Las Vegas, Nevada (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is proposing to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget in his first year in office and eliminate five cabinet level federal departments, if elected president.
The longtime congressman from Texas unveiled his proposals Monday as part his "Plan to Restore America," which also pledges to balance the budget over three years, and slashes regulations and taxes.
Programming note: GOP presidential candidates next face off at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, October 18, in the CNN Western Republican Presidential Debate in Las Vegas, Nevada. Submit your questions for the debate here.
"A lot of people will say, well, cutting a trillion dollars in one year, that sounds radical. But I have been under the assumption that the radicals have been in charge way too long," Paul told a receptive audience at a campaign event at the Venetian Hotel and Sands Expo and Convention Center, site of Tuesday's CNN Western Republican presidential debate.
Paul proposed eliminating the departments of Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Interior, and Education, as well as abolishing the Transportation Security Administration and returning responsibility for security to private property owners. Paul also called for reducing the federal workforce by 10%, slashing Congressional pay and perks, and curb what he called excessive federal travel.
"In many of the departments that we cut, there are some important places there that we just don't close down. Many of those important parts of each of those departments will be held in another department. So nobody gets laid off immediately, they get laid off through attrition," Paul said.
Paul's proposals also call for abolishing corporate subsidies, stopping foreign aid, ending foreign wars, and returning most other spending to 2006 levels. In an interview on CNN's "The Situation Room", Paul told anchor Wolf Blitzer that he will cut $200 billion from military spending in his first year, if elected, and "over a period of time, drastically lower."
"I don't cut anything from defense. I cut from the military. There's a big difference," added Paul. "We need a stronger national defense, not a weaker one. Just spending money doesn't necessarily help us."
Paul is also pledging that, if elected, he would take a salary of $39,336, approximately equal to the median personal income of the American worker. Paul is proposing to lower the corporate tax rate to 15%, extend all Bush-era tax cuts, abolish the so-called "death tax," and end taxes on personal savings.
According to his plan, Paul would also repeal two major pieces of legislation passed under Pres. Barack Obama, the president's health care reform law, known by Republicans as "ObamaCare," and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law.
Paul, who's making his third bid for the White House, places third or fourth in most recent national polling in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
From CNN Politics
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This guy's not just wackadoodle, he's dangerous! Such actions would be catastrophic for all but the ruling class.
Pres. Hoover would have been proud of Ron Paul. That cut everything mindset gave us our first great depression, and it appears that republicans desperately want another one.
He knows about ending Wars, we can not even afford now. Slashing entitlements, such as social security, medicare, will hurt poor man's living. Cutting Congress and Senate salaries, it is impossible, you are talking like passing senate and congress term limits, you know what, if he asks to take poison, does congress take? does senate take? unworkable. Some body needs to come back to do these, is some external force. let us pray for it. till then, let us be mum....
Don't worry if Galveston gets hit with a hurricane, like in 1900, and there is no FEMA, some private group (or fish) will clean up the 6000 bodies floating in the Gulf. Libertarians should not be allowed on public highways.
This man is the only true fiscal conservative in the race.
Nothing but a buffoon.
I could also take a $39k salary if i already had 10 millions in the bank.
He must know that even should people be stupid enough to put him in office Congress would not vote for even one of these measures. Executive order can only go so far.
One tax plan attract republican voters so far 9-9-9
So Follow the 9-9-9 we may borrow $1 trillion every year
this is the only way we can shrink the beast that is the federal govt. these dept.s have done more harm than good. tsa handles people poorly, dept. of ed., well look around today. not the brightest divergent thinkers among us. and it costs us billions and billions. be done with it. go ron paul!! be brave. challenge the money printers and the abusers of power. 'wire palladin' really needs to do his homework. the 'elimination' of depts. did not spiral us into a depression. the ferderal reserve did by propping up false institutions. just like it is now. READ!!!!
Paul is the real deal! What makes him different from other candidates is he means what he says, and this will scare away special interest.
Finally, a plan that talks about managing spending (instead of taxing) on low-value and no-value bureaucracies.
How interesting to watch the criticism of Ron Paul's economic plan!
