allowing the private sector to perform certain needed duties will go a long way toward getting our country financially solvent.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Corporations:
Lower the corporate tax & make Bush tax cuts permanent
The top ten percent of earners pay seventy percent of federal income taxes. Under any definition, that's unfair. For starters, we should lower the corporate tax and make Bush-era tax reform permanent.
I believe in the flat tax and a tax environment that encourages and rewards initiative, investment, hard work and success.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Education:
Parental choice & competition over one-size-fits-all
Competition promotes achievement, and parental choice leads to more involvement, understanding and skin in the game. Empowering the states to manage their education systems rather than the federal government is the best way to help our children become
more competitive globally. I have no confidence in federal education programs where one-size-fits-all and social engineering are more important than the three Rs.
The last thing we need is the federal government running our schools like they run our government.Expanding private school accessibility, lifting caps on charter schools, and expanding public school choice are the options that
Tennessee families need to help their children receive the best education possible, and these are the education issues I will fight for as your Senator.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Energy & Oil:
Drill offshore and onshore
We must drill offshore, drill domestically, curb the EPA and reform the permitting process for nuclear energy production. Taking these steps will help us become more energy independent from regions of the world that do not share our pro-freedom interests
We possess all of the energy resources we need right here in America, and it's unacceptable that leaders in Washington have succumbed to environmental extremism, anti-capitalist legislation and political correctness and made us dependent on energy
sources from other countries. The Department of Energy (DOE) has become the primary culprit for reducing our energy independence. The DOE has spent billions on researching alternative energy sources that are not commercially viable or cost effective.
The federal government must not be in the business of picking winners and losers by funding risky companies such as Solyndra and Fisker with taxpayer dollars. That enables cronyism, and there's enough of that in Washington already.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Families & Children:
Marriage is best between a man and woman
Marriage is under assault and should be defended as an institution that provides the best environment for creating strong families which leads to a successful culture and civilization. Marriage between a man and woman reduces the likelihood of child
poverty by 82%. That is a sobering statistic--especially when every politician says they are interested in protecting children. Our culture has gotten off course, and the best way to build a strong America is by strengthening marriage in the home.
If our federal government is really interested in a positive, healthy and prosperous country then our leaders must promote marriage and religious freedom. Our founders lived by Judeo-Christian beliefs and principles, and we must protect these
core beliefs that shaped our nation and created the freest people in the world. I will focus on these areas as part of the first principles of personal responsibility and individual liberty.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Foreign Policy:
Never agree to a treaty that diminishes our sovereignty
The essence of successful American foreign policy has always focused on protecting our best interests, supporting our allies and defending and promoting freedom.
We must never agree to a treaty that diminishes our sovereignty, and we should impose strict criteria for granting foreign aid.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Free Trade:
Promote free and fair trade
One of the keys to reviving our economy is cutting our budget deficit. Our short-term & long-term fiscal viability is threatened due to continued deficit spending. Unfunded liabilities, projected spending increases and an uncertain economy all add up to
a financial disaster if we fail to act responsibly now. Promoting free and fair trade, repealing or defunding Obamacare, repealing the Dodd-Frank Act and reigning in the EPA are just a few of the arenas where I will fight to get us back on the right path
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Gun Control:
Second Amendment rights safeguard all other rights
We must never forget that many of our country's founders sacrificed their lives and fortunes in order to secure our basic human rights--which are enumerated in our Constitution. Our rights come from God--not man--and our founders designed our
foundational documents to protect and defend these God-given rights. The one constitutional right that safeguards all other rights is the second amendment--the right to bear arms. As a lifetime member of the NRA and Gun Owners of America,
I pledge to promote, protect and defend every law-abiding Americans' ability to keep and bear arms for personal safety, to defend their property, and to enjoy hunting and sporting.
I will also fight to defend the 2nd amendment to protect our liberty in the event we ever find ourselves fighting against a tyrannical government to uphold our sacred honor.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Health Care:
ObamaCare must be defunded and repealed
Repealing or defunding ObamaCare is at the top of my priority list of things to accomplish as your Senator. This one watershed piece of legislation is wreaking more havoc on our economy while simultaneously reducing the quality of healthcare than any
one piece of legislation in modern history. The last thing Tennesseans need is for the federal government to dictate their healthcare at the federal level.
Healthcare decisions are best made between the patient, their physician and their family--not government bureaucrats. Skyrocketing government spending on Medicare is not helping patients. On the contrary, it's harming our economic future.
The effect of ObamaCare is that it is driving hard-working doctors and nurses out of the healthcare profession. The inevitable result is a shortage of doctors who are unable to deliver affordable quality healthcare. ObamaCare must be repealed.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Homeland Security:
Provide more healthcare and support for veterans
My father was an Air Force fighter pilot, and he's my hero. Our veterans sacrifice so much for our country, and we must provide them the best healthcare and support we can possibly give them.
We will never be able to repay them for their sacrifices, but that reality must not stop us from doing our best to care for them and their families.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Homeland Security:
A powerful military increases the platform of freedom
We need to invest in peace by implementing the Reagan philosophy of building our military and economic strength. A powerful military and vibrant economy increases our standing in the world and the platform of freedom.
War must always be our last resort. However, I agree with Thomas Jefferson that "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Immigration:
Illegal immigration turns American dream into nightmare
I fully support immigration. America is the most generous country on earth when it comes to granting immigrants access to the American dream. However, illegal immigration is turning that dream into a nightmare as illegals stream over our southern border
in search of both jobs and free benefits that are paid for by hard-working Americans. The Constitution requires the federal government to secure our borders.
I will advocate funding border security, rejecting amnesty proposals and strengthening interior enforcement such as e-verify. For years Tennessee families have shouldered the costs of illegal immigration.We also must reform our immigration policy
to ensure we are attracting the best and brightest minds around the world and protecting our citizens from individuals who want to harm us. A successful immigration policy begins with enforcement of existing laws and respect for the rule of law.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
On Tax Reform:
No new taxes, period
No new taxes. Period. Our problem is not enough revenue. Our problem is overspending and a failure of leadership in Washington. The burden of the federal government's spending binge and mismanagement must not be upon hard-working American taxpayers.
I will oppose any new taxes and higher taxes. A balanced budget, lower taxes (our corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world) and predictable regulatory environment will create a solid foundation for job growth and economic resurgence.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues"
Nov 1, 2013
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018