Representative Tim Moffitt
Today we continue or exciting seasonal tradition of reposting Representative Moffitt’s answers to the various candidate questionnaires that he receives each election year. Earlier this month, we featured his responses to News Radio 570 WWNC’s Election 2014 Candidate Questionnaire — and in September, we reposted Rep. Moffitt’s discussion with the North Carolina Metro Mayors Coalition. But today, you’re really in for a treat: you’ll get two posts for the price of one!
First up are Representative Moffitt’s answers to the Asheville Citizen-Times Questionnaire, published on Sunday, October 19 and limited to 100 words (and as usual, he doesn’t pull any punches).
The second bit is from the 2014 Buncombe County Voter Guide, which is produced by ChildrenFirst, distributed by Mountain Xpress, and sponsored by a whole host of “non-partisan” groups representing a wide range of the political spectrum, from left to very far-left: the American Association of University Women, the Asheville City Schools Foundation, Democracy North Carolina, Just Economics of WNC, Asheville/Buncombe League of Women Voters, Mountain People’s Assembly, NAACP, WNC Alliance, and the Western North Carolina 4 Public Education. Each candidate was limited on that one to 80 words.
Asheville Citizen-Times
1. What would your top priorities be if you are elected?
Frankly, I’m the only one protecting the hard-working, regular folks of Buncombe County from the extremists running Asheville — radicals like Cecil Bothwell and his cronies. Progressive activists have taken over city council, county commission, the Register of Deeds — and soon, the District Attorney’s office. The lunatics are running the asylum.
These people do not share our values — someone needs to keep them on a short leash to provide balance. My record demonstrates that I’m not afraid to stand up to the progressive bullies in the city — and if I’m re-elected, that will continue to be my top priority.
2. How do you view the way the General Assembly has dealt with education issues? What should happen next?
I’m proud of my record on education. But I’m also very disappointed in how these left-wing activists have gotten away with rewriting history. Education funding has increased every year since I’ve been in office — but those who hate our fiscally conservative approach still continue to tell outright lies about our efforts. They’re shameless. And it’s worth noting that the last Democrat-controlled budget resulted in an 11% cut to education and included teacher furloughs.
What should happen next? As a parent, I think activist teachers should stop politicizing our classrooms and start doing a better job educating our children.
3. Should the state spend more on transportation and, if so, how should that spending be funded?
Last year we reformed the way transportation projects are funded with our Strategic Transportation Investments Act. This reform largely takes politics out of the equation and gives priority to those regionally-focused projects with objective economic development merit. That’s why you’ve seen so much movement on the I-26 project now after so many years of neglect.
Funding these projects should include a healthy mix of public/private partnerships and revenue bonds. I support the governor’s plan to focus infrastructure projects — rail, port, transit and highways — on our more rural areas of the state, including here in Western North Carolina.
4. Should the state accept the federal government’s offer to pay for an expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina?
Drug pushers always tell you that the first hit’s free — the same goes for big-government progressives who want more and more able-bodied voters addicted to taxpayer-funded “freebies.” So, no — I would resist any such efforts to expand Obamacare. I agree with the professionals of the North Carolina Hospital Association and the doctors of the North Carolina Medical Society.
Expanding a fundamentally broken system would massively increase costs, crowd-out services for the neediest recipients, and — despite hollow promises by the Obama administration — put hardworking taxpayers on the hook for an escalating cost burden. Let’s fix it first.
ChildrenFirst
1. Qualifications. Why you are running. Policy goals. Anything else.
I’m running for re-election to continue my work to reduce taxes, cut red tape, and bring jobs to Buncombe County — I’ve helped bring over 1,400 here since I was first elected. This year, I was rated the General Assembly’s Most Effective Legislator and I’ve received endorsements from the Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. I’m proud of my work and I’ll continue to focus on advancing pro-growth policies when I am returned to Raleigh.
2. Do you believe that the current state funding for K-12 public education is adequate? Yes/No?
After the devastating education cuts made by the other party the last two years they were in power (over $600 million in 2008-10), public education needed a long-overdue shot in the arm. I voted every year to increase funding — nearly $700 million dollars since I’ve been in office — and this year, I voted to give teachers one of the largest pay raises in NC history. We’ve finally put state education on a sustainable footing.
3. Would you support re-imposing the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for gas in WNC region? Yes/No?
As you know, there won’t be any fracking in WNC because we don’t have the right type of rock. As far as the rest of the state goes, I agree with the President, the Department of Energy, the EPA, and 33 of our nation’s governors that fracking is a safe and proven technology that keeps utility bills low. Besides, we shouldn’t let our children be held hostage to dependency on foreign oil. More info here: http://nchouse116.com/fracking-awesome/
4. Should NC expand health insurance access with affordable options for adults earning below 133% of poverty? Yes/No?
Medicaid expansion fails to achieve its intended effect of helping the poor. Instead, it would massively increase costs, crowd out services for the neediest recipients, and put taxpayers on the hook for an escalating cost burden. An audit revealed hundreds of millions of dollars in mismanagement and overspending by the program. Last year, we had to plug a half a billion dollar hole in the state budget that was specifically caused by additional unexpected cost overruns. Let’s fix it first.
5. What policies or programs are needed to improve health and developmental outcomes for children from birth to kindergarten?
Make sure their parents have good-paying jobs and better opportunities. Let them keep more of their hard-earned money. Help people become more independent and make them less reliant on government programs that don’t work. Lower their taxes. Give them greater choices. Deregulate occupational licensure requirements that are designed to bar entry and prevent competition. Basically, that means keeping busy-body government bureaucrats and progressive nanny-staters out of the business of raising other people’s children.
6. The NCGA’s 2013 tax reform plan reduced state revenue and increased taxes on low-income workers. Are additional reforms needed? Yes/No?
Yes, but it will take some time to realize the full impact of our reforms from the last three years — reforms that included cutting income taxes for families in every income category and reducing the state sales tax. We are advancing a long-term strategy that’s aimed at improving the lives of working families and making NC attractive to industry, investors, small businesses and job creators. Eventually, I’d like to see the complete elimination of the state personal income tax.
7. The 2013 election reforms require photo ID to vote in 2016, end voter registration at early voting sites, and shorten early voting periods, along with other changes to voting laws. Are further reforms necessary to our voting laws? Yes/No?
Our reforms have made it far easier and more convenient for people to vote. For example, there are more early-voting locations than in any prior off-year election and there’s 68.8% more evening hours than in 2010. Having a free ID will prove beneficial to folks who didn’t have one before, because it will make it easier to participate and function fully in our society. I think we’ve made some good, common-sense progress.
8. How can the NCGA increase job opportunities that pay enough for working parents to afford housing, food, healthcare, transportation and child care?
By getting government out of the way of our state’s small businesses, who actually create the jobs. They are the engines of prosperity and the key to economic health. We’ve already taken steps in the right direction by reforming the tax code, cutting red tape, and improving government efficiency. I’ll continue my work with one thing in mind: to make North Carolina a great place again to invest money, have a successful career, start a business, and raise a family.