They take shots that amount to nothing more than name calling...but no fact, figures, or math to back it up. Cmon neocons! You can do better than this!
Bring it on!
That is American Austerity right there...We can control it or it will be forced on by the market and Chinese in a TARP like program with 1 day left till catastrophic consequences. Remember how well TARP worked out for everyone? We are bankrupt I hope people understand that...This makes sense let's take the medicine now before it gets really dangerous. Our dollar is at stake...Ron Paul understands that.
Sounds like the most reasonable plan offered yet, I don't get why people are arguing against it...
Paul's latest insanity is just one reason while he'll never see the inside of the White House - unless invited by the President.
Awesome. A huge hit to the ruling class, who won't take this lightly. Expect the media and our government and corporate leaders to be literally at war with ███ ████ in the next few months.
Dr. Paul has 30+ years of experience defending liberty, yours and mine, and 30+ years of hitting the bullseye everytime in terms of domestic, foreign, and economic policy. Ron Paul has EARNED my vote in the coming South Carolina primary.
"If you trade liberty for security you deserve neither." Ben Franklin If another hurricane was to hit instead of those people relying on some one to take care of them, the community around them would be responsible to help. Do you know how many people from Galveston were staying in homes all over Texas. Why because the people around felt responsible to help. That kind of strength and unity is what this country needs...
It's about time we get a real plan for balancing the budget and stop the debt that is suffocating our economy and bankrupting our children. It's not mentioned here, but there are no cuts to SS, Medicare, or veterans benefits. Young people are given the option to opt out of SS.
Ron Paul 2012
Please don't scare him off people! He's only trying to HELP YOU!
HERE is your "Bold" plan. I love it! I don't understand why people are against this! It's all logical and won't hurt the 99% one bit! No Child Left Behind is crap, DOE spends on crap that gets us nowhere... the Fed NEEDS to be audited and reigned in, the TSA needs to go (they molest us and don't make us ANY safer) and the WARS NEED TO END SOMEDAY!
It frustrates me to see people who can only think what they are programmed to think. Media and the big government create differences among people and then they make them fight on those issues. That's just plain simple how media and the governments work. Everyone has same requirements to live (different preferences ofcourse) yet people disagree with each other on how things need to be done. Even dems wouldn’t agree with dems on certain things and same goes for republicans. Dems and republicans essentially do the similar things and raise budget deficits and the debt on the country. They both want bigger empire and policing of the world. Yet they make people fight over issues that they don't even work on once elected into power. How many more times do you think politicians will promise health care reform and tax care reform to get in office?? They will keep doing it until they can be-fool you. Let me break it down to you: Its all you the people who are to be blamed for putting up with stupid politicians and their fake promises.
When you are under a debt of $10,000, you don't go around and stimulate yourself with more debt but rather work hard to pay off the debt.
Ron paul is the only guy who calls the spade a spade and people start thinking ohhh he is just a nutjub. We don't need to pay attention to him. He has crazy ideas. He is the only guy who wants to be elected on the basis of his philosophy. Politicians like Obama, Mitt Romney flip flop just to get into the office. Imagine what would they do if they get elected into the office? Oh wait you don’t need to imagine just open your eyes and see what obama has done.
Ron Paul's ideas are most appealing to young people period. Do you know why? because they haven't been programmed to think the way most of you have been. Governments have lead their young men and women into war on lies in vietnam, iraq. Killing so many people in other countries and losing thousands of its own men.
Those who think that cutting budget won't do any good should know that the debt is the major hinderance in the growth of the economy. No economy grows when the main street is under debt just like you wouldn't prosper and wouldn't buy a house if you owe bank hundered thousand dollar.
Ron Paul for president.
Frankly I am astonished by some of the comments here. People are calling Ron Paul a "buffoon" or a "whacko" for trying to save our country from being crushed under the weight of our federal debt. Would the gentlemen making these comments like to propose (any) other way of balancing our federal budget? Please, I'm all ears. Or are you just a brainwashed partisan fanboy?
“Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain.”
― Frédéric Bastiat, The Law
We continue to see the product of socialist dictatorship in education: Only the socialist viewpoint is presented, and the assumption that if we don't want the government doing it at the point of a gun, that we are opposed to it being done.
