Sam Rankin in Past and present Senate candidates from Montana

On Corporations: End tax subsidies; & tax corporations in foreign countries

• Capital gains and dividends taxed as ordinary income.
• A modified Territorial system for taxing corporations in foreign countries.
• Eliminate ALL tax expenditures i.e. subsidies. If allowed, tax rate(s) must rise.

On Government Reform: Special interests support the status quo; Americans don't

Currently 42% of Americans identify themselves as Independents and it shows there is a major out-migration from the major political parties. Voters want another choice other than choosing between two candidates who are both controlled by special interests, corporations, or wealthy individual donors. It's time for Independents to work together.

On Government Reform: Eliminate earmarks; 3-year federal pay freeze

Cut Deficit Spending
• Reduce Congressional/White House budgets 15%
• Congressional pay freeze for 3 years.
• Federal workers/civilian defense workers pay freeze 3 years.
• Sell excess federal property. (Income and reduced maintenance costs.)
• Eliminate ALL earmarks.

On Health Care: Tort reform plus higher deductibles & co-pays

Medicare
• Increase cost sharing: Deductible of $500, 20% co-pay with $7,500.00 cap.
• Don't pay hospitals bad debts i.e. for not collecting patient deductibles.
• Restrict first-dollar coverage in supplemental insurance plans.
• Tort reform to stop overuse of diagnostic tests i.e. defensive medicine.
• Statute of limitations on lawsuits
• Creating 'health courts'.
• Consider caps on punitive & non-economic damages.

On Homeland Security: Reduce our nuclear warhead stockpile & reduce F-35's

Military
• Reduce two front readiness to one and one half.
• Eliminate one leg of our nuclear deterrence.
• Reduce flag ranks dramatically w/ savings into Tricare.
• Reduce our nuclear war head stock pile to around 1500.
• De-commission the USS George Washington and its air wing.
• Reduce to 1400 F-35's and get rid of the F-35B (vertical take off)

On Social Security: Phase in age increase and more realistic CPI

Social Security
• No changes for current retirees but would be phased in over 20 years.
• Gradually increase early and full retirement based on life expectancy.
• Increase taxable maximum wage to cover 90% of wages by 2050.
• Use a more realistic CPI.
• Require all new hires after 2022 (state-local) to be under Social Security.

On Tax Reform: Simplify to three tax brackets: 12%, 22%, 28%

Increase income (all money saved shall apply to lowering taxes/deficit)
• Three new individual tax brackets: 12% - 22% - 28%
• Corporate tax rate 28%
• Mortgage interest--capped at $500K mortgage, no 2nd homes or equity.
• Eliminate state and local tax deductions.
• Eliminate itemized deductions.