As of May 3rd, Theodore Cruz has suspended his presidential campaign.
ISSUES
Environmental Regulation and Climate Change
Cruz's position on climate change has shifted over time; this past January he said that climate change is real, but in June he said it is a pseudo-scientific theory. But he has never said that he believes that humans affect climate change. He is a large supporter of investment in the energy and fossil fuel industry.
California Governor Jerry Brown said about Cruz, "That man betokens such a level of ignorance and a direct falsification of the existing scientific data. It's shocking, and I think that man has rendered himself absolutely unfit to be running for office."
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
California Governor Jerry Brown said about Cruz, "That man betokens such a level of ignorance and a direct falsification of the existing scientific data. It's shocking, and I think that man has rendered himself absolutely unfit to be running for office."
Policy Proposals
- Allow oil drilling on Native American land.
- Support investments in coal and oil, rather than renewable resources. Thus, Cruz opposes the EPA’s clean power plan.
- Expand energy development on federal land if elected and remove many restrictions on fracking.
- Support the Keystone pipeline.
Relevant History
- Ted Cruz has a lifetime score of 11% (voting for environmental bills) on the national environmental scorecard.
- Introduced the American Energy Renaissance Act to reduce regulation on businesses, increase offshore drilling, and build Keystone pipeline.
- Introduced the EPA Employment Impact Analysis Act. This act required that the EPA had to do an investigation of job losses before creating any new environmental regulations.
Representative Quotes
- “Satellite data shows there has been no significant recorded warming. None. When the satellites are measuring the temperature — it's not happening. . . . Climate change is being driven by politicians who want more control over our lives.”
- "There are considerable natural resources on Indian lands, [yet] many Native Americans, tragically, live in crushing poverty. . . . The resources are right there to improve their standard of living. And it is only the federal government that is keeping them in that condition of poverty."
Gun Control and Gun Violence
Ted Cruz is very anti-gun control and would oppose almost any legislation restricting gun ownership, believing these restrictions violate the 2nd Amendment. Cruz has led initiatives in Congress to create legislation that is more flexible for gun ownership and that would allow easier ways to obtain guns. He has openly fought gun control legislation that has been presented by others in Congress.
Some liberal anchors such as Stephen Colbert have come out against Cruz’s gun control policies in the past. When Cruz and other members of the Senate voted against a bill to increase background checks, Colbert attacked Cruz. Colbert said sarcastically, “We no longer have to live in fear that some maniac will come after those we love with a gun control bill."
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Some liberal anchors such as Stephen Colbert have come out against Cruz’s gun control policies in the past. When Cruz and other members of the Senate voted against a bill to increase background checks, Colbert attacked Cruz. Colbert said sarcastically, “We no longer have to live in fear that some maniac will come after those we love with a gun control bill."
Policy Proposals
- Opposes President Obama's executive orders on gun control (which increased the number of ATF agents so criminals violating gun laws can be prosecuted, forced any person selling a handgun to get a license and conduct a background check, and supported increased funding to care for mental health patients).
Relevant History
- Voted no on legislation that would allow the attorney general to deny the sale of a firearm if deemed suspicious or relating to terrorism.
- Opposed increased background checks at gun shows and for transactions online.
- Voted in favor of a bill that would increase spending to prosecute felons who seek to purchase firearms.
- Supported a bill that would increase the types of guns Washington, DC, citizens are allowed to obtain without a certificate but that would also set an age limit at 21 to obtain a concealed weapon license.
- Voted no on a bill that would prohibit the sale of assault weapons.
- Voted no on a bill that would limit magazine capacity.
- Supported a bill that would allow citizens to carry concealed firearms across state borders in which both states allow the carrying of concealed firearms.
Representative Quotes
- “Gun control is government control.”
- When Democrats tried to push through new gun control legislation after the Sandy Hook shootings Cruz said, “In fact, I intend to help lead the fight to stop Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s bill to pass aggressive gun control, and in particular to pass a national firearms registry.”
