GOP Debate Questions

Washington, DC – Chris Wallace, the moderator for tonight’s Republican primary debate, says he’s prepared some “doozies” to ask the candidates. Well, the Club for Growth PAC has a few doozies that we think should be asked.

Donald Trump

• You called yourself a liberal on health care and said that you like universal coverage. Earlier this year you applauded the UK’s single-payer system. Why do you support government-run health care?
• You called for a one-time $5.7 trillion tax. How will raising taxes spur economic growth?
• Do you still support the use of eminent domain for development purposes, in the manner that you sought to use in New Jersey? Do you still believe it’s OK for governments to forcibly buy an individual’s property strictly for commercial reasons?
• Do you stand by your assessment that Bill Clinton was a very good president and that Hillary would have made a terrific candidate?

Mike Huckabee

• During your time as governor of Arkansas, the overall tax burden increased by 47% and the net tax hike was $505 million. Why do you still defend raising taxes on hard-working Arkansans, and how large of a role would tax increases play in your economic policy as president?
• You called No Child Left Behind “the greatest education reform effort by the federal government in my lifetime” (Washington Times, 3/1/2015). What’s changed? Why do you now oppose it?
• You raised the minimum wage in Arkansas (US Newswire, 8/3/2006). How high do you believe the federal minimum wage should be?
• You have flip-flopped on regulatory cap and trade. Do you support President Obama’s plan to curb carbon emissions? If not, do you no longer see carbon emissions as something for government to regulate?

Chris Christie

• You expanded Medicaid in New Jersey, and already the number of enrollees has vastly exceeded projections. How will New Jersey pay for its share of Medicaid in 2017, and was it a mistake to expand Medicaid?
• Under your administration New Jersey subsidized a professional sports practice facility, a shopping mall, and land for conservation. What factors should the government consider when picking winners and losers?
• New Jersey is still rated as the worst business tax climate in the country. After five years in office, why have you not been able to make significant improvements?

John Kasich

• You vetoed the Ohio legislature’s effort to block Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, and now the projected cost of your expansion is more than double what your administration projected. Was that expansion a mistake and how will you pay for it? Similarly, since Medicaid expansion was a key component of Obamacare, isn’t it duplicitous for you to call for its repeal?

For All Candidates

Describe two specific pro-growth policies that you will seek to enact within your first hundred days in office.

The Club for Growth is the nation’s leading group promoting economic freedom through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, and education.

The Club’s website can be found at https://www.clubforgrowth.org/