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HARRISON, N.Y. Republican Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin is running in New York's 17th Congressional District against the incumbent, Democrat Nita Lowey, and Francis Morganthaler.
The 17th District includes Rockland County, Yorktown, Peekskill, Cortlandt, Mount Kisco, New Castle, Ossining, Mount Pleasant, North Castle, Greenburgh, Harrison and portions of Rye.
Name: Joseph CarvinAge: 57Family: Wife, Rozlyn Carvin. Three children.Occupation: Agricultural Investor/Rye Town SupervisorHow long have you lived in town: LifelongParty affiliation and ballot lines held: Republican Party, Republican LineYears in office: 4½ yearsOther elected positions held: NoneCivic organizations: One World, Building Community Bridges, Our Lady of Mercy Church,
1) What are the three biggest issues facing your district or town?
High property taxes, job losses and the staggering national debt being heaped upon our children and crushing the middle class. Years of overspending and borrowing at every level of government have caught up with our country, and we are now at the precipice of serious decline. If we do not address our debt crisis in a real and responsible way we will soon go bankrupt and suffer the same fate as Greece. It is clear the fiscal crisis has already become a jobs crisis. As Simpson-Bowles made clear, our workers will not be able to successfully compete for the jobs of the future until we get this crushing debt burden off our backs. The jobs crisis could get even worse for our childrens generation if we do not act soon to resolve our fiscal situation.
Our career politicians in Washington have badly failed us and we need serious-minded people with financial experience in Washington who know how to clean up the mess theyve made before its too late. 2) How would you address those issues? Fiscal/Jobs Solutions
The honest way: Reduce spending, restructure Social Security and Medicare for those under the age of 55 to save the programs from insolvency, and downsize the size and scope of the federal government.
Thats not just Joe Carvins prescription; these are the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles Bipartisan Commission on Fiscal Integrity, which was totally ignored by the Obama Administration that commissioned it.
Our challenges today are no longer ideological, they are mathematical. Career politicians look to the next election rather than to the long-term health of the nation. Ms. Lowey, whom I personally like, is among the guilty in that regard. That is how we got to where we are.
We can also directly impact jobs by putting in place a national energy policy and a federal infrastructure program. The build-out of a new energy infrastructure will create jobs and then, as energy prices come down in relative terms, we will be able to resuscitate our manufacturing base, as energy prices are a critical component of their costs. We would reduce corporate and individual tax rates (many small businesses file as individuals). Our corporate tax rates are the highest in the world. The more money that businesses have, the more people they can hire.
I would also overturn Obamacare, as this new entitlement will further bankrupt the nation, increase costs on businesses of more than 50 people and decimate the health care industry.
3) What were your biggest achievements? As Rye Town Supervisor, I reduced the size of government by 25% and cut taxes every year Ive been in office. Ive also refused to accept a salary or benefits, and I am working to eliminate my layer of government and my own job entirely because it is an unnecessary layer of government.
Westchester families pay the highest property taxes in America. They are struggling. We cannot afford redundant government any more. We are also working hard to put in place our Model American Community program, which is designed to bring each of the different segments and participants in our community together.
Our biggest achievement in the Town of Rye was to restore integrity and transparency to government.
4) Westchester is among the highest-taxed counties in the nation. What would you do to lower the tax burden.
As mentioned above, I have reduced taxes every year I have been in office already.
If elected to Congress, I would immediately look to reduce corporate and individual tax rates. I would look to offset some of the reduction in rates with a broadening of the tax base and a closing of some of the $1.1 trillion in tax loopholes.
The only other way to reduce taxes is by reducing spending. That is what we did in the Town of Rye. We were able to cut taxes because we first cut spending.
We have to reduce government spending at every level. We cannot continue borrowing 37 cents of every dollar we spend.
We also need to fundamentally restructure our entitlement programs for those under the age of 55 to preserve them for the next generation.
Anyone who tells you that we can lower taxes without reducing spending is being dishonest. 5) Why should people vote for you?
Every candidate brings with them a life experience and governing philosophy. I believe that my unique mix of public sector, private sector and international experience is well-suited to meet the challenges facing the nation and our communities today.
I have the financial and government experience to get this economy moving and to address the long-term debt crisis that is turning into a long-term jobs crisis in America.
I am a successful businessman who has lived and worked on five continents. I speak five languages and I understand the challenges and competition our children are going to face in the coming years. I am running to make this country more competitive for them in the long-term.
As a town supervisor I have delivered tax cuts every year and Ive reduced government spending by 25%.
I also consider myself a post-partisan problem solver who will work with any serious-minded reformer Republican, Democrat, or Independent who is willing to reach across the aisle to honestly address the challenges we face.
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