Drugs and Criminal Law
Ted Cruz is in favor of different types of sentencing reforms. He believes that drug offenders should receive shorter, more dynamic sentences than they do now. He supports the reduction of mandatory minimums and crack sentences. Cruz has also focused on “redundant” laws and codifying crimes in a comprehensive manner in order to prevent citizens from unknowingly committing an action they may not know is a crime. He also believes that sexual predators should be monitored in order to prevent further criminal activity. In addition, Cruz is a supporter of the death penalty.
Senator Rubio has attacked Senator Cruz for “[voting] to weaken the U.S. intelligence programs. And the weakening of our intelligence gathering capabilities leaves America vulnerable. And that is exactly what's happened."
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Senator Rubio has attacked Senator Cruz for “[voting] to weaken the U.S. intelligence programs. And the weakening of our intelligence gathering capabilities leaves America vulnerable. And that is exactly what's happened."
Policy Proposals
- Eliminate “redundant” crimes from the U.S. code and change some regulatory crimes into civil offenses.
- Supports allowing ignorance of a law that is solely regulatory to be a criminal defense, provided one would not be reasonably expected to know the law, thus forcing the government to prove that the defendant knowingly violated the law.
- Provide judges more flexibility when sentencing offenders.
Relevant History
- As Texas’ Solicitor General, Cruz cracked down on sexual predators, supporting a law that allowed for the monitoring and treatment of predators to ensure that they did not act again.
- Co-sponsored the Smarter Sentencing Act, which would have allowed judges to reduce sentences below mandatory minimums for nonviolent drug offenders. However, he now opposes the “watered-down” version, stating that he is not in favor of potentially releasing up to 7,000 prisoners.
Representative Quotes
- “Given the undeniable costs and dubious benefits of mass, long term incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders, Congress should take steps to give judges more flexibility in sentencing those offenders.”
- "When we're seeing violent crime spiking in our cities across the country, I think it would be a serious mistake for the Senate to pass legislation providing for 7,082 convicted criminals potentially to be released early."
Civil Rights - Gender and Sexual Orientation
Based on his belief that marriage has traditionally existed between a man and a woman and should continue to only exist between a man and a woman, Cruz does not support same-sex marriage. Cruz also believes that despite the Supreme Court’s decision, the issue on same-sex marriage is “not settled.” He believes that this decision should be left up to the states. However, despite his strong opposition to same-sex marriage, Cruz still claims that if one of his daughters were gay, he would still love them unconditionally. Cruz also does not support additional legislation that would protect LGBT citizens from discrimination. He does not believe that LGBT citizens deserve protection from discrimination in any aspect of life and is also “not a fan of pride parades.”
Cruz opposes abortion as a whole, including partial birth abortion. The sole exception in which an abortion procedure would be acceptable, is if the pregnancy or birth would endanger the mother’s life. He seeks to thoroughly investigate Planned Parenthood, and he has fought to take away taxpayer dollars from the funding of Planned Parenthood.
Many LGBT citizens, including Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, have found Cruz’s claim that being gay is a “choice” to be offensive. Cook responded in a Bloomberg op-ed saying, "I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.” Rick Santorum criticizes Cruz for lacking a “clear vision of what’s right and what’s wrong and be able to lay that vision out for the American people.” Santorum claims that “If people want have different kind of marriages, it’s fine with him. He doesn’t agree with it. If you want to have an abortion, it’s fine with him, he doesn’t agree with it, but he’s not gonna fight it. Santorum opposes this indecisive, wishy-washy beliefs and does not feel that it enables Cruz to be a beneficial leader.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Cruz opposes abortion as a whole, including partial birth abortion. The sole exception in which an abortion procedure would be acceptable, is if the pregnancy or birth would endanger the mother’s life. He seeks to thoroughly investigate Planned Parenthood, and he has fought to take away taxpayer dollars from the funding of Planned Parenthood.
Many LGBT citizens, including Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, have found Cruz’s claim that being gay is a “choice” to be offensive. Cook responded in a Bloomberg op-ed saying, "I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.” Rick Santorum criticizes Cruz for lacking a “clear vision of what’s right and what’s wrong and be able to lay that vision out for the American people.” Santorum claims that “If people want have different kind of marriages, it’s fine with him. He doesn’t agree with it. If you want to have an abortion, it’s fine with him, he doesn’t agree with it, but he’s not gonna fight it. Santorum opposes this indecisive, wishy-washy beliefs and does not feel that it enables Cruz to be a beneficial leader.