You forgot to mention that he wants to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Both Ron Paul, and his son Rand, feel that laws that prohibit bias and racism are an unconstitutional retriction on your freedom of speech. If a business wants to turn away all people of a certain race, then that business has a right to do that. The Civil Rights Act prohibits that practice. It stands in Dr. Paul's way for his ideal libertarian society.
*gasp* an actual plan from a nominee ? With specifics !? Doesn't that say something about Ron Paul ? It looks like he will hit the ground running if elected and actually cut spending !
This is what we need, folks !
A politician presenting a balanced budget, peaceful foreign policy, sound money, low taxes, states rights, and a reduction of the presidential salary?
This guy's DEFINITELY a nut job. Can't elect him. -_______-
Jose fantastic quote.
I love seeing the fear from the liberals who think the world will end if mommy government doesn't deliver their electricity and educate their children. Sadly, many conservatives have fallen for this fear and don't even support measures that cut the rate of growth of (unsustainable, by the way) government. Why not actually cut? Why not end the war(s)? Why not defend this country instead of the world (duh, that doesn't work anyway.) Many of you point out that congress wouldn't enact most of this agenda–well then, what are you afraid of? He would bring the troops home and he would stop corporatism (bailouts). Go, Ron Paul! BlackThisOut
This is the only serious plan I have seen so far. Trimming around the edges is not going to balance our budget. Ron Paul is the only candidate that looks our for country before self. Ron Paul 2012.
While I like Dr Paul, in this case I cannot agree with his tactic, the idea that we need to deregulate Wall Street will somehow improve our situation is contray to the reality we've seen recently. Unregulate capitalism is a corrupting agent to everything it touchs, because it is motivated solely by greed, which is one of the roots of all evils. Failure to recognize this by any presidential hopeful, places this country in greater danger, we must acknowledge that greed is NOT good, enlighten self-interest, yes, but greed never. Also, something needs to be done about the insurance/medicare industries, whether we transition to a single payer system, or some other subsidized or highly regulated oversight. HOWEVER THING NUMBER ONE TO GET DONE IS TO GET RID OF BIG MONEY POLITICS that should be the focus of any adminstration that takes the reign of power.
the things Congressman Paul is spouting today, he spouted 30 years ago, he couldn't get the votes then, and he won't be able to get the votes now, neither will Cain, If Congressman Paul was correct 30 yrs ago, then Jimmy Carter and his infamous malaise speech was also correct, google it for yourself.
Paul talks a good talk, but he's nothing more than Obama, making false promises that aren't possible. He's doing nothing more than the same republican trick that makes all these departments he wants to end...........Privatized, smoke and mirrors for his dream eutopia for a country that we all long for, but that isn't in reality of the century we live in.
He IS the ANTI-BIG MONEY CANDIADTE! Jump aboard 99%!
Very sad when someone proposes something as modest as bringing Federal departments spending to 2006 levels and they are labeled as extreme.
The people who support a $1.5 trillion dollar deficit per year are the absolute most extreme members of our society.
I think it is interesting Ron Paul attracts so much hate (whether by liberals or false conservatives). If those who speak nothing but fallacy and harsh language for no reason are not paid, God help us.
Ron Paul really is America's only hope. All of you voting for the pat 50 years have done so in vain as it didn't matter. Now when the time comes when there is a candidate that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the rest of our founding fathers would be proud of, the American people turn into fools and elect more of the same.
Interesting that no one remembers their history. They have wooden planks in their eyes.
common sense wrote:
When you are under a debt of $10,000, you don't go around and stimulate yourself with more debt but rather work hard to pay off the debt.
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No, you don't. And you don't go to your boss and demand a draconian pay cut, either.
Seems Mr. Paul and Mr. Cain have the right ideas to get this country back on track.
I'm a registered Democrat – and If he the one who gets the nomination for the Republicans, then I (among other dems) will VOTE for Ron Paul. All of the others are Just looking out for theirselves, not to mention that they are all far too right winged !
The best plan yet. Paul will end all foreign wars. This is real change!
