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0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8d4a0009Race: U.S. SenateParty: RepublicanPolitical Experience:1984-1990 - U.S. House of Representatives1990-2002 - U.S. SenatePersonal: Married, three children; lives in MerrimackEducation: Bachelor’s, Lafayette CollegeCampaign WebsiteIssuesSmith supports a complete overhaul of the federal tax system, including repeal of the income tax. Smith would institute a flat tax and a national sales tax to be collected by businesses, allowing for the elimination of the IRS.“We inherited the current income tax system with the passage of the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the code has grown larger and more complex as the years have gone by. Unfortunately, the growth was more like the erratic growth of a cancer cell, than sustained and reasonable evolution. I equate the current code to an old appliance. Sometimes it gets to the point where repairing is not an option and we must discard it and get a new one.”Smith says “illegal immigration” is a threat to American culture and economic solvency and “opens our communities up to drug traffickers, terrorist and those in search of a free ride.” He opposes granting citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and supports a vigorous deportation policy.“My position is clear. Our borders must be secured and I will oppose any effort which offers amnesty or a path to citizenship to those who broke our laws and disregarded our nation’s sovereignty when they illegally entered the United States.“I will advocate for legislation that will deny benefits to illegal immigrants. In addition, I will advocate for legislation that will require that all US government business be conducted in English and that any responsibility for providing translators, except in criminal cases, be borne by the individual.”Smith says President Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush, share the blame for problems in the Middle East, and that the U.S. foreign policy needs to recognize democracy “cannot be imposed on countries whose religions and cultures don’t share our belief in human dignity and the rights of man."“And so the question really gets down to this: is nation building what our armed forces were trained to do? The answer is no.”

Republican Candidates For U.S. Senate Debate, Scott Brown Declines Invite

Ryan Lessard
/
NHPR

  Republican candidates for U.S. Senate Karen Testerman, Jim Rubens and Bob Smith debated in Bedford Tuesday night. The tone was cordial and while some disagreed on points of policy, they were united in their criticism of the absent candidate: Scott Brown.

From the opening statements in the debate, Scott Brown was part of the conversation. Karen Testerman made sure to introduce herself as an officially declared candidate as opposed to Brown who is scheduled to announce on Thursday.

After that, Bob Smith criticized Brown for his vote in favor of the Dodd-Frank bill.

“If you’re running in the Republican primary and you’re voting to strangle community banks and cut businesses all over the state, with all due respect, please, that’s just not what Republicans are all about.”

Testerman, Smith and Jim Rubens all hewed closely to the Republican platform—agreeing on second amendment rights and the need to do away with the Affordable Care Act. But there were a few points they disagreed on, such as climate change and the size and role of the federal government.

Before becoming a reporter for NHPR, Ryan devoted many months interning with The Exchange team, helping to produce their daily talk show. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in Manchester with a major in Politics and Society and a minor in Communication Arts. While in school, he also interned for a DC-based think tank. His interests include science fiction and international relations. Ryan is a life-long Manchester resident.
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