Policy Proposals
- Vows to “restore marriage to the law and protect people of faith from discrimination because of their support for traditional marriage.”
- Pass a constitutional amendment that more closely defines the authority of the federal courts.
- Overturn Roe v. Wade through a constitutional amendment.
- Add protections to the 14th amendment that prevent the abortion of fetuses and zygotes.
- Defund Planned Parenthood.
Relevant History
- Supported a law that banned partial birth abortions.
- Cruz has attempted to prevent the recognition of civil unions and has made efforts to prevent the federal government from regulating same-sex marriage.
- In sponsoring the State Marriage Defense Act of 2014, Cruz has tried to prohibit the Supreme Court’s ability to recognize same-sex marriage in a state that chooses not to recognize it.
- Defended Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk who refused to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, in support of her faith and her refusal to grant same-sex marriage licenses.
- In 2013, Cruz voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act as the legislation extended protections for LGBT citizens, immigrants, and Native Americans, in addition to providing money for the investigation and prosecution of crimes committed against women.
Representative Quotes
- “Marriage is a sacrament between one man and one woman, it has strengthened societies for millennia, and we must uphold the truth of marriage.”
- In reference to the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing gay marriage: “It’s not the law of the land. It’s not the Constitution. It’s not legitimate, and we will stand and fight.”
- "No right is more precious and fundamental than the right to life."
Civil Rights - Race and Ethnicity
Ted Cruz is conservative when it comes to the issue of racial and ethnic inequality. Throughout his political career, he has endorsed many people and organizations that are considered far-right, including former Tea Party politician E. W. Jackson’s belief that the most important reason for racial inequality is not actually race, but rather the lack of both a father and a mother in the home. He has also accused organizations such as Black Lives Matter for creating tension between African Americans and police officers. Cruz does believe that racial inequality exists, and that it needs to be fixed. After the Charleston shooting, Cruz stopped receiving donations from one of the hate groups that Dylan Roof, the shooter, cited in his pre-shooting manifesto. He also expressed grief for the killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and criticized police officers for the incident. Cruz is opposed to affirmative action.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Policy Proposals
- Ted Cruz has not proposed any specific policies regarding racial and ethnic inequality.
Relevant History
- Voted against the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, which would have made it easier for immigrants, illegal and legal, to assimilate into normal American society.
- In 2015, Cruz’s campaign openly endorsed E. W. Jackson’s 2013 plan to aid inequality in inner cities. This plan included a portion that suggested sending all children living in a “dysfunctional home,” or a home without both a mother and a father, to boarding schools.
Representative Quotes
- “If you look at the Black Lives Matter movement, one of the most disturbing things is more than one of their protests have embraced rabid rhetoric, rabid anti-police language, literally suggesting and embracing and celebrating the murder of police officers. That is disgraceful.”
Fundraising Sources
Money Raised
Cruz’s campaign committee has received $26,567,298, and outside super PACs and other organizations have raised an additional $38,655,257. Some donors include Goldman Sachs ($69,350), Morgan Lewis ($67,550), Woodforest Financial Group ($111,500), and Sullivan & Cromwell ($60,113).
Super PACs
Criticism
The Keep the Promise PACs have immense donations, and each super PAC is focused on one or two influential families. One donor, Toby Neugebauer, a gas and oil businessman and investor, has donated $10 million to the Keep the Promise II PAC, one of the largest amounts donated by a single donor to a candidate this election. Also, the Wilks Brothers, owners of the fracking company Frac Tech, have donated $15 million to the Keep the Promise III PAC. This donation is the largest donation of all of the candidates in the 2016 election. Another significant donor is Robert Mercer, a hedge fund manager, who has donated $11 million to Cruz through the Keep the Promise I super PAC. The New York Times and CNN both have criticized Cruz for being so influenced by a handful of people, believing that Cruz is taking advantage of the Citizens United decision and may not include the opinion of the majority.
Cruz’s campaign committee has received $26,567,298, and outside super PACs and other organizations have raised an additional $38,655,257. Some donors include Goldman Sachs ($69,350), Morgan Lewis ($67,550), Woodforest Financial Group ($111,500), and Sullivan & Cromwell ($60,113).
