Jarrett Woods

Current roles

• »
  Local Libertarian Party: Member

Former roles

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  Local US House of Representatives: US Representative candidate

League of Women Voters 2008 candidate survey

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

Woods: I have read and researched extensively on the dangers of an over-reaching government. It is in this light that I hope to use my business and management experience to reverse the pace of ever expanding legislature and return to a constitutional federal government.

LWV: What reforms would you propose to the U.S. healthcare system to control costs, improve the quality of care and expand access to healthcare to uninsured Americans?

Woods: The entire healthcare system needs reform immediately. We need to start by deregulating health insurance policies, and allowing citizens to purchase health insurance across state lines. One of the main reasons health insurance is so expensive many places is that state governments mandate what a plan must cover, and consumers can’t pick an inexpensive plan with less unneeded benefits.

LWV: Do you support a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq?

Woods: While I don’t support a pre-defined timetable, I would like to begin a drawdown with 18 months.

LWV: How do you propose to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S., while also meeting the increased need of American agriculture and small business for workers?

Woods: Before doing anything, the borders need to be secured. Once secure, I believe in streamlining the immigration process, making it less desirable to seek illegal ways into the country. I believe the workers here should not be sent back to their home country as long as they have not committed any crimes, but they must repay unpaid taxes. Also the minimum wage should be lowered so that business will have less incentive to hire illegals.

LWV: The U.S. Highway Trust Fund is expected to go into deficit next year. Congress is reluctant to raise the federal gas tax. How should America pay for its massive infrastructure needs related to roads and bridges?

Woods: I believe that raising gas taxes is the only way to fund roads and bridges. While it is a tough concept to think about with gas prices where they are, it is not fair to tax someone for something they don’t use much. This is something along the lines of “Pay for What You Use.” People who use roads more pay more, and those who don’t pay less.

LWV: What source do you think represents the greatest opportunity to achieve energy independence? How can the federal government best advance its development?

Woods: Drilling here will have the immediate effect of lowering prices (due to the futures markets.) In addition, I believe a “prize” system to reward innovations that lower our dependence on fossil fuels would work leaps and bounds above subsidies or rebates which stifle competition and thus innovation. In this, a large prize would be offered for various projects. i.e. $1,000,000,000 for a car under $25,000 that gets over 150 mpg.

LWV: What other issue do you believe will be most pressing in the next session of Congress, and what is your position on this issue?

Woods: I believe the economy will be one of the post pressing issues. We need to lower our corporate tax rate to keep American companies from relocating overseas. In the global economy that we are now a part of, relocation to lower tax rate countries has become increasingly easy, and has begun to cost Americans jobs. This cannot continue, and we must remain competitive by cutting the corporate tax rate.

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