2nd GOP candidate in challenge to Rep. Welch

A Springfield Republican who owns a produce store in White River Junction became the second candidate to challenge two-term Democrat Peter Welch for Vermont's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100428/NEWS03/4280355    # # # # 2nd GOP candidate in challenge to Rep. Welch


Rutland Herald

By Peter Hirschfeld VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: April 28, 2010

A Springfield Republican who owns a produce store in White River Junction became the second candidate to challenge two-term Democrat Peter Welch for Vermont's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Keith Stern, a 55-year-old small businessman, said he'll work to shrink government spending, eliminate the income tax for anyone making less than $75,000 and undo the federal health care bill signed into law last month if he's elected.

"There are ways to cut health care costs and make it affordable for everyone," Stern said Monday. "But Democrats completely ignored that and passed a bill which will tax the hardworking people even more."

Stern will vie for the Republican nomination in a primary against radio personality Paul Beaudry, who announced his candidacy weeks ago.

On his campaign website "vermontgetstern.org," Stern, in an apparent homage to former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, has posted his "Contract with Vermont." The 12-point contract spells out a platform that includes decreased government spending, heightened accountability for elected officials and an aggressive pursuit of renewable energy.

The owner of Stern's Quality Produce in White River Junction with his wife, he said global warming is a "farce." But the environmental and economic benefits of domestically generated renewable power, he said, make it a vital component of the nation's energy future.

"One thing is we could have ethanol-based fuel from agriculture products that are much more efficient than corn," he said. "It would be good for agriculture and it would be good for cutting pollution. We could set up refineries in Vermont and New Hampshire and create jobs too."

In order to tamp down government spending, Stern said one of his first acts as a congressman will be to constrain spending in federal bills.

"A crucial bill I would introduce would make it so no legislative bill can have anything added to it that has spending that is not directly related to the bill itself," Stern said. "If they eliminate that practice, they can introduce bills as standalone legislation and people can vote up or down on the merits of bill."

Stern said he wants to reform the income-tax system and impose a flat tax on all wage earners. Under his plan, people making less than $75,000 would pay nothing in income tax. Everyone above that threshold would pay a flat rate on their income.

Stern proposes tax increases in some areas, but says his proposals, taken together, would reduce overall tax obligations. In order to salvage Social Security, Stern said, the government needs to eliminate the income cap on FICA taxes.

"Social Security is bankrupt so we have to make a change," he said. "Overall I don't want to see more taxes, just a restructuring of taxes."

Stern said his plan for healthcare reform would lower costs by reducing the amount of money spent on malpractice suits and administrative costs. The savings, he said, would be used to subsidize catastrophic health-care policies for citizens who are otherwise unable to afford premiums.

"We can achieve universal coverage, but we can do it without creating a government-run system," he said. "My plan doesn't eliminate private insurers, it just makes the system run more efficiently."

Stern, who will self-impose a two-year term limit if elected, said Congress has been corrupted by career politicians who care more about their own re-election than the wellbeing of their constituents. Stern has proposed the creation of a new "code of conduct" for elected officials, and a citizen panel that would enforce adherence.

"It would require candidates for federal office to sign a contract – a code-of-conduct contract – and we'll have a citizens' board to hear cases of potential abuse and violations," he said. "And the board will have the power to remove an elected official if they are found guilty of violating the contract."

On foreign policy, Stern said he wants to "replace our failed foreign policy with a treaty of non-aggression and basic human rights."

His website includes lengthy position statements on 19 issues.

Stern said he's running because of frustration with Welch's support for health care reform and other "big government" legislation.