Super PACs
- Keep the Promise, Keep the Promise I, Keep the Promise II, and Keep the Promise III are all super PACs established to fund Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign. In total, these four super PACs have raised $37.8 million for Cruz’s campaign.
Criticism
The Keep the Promise PACs have immense donations, and each super PAC is focused on one or two influential families. One donor, Toby Neugebauer, a gas and oil businessman and investor, has donated $10 million to the Keep the Promise II PAC, one of the largest amounts donated by a single donor to a candidate this election. Also, the Wilks Brothers, owners of the fracking company Frac Tech, have donated $15 million to the Keep the Promise III PAC. This donation is the largest donation of all of the candidates in the 2016 election. Another significant donor is Robert Mercer, a hedge fund manager, who has donated $11 million to Cruz through the Keep the Promise I super PAC. The New York Times and CNN both have criticized Cruz for being so influenced by a handful of people, believing that Cruz is taking advantage of the Citizens United decision and may not include the opinion of the majority.
Defense and Foreign Policy
Ted Cruz advocates a foreign policy that is primarily invested in the security of America. He has publicly condemned actions of the Obama administration, such as the Iran Nuclear Deal, which he feels jeopardizes U.S. security interests. He has repeatedly stated that on his first day as president he would terminate the deal. He also views the Islamic State as a threat to American security, and therefore believes that the U.S. needs to destroy ISIS through aggressive and frequent bombing. It is of note that Cruz has repeatedly voted against bills that increase military spending; however, while on the campaign trail, he has pledged to rebuild the U.S. military. Cruz also thinks that the U.S. needs to mend its relationships with many of its allies, the largest in need being Israel. Cruz sees Israel as fundamental to American security interests. Thus, he supports repairing U.S. – Israel ties as he views them as having deteriorated under the Obama administration.
Hillary Clinton has spoken out against Cruz’s foreign policy. She has focused on criticizing him for his promises to bomb the Islamic State to oblivion. In a speech on December 15th, she said of Cruz that “promising to carpet-bomb until the desert glows doesn’t make you sound strong. It makes you sound like you’re in over your head.” She instead proposes that the U.S. tighten its immigration programs, increase surveillance, and try to better the nation’s relations with Muslim Americans in order to protect ourselves from future terrorist attacks at the hands of Islamic extremists such as those of ISIS. This is in opposition to Senator Cruz who opposes mass surveillance and believes that increased bombing of ISIS will protect us. Another candidate who has opposed Senator Cruz is Marco Rubio. Senator Rubio has criticized for his record of voting against military spending bills in the Senate. He questions Cruz’s commitment to rebuilding the U.S. military.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Hillary Clinton has spoken out against Cruz’s foreign policy. She has focused on criticizing him for his promises to bomb the Islamic State to oblivion. In a speech on December 15th, she said of Cruz that “promising to carpet-bomb until the desert glows doesn’t make you sound strong. It makes you sound like you’re in over your head.” She instead proposes that the U.S. tighten its immigration programs, increase surveillance, and try to better the nation’s relations with Muslim Americans in order to protect ourselves from future terrorist attacks at the hands of Islamic extremists such as those of ISIS. This is in opposition to Senator Cruz who opposes mass surveillance and believes that increased bombing of ISIS will protect us. Another candidate who has opposed Senator Cruz is Marco Rubio. Senator Rubio has criticized for his record of voting against military spending bills in the Senate. He questions Cruz’s commitment to rebuilding the U.S. military.
Policy Proposals
- Specifically target ISIS by increasing the number of bombs dropped on the Islamic State. However, he does not think the U.S. should deploy soldiers into Iraq and Syria.
- End mass surveillance programs. Cruz believes that only people with potential ties to terror should be monitored.
- Build a wall on the southern border of the United States to further secure the country by preventing those who could potentially hurt us from entering the nation.
- Senator Cruz believes that a two-state solution would be best for both the Israelis and the Palestinians; however, he does not believe it is the business of the U.S. to create the agreement for the two groups. Rather, he believes the U.S. must not interfere but only provide a platform for discussion between the two groups.
Relevant History
- Voted against the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015, which would have allowed the attorney general to ban the sale of firearms to any individual labeled a terrorist.
- Introduced the Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Act of 2015 to the Senate, which aimed to prevent refugees from nations controlled by terrorist groups from entering the U.S.
- He introduced the Expatriate Terrorist Act, which sought to prevent U.S. citizens who joined terrorist groups from reentering the nation and terminate their citizenship.
- Authored a bill that asked the Secretary of State to label the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
- Sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Speaker of the House John Boehner, asking them to explain how they may stop the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Representative Quotes
- “The touchstone of foreign policy should be the vital national security interest of America.”
- “Hoarding tens of billions of records of ordinary citizens didn’t stop Fort Hood, it didn’t stop Boston, it didn’t stop Garland [, Texas,] and it failed to stop the San Bernardino plot.”
Business Regulation and Corporations
Like other Republicans, Cruz supports businesses and wants to cut back on regulations because he believes that many small businesses are being negatively affected by unnecessary regulations. Many of his ideals follow a free market philosophy, and he thinks that ending government intervention in the economy will allow people to innovate more and create new jobs. Cruz also believes that raising the minimum wage will make it harder for young people (specifically African Americans and Hispanics) to get their first jobs that enable them to start climbing the “economic ladder.” Cruz also is in favor of tax reform, specifically a simple flat tax (see Specific Policy Proposals for more information), that he believes will boost GDP, increase wages, and create more jobs.
Rubio has criticized some of Cruz’s plans, like abolishing the IRS, which Rubio said is impossible for Cruz to do. Rubio has also said that the small taxes Cruz proposes have the potential to grow under the Democrats, and called out his tax plan, saying, “It’s called the value added tax. And it’s a tax you find in many companies in Europe. Where basically, businesses now will have to pay a tax, both on the money they make, but they also have to pay taxes on the money that they pay their employees. And that’s why they have it in Europe, because it is a way to blindfold the people, that’s what Ronald Reagan said. Ronald Reagan opposed the value tax because he said it was a way to blindfold the people, so the true cost of government was not there for them. Now, you can support one now that’s very low. But what is to prevent a future liberal president or a liberal Congress from coming back and not just raising the income tax, but also raising that VAT tax?”
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Rubio has criticized some of Cruz’s plans, like abolishing the IRS, which Rubio said is impossible for Cruz to do. Rubio has also said that the small taxes Cruz proposes have the potential to grow under the Democrats, and called out his tax plan, saying, “It’s called the value added tax. And it’s a tax you find in many companies in Europe. Where basically, businesses now will have to pay a tax, both on the money they make, but they also have to pay taxes on the money that they pay their employees. And that’s why they have it in Europe, because it is a way to blindfold the people, that’s what Ronald Reagan said. Ronald Reagan opposed the value tax because he said it was a way to blindfold the people, so the true cost of government was not there for them. Now, you can support one now that’s very low. But what is to prevent a future liberal president or a liberal Congress from coming back and not just raising the income tax, but also raising that VAT tax?”
Policy Proposals
- Implement a single low income tax rate of 10% (with the exception of families of four or more, where the first $36,000 will be tax-free).
- Eliminate the inheritance tax.
- Eliminate corporate income taxes, where the highest rate is 35%, to be replaced by a business flat tax of 16% for small and big businesses alike.
- Pass the REINS Act, which is aimed at reducing the number and scope of costly regulations by requiring a congressional vote on any major cost-inducing regulation the executive branch proposes.
- End the EPA regulations like the Waters of the U.S. rule and the Clean Power Plan, which he claims burden small businesses and farmers.
Relevant History
- Voted against raising the minimum wage, arguing, “Every time you raise the minimum wage, the people who are hurt the most are the most vulnerable.” He thinks that by raising the minimum wage, you are not helping those you are intending to help, but rather, you hurt them by making it harder for them to find jobs. He often tells his personal story on the matter, about how his father would never have been able to pay for his college education if it weren’t for his job as a dishwasher for 50 cents an hour.
Representative Quotes
- “Get senseless obstacles from Washington out of the way,” referring to the EPA, the Affordable Care Act, and his proposal to abolish the IRS.
- “One of biggest lies in politics is the lie that Republicans are the party of big business. Big business does great with big government. Big business is very happy to climb in bed with big government. Republicans are and should be the party of small business and of entrepreneurs.”
Education
Ted Cruz’s views on education center on devolving education back to the states and abolishing the Department of Education. Cruz believes that the government is too large to cater education to each individual student’s needs, and that education should be left to local districts or the state. Due to his support of state-controlled education, Cruz dislikes the Common Core Initiative and has sponsored legislation allowing states to opt out. He is a firm believer in the right to choose where one goes to school and has even referred to it as the “civil rights issue of the next generation.” Having just paid off his student loans, the issue is very personal to Senator Cruz. He isn’t against any forms of helping students pay off their debt, but advocates for state aid rather than a national plan. Ted Cruz is a proponent of charter schools and hopes to increase their numbers in an attempt to provide more choice of school.
Ted Cruz’s views have drawn opposition from the Democratic Party as well as GOP proponents of the Common Core Initiative. O’Malley, Clinton, and Sanders have supported the Common Core Initiative as well as the expansion of the government’s role in education through college funding or student debt aid.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Ted Cruz’s views have drawn opposition from the Democratic Party as well as GOP proponents of the Common Core Initiative. O’Malley, Clinton, and Sanders have supported the Common Core Initiative as well as the expansion of the government’s role in education through college funding or student debt aid.
Policy Proposals
- End the Common Core Initiative.
- Eliminate the Department of Education and return control over education to local and state districts.
- Use vouchers to enhance the ability for parents to choose a school for their children. These vouchers would be used to provide federally paid scholarships to members of low performing school districts.
Relevant History
- Proposed an amendment to repeal the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2014, which allowed federal college aid and expanded the use of Pell grants.
- Voted to block the Student Emergency Loan Refinancing Act from reaching the Senate floor.
- Co-sponsored the Local Control of Education Act which allowed states to opt out the Common Core Initiative while keeping their federal grant.
- Spoke out against the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced the No Child Left Behind Act.
Representative Quotes
- “And in my view, the most compelling civil rights issue of the 21st century is the the need to expand school choice and educational options so that every child, regardless of race ... has a fair opportunity to receive an excellent education.”
- “We need to repeal Common Core. We need to get the federal government out of the business of dictating educational standards. Education is far too important for it to be governed by unelected bureaucrats in Washington. It should be at the state level or even better at the local level.”
Taxes and Economic Policy
Ted Cruz’s economic philosophy centers around deregulation and tax cuts to promote growth. He fundamentally believes the IRS is an abomination, calling it “un-American” and advocating for its abolition. His tax reform plan repeals the current code completely and replaces it with a flat tax system, which he believes is much more democratic and fair than a progressive tax system. He wishes to promote an “Energy Economy,” dismantling many EPA regulations to promote the production of oil, natural gas, and ethanol as a way to create jobs.
Marco Rubio has very recently criticized Ted Cruz’s tax plan, claiming that his proposed business flat tax, or Value Added Tax, hurts businesses by taxing them at multiple times in the production process. He said it punishes businesses for making profits and penalizes company heads when they increase employee salaries. Rubio also said that VATs fool people to think that they are paying less taxes, but, in reality, taxes are “shifted to employers” so people end up paying more for goods and workers being paid less. Rubio comments that this will be especially bad for those living in poverty and for older Americans. An LA Times opinion writer criticized Cruz’s proposal to replace the current federal income tax with a 10% flat tax. He believes that this would mainly benefit the wealthy and help the middle class to a very small extent. But the biggest issue with the plan, according to this author, is that there won’t be enough money for the federal budget.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Marco Rubio has very recently criticized Ted Cruz’s tax plan, claiming that his proposed business flat tax, or Value Added Tax, hurts businesses by taxing them at multiple times in the production process. He said it punishes businesses for making profits and penalizes company heads when they increase employee salaries. Rubio also said that VATs fool people to think that they are paying less taxes, but, in reality, taxes are “shifted to employers” so people end up paying more for goods and workers being paid less. Rubio comments that this will be especially bad for those living in poverty and for older Americans. An LA Times opinion writer criticized Cruz’s proposal to replace the current federal income tax with a 10% flat tax. He believes that this would mainly benefit the wealthy and help the middle class to a very small extent. But the biggest issue with the plan, according to this author, is that there won’t be enough money for the federal budget.
Policy Proposals
- Replace the current seven bracket tax system with a single flat tax of 10% on all incomes and a business flat tax of 16%, which some have called a “Value Added Tax” or VAT. A family of four would be exempt from paying any taxes until they make $36,000.
- Pass the REINS Act, which would require Congress to approve all regulations with an economic impact of over $100 million annually.
- Repeal the Affordable Care Act, open insurance markets across state lines, expand Health Savings Accounts, and delink health insurance from employment.
- Eliminate EPA regulations that Cruz believes burden small businesses, rural Americans, and red states, like the Waters of the U.S. rule and the Clean Power Plan (see above).
Relevant History
- Cruz has been a leader in a national effort to repeal Affordable Care Act in its entirety.
- Sponsored the Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA), to check President Obama’s "overreaching" Clean Power Plan regulations that he says infringe on states’ rights and drive up costs for consumers.
- Consistently opposed debt limit increases in 2014 and said that any rise must be linked to budget cuts and spending cuts.
Representative Quotes
- “Extending unemployment benefits exacerbates joblessness; government checks create dependency.”
- “There are more words in the tax code than in the Bible.”
- “Abolish the IRS.”
Immigration
Cruz’s immigration policy focuses primarily on Mexican immigration. The main slogan of his immigration campaign is: “border security is national security.” He is against president Obama’s recent executive orders, and intends to stop illegal immigration by deporting undocumented immigrants, getting rid of sanctuary programs, and increasing border security and surveillance. He also plans to increase American jobs by regulating the amount of legal immigration, and controlling companies’ access to foreign labor over American workers.
Marco Rubio has criticized Cruz's voting record on immigration: “You used to say you were in favor of doubling the number of green cards. Now you say that you’re against it. You used to support a 500 percent increase in the number of guest workers. Now you say you’re against it. You used to support legalizing people who were here illegally. Now you say you’re against it. You used to say you were in favor of birthright citizenship. Now you say you’re against it… That is not consistent conservatism. That’s political calculation.” Cruz has also been accused of flip-flopping by Jeb Bush.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Marco Rubio has criticized Cruz's voting record on immigration: “You used to say you were in favor of doubling the number of green cards. Now you say that you’re against it. You used to support a 500 percent increase in the number of guest workers. Now you say you’re against it. You used to support legalizing people who were here illegally. Now you say you’re against it. You used to say you were in favor of birthright citizenship. Now you say you’re against it… That is not consistent conservatism. That’s political calculation.” Cruz has also been accused of flip-flopping by Jeb Bush.
Policy Proposals
- Build 700-mile wall along Mexico-U.S. border to strengthen border security.
- Triple number of Border Patrol agents.
- Enact a biometric tracking system, in order to keep track of legal immigrants and lower the number of people that overstay their visas.
- End sanctuary policies. Cruz plans to sign the Stop Sanctuary Cities and Protect Americans Act, and will restrict “sanctuary cities,” which are cities that openly allow undocumented immigrants to reside in their jurisdiction, from receiving block grants for community projects and law enforcement, until they agree to comply with the federal laws on immigration and cooperate with federal immigration enforcement authorities.
- Amend the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, to End Birthright Citizenship.
- Amend the H-1B visa program, which allows American companies access to relatively cheaper foreign labor.
Relevant History
- Led opposition to the so-called Gang of Eight Bill, which was a major bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2011.
- Re-introduced a bill in the Senate called Kate’s Law, which establishes a minimum 5 year mandatory jail sentence to all immigrants who illegally re-enter the U.S.
Representative Quotes
- “My position is very simple: I oppose amnesty. I oppose citizenship. I oppose legalization … Today, tomorrow, forever. I believe in the rule of law.”
- “It’s not that we don’t know how to solve illegal immigration. What is missing is the political will to get it done. And, as president, I will get it done. We will secure the border.”
Health Care and Social Security
Ted Cruz greatly opposes the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and wants to repeal it as soon as possible. He shares the general Republican sentiment that health care should not be controlled by the federal government. He plans to replace the ACA with his own healthcare plan, called the Health Care Choices Act. With his plan, Americans would buy health insurance, not have it be provided by the federal government, which would create a national marketplace. As for Social Security, Cruz wants to keep it and preserve it for generations to come. He plans on doing so by gradually increasing the age of retirement.
Ted Cruz’s main opposition on this matter comes from the Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton. As president, Hillary wants to keep the ACA in place. Cruz faces opposition within his own party as well. Orrin Hatch, the most senior Republican senator criticized him for being too far to the right and for not appealing to all types of Republicans.
Policy Proposals
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Ted Cruz’s main opposition on this matter comes from the Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton. As president, Hillary wants to keep the ACA in place. Cruz faces opposition within his own party as well. Orrin Hatch, the most senior Republican senator criticized him for being too far to the right and for not appealing to all types of Republicans.
Policy Proposals
- Enact the Health Care Choices Act, which would fully privatize health care, as well as allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines.
- Reform Social Security to allow Americans to put a part of their tax payments in an account that can be passed down to later generations.
- Increase the retirement age for Social Security for younger Americans (keep the same for those close to retirement).
Relevant History
- In the Senate, fought for the repeal of the ACA, including voting to support the Restoring Americans’ Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015, which would have repealed key parts of Obamacare.
- Voted no on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, which changed the wages of doctors working under Medicare and the penalty for not obtaining health insurance.
Representative Quotes
- “I'm 44. It's hard to find someone my generation who believes Social Security will be there for them. And I think that gives us an opportunity for common-sense reforms."
- "Republicans must offer the American people alternatives that lower costs and break the status quo that favors big government and big health care business over hardworking Americans."
Poverty and Social Welfare Programs
Ted Cruz believes that the government is too involved in Americans’ lives, including in social welfare. He believes that the way to improve the lives of those in need is to create an economy that has more jobs, and more opportunity. Cruz not only wants to lower taxes, but he also wants to get rid of the IRS completely, as he believes it is a corrupt government agency that is damaging American prosperity. In addition, he wants to eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development, another agency he believes is wasteful and corrupt. He believes that these actions will create a better economic environment, removing the need for the programs like SNAP (food stamps), which he finds wasteful.
Other Republican candidates haven’t really been insulting Cruz’s welfare plans specifically as Cruz’s system often mirrors their own, and Democrats haven’t really engaged with him specifically on this issue. However, in general, Cruz’s plan suffers the same criticism that the majority of Republican plans do; critics say that the tax plans favor the wealthy over the less fortunate, and the benefit cuts will negatively affect those who need them the most.
Policy Proposals
Cruz believes that “big government” is standing in Americans’ way of getting jobs that would allow them to stop using social welfare programs. Therefore, the Cruz has proposed two main policy proposals:
Relevant History
Representative Quotes
Other Republican candidates haven’t really been insulting Cruz’s welfare plans specifically as Cruz’s system often mirrors their own, and Democrats haven’t really engaged with him specifically on this issue. However, in general, Cruz’s plan suffers the same criticism that the majority of Republican plans do; critics say that the tax plans favor the wealthy over the less fortunate, and the benefit cuts will negatively affect those who need them the most.
Policy Proposals
Cruz believes that “big government” is standing in Americans’ way of getting jobs that would allow them to stop using social welfare programs. Therefore, the Cruz has proposed two main policy proposals:
- Five For Freedom
- Eliminate the IRS, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Education. Cruz argues that these departments are responsible for massive spending inefficiencies, costing the taxpayers billion, without significant benefits. Cruz estimates that cutting these programs will save over $500 billion in the next ten years alone.
- Enact the "Cruz Simple Flat Rate Tax" plan (described above).
Relevant History
- Cruz has staunchly opposed any type of legislation that would raise taxes. He also tends to lean against legislation that would increase or extend social security or medicare benefits.
- Regularly voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
- Proposed raising the retirement age for Social Security, and ensuring that the rate of increase for benefits does not exceed the rate of inflation.
Representative Quotes
- "I'm 44. It's hard to find someone my generation who believes Social Security will be there for them. And I think that gives us an opportunity for commonsense reforms,"
- “We should shrink the size and power of the federal government by every and any means possible. What does that mean? That means eliminating unnecessary or unconstitutional agencies.”