Ron Paul 2012!
I can't say how wonderful it is for freedom-lovers watching the shills and Stockholm Syndrome sufferers panicking.
Get used to Liberty, you fools, it's coming one way or another.
He almost had me until he slipped in the infamous privitization word, that tells me what he's really about, to tell us all what we want to hear based on things he alone cannot do and cannot get the votes for. We have signed treaties with these countries our bases are in, South Korea, Germany, Italy, etc. Close them and allow Iran to have nukes and we are all the way over here......yeah right, this guy is a fraud.
Paul Rawson wrote:
I think it is interesting Ron Paul attracts so much hate
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Dr. Paul does not attract hateful comments. The angriest of the comments posted here so far actually seem to support and endorse Dr. Paul. So, maybe you're correct about him attracting hateful comments. BTW, Dr. Paul does quietly promote, and approve of, bigotry and racism.
So he wants to increase unemployment by cutting 10% of the federal workforce. He wants to slash congressional pay like he'll get them to vote for that. Where is he taking money out of the political process and putting it back in the hands of the electorate? Lower corporate tax rate, gee where have I heard that one before? I have a better idea, lets all just start our on militia's and fend for ourselves. I mean really, we don't need any education in this country or security at our airports because no one is trying to harm us. Lets get rid of the department of energy and just let Exxon and Mobile and BP and all the rest just do whatever they want, because I'm sure they'll have the peoples best interest at heart. This is a joke right, like Herman Cain's electrocute them joke?
Your state gov't will still be available to hold your hand and wipe your nose. Personal responsibility...if people want to build their homes on the beach, waterways or flood zones, federal taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for their choices. We're actually moving to the Texas Gulf Coast in three weeks...I will buy flood insurance and evacuate when my local and state gov't advises me to...that's my choice. I could also choose to suck up federal handouts when you vote for anyone else but Ron Paul while you are stuck in the suburbs...I won't though because I take personal responsibility for my choices.
The people who support Ron Paul seem to think that he has a wand and the minute he is elected president, all the mess will go away. Ron Paul wants to do away with regulations, cut 1 trillion dollars...blah blah blah, and there will be no impact when he does, just "poof" and it's all better. The GOP and Ron Paul are dreaming. Ron Paul thinks he will bring on his utopian society within a few months of his becoming president. That would only happen in a unilateral economy. The world's economies are tied together, and there will always be an impact. Ron Paul is selling something that has no chance of really working–and his GOP/Tea Party tea drinkers are guzzling this stuff down without even thinking about it.
No thanks, Ron Paul, I don't want a dreamer, I want a president firmly rooted in reality.
Ron Paul says that if were elected President he would slash 1 trilion dollars, well that has been said before. If everyone remembers that Obama said the he would cut the deficit in half in his frist term as President. Well it's coming to the end of his frist term and the deficit has not been cut in half as a matter of fact it has increased. So I don't put much stock in what Ron Pauls says that he would cut a trillin dollars if the were President. For a guy who is congressman he hasn't learned how Washington works yet.
Well, how does he propose that those that need help get it? Where is the charity that is going to help those in need? The problem is that most charities don't cover the whole country and don't have the resources to cover everything. That is the problem. The other is that the Dept. of Energy has spurred investment in solar and other technologies that have kept us from importing more oil.
Ron Paul is an anarchist of the highest order, and arguably the most senile, dangerous individual ever running for President. Anybody that supports this nut is crazier than him.
You are the man!!!!!!!!!!!
SaintM,
I support RP and you're comments are flat-out wrong. The destruction of the principles of our country has happened over many years and correcting it will not happen overnight. but we must place a leader in charge who understands the problems and how we got there instead continuing the destruction of our foreign, social and monetary policies. Ron Paul as President is the first step in the long journey. So in turn, I suggest you stop 'guzzling' your NWO bs and start "thinking about it"
$1 trillion in cuts without the need for a "super committee".
That shoud tell you the difference between a straight shooter and those that prefer to kick the can down the road.
Ron Paul, trying to chop up the middle and lower classes for the benefit of the ruling class "job creators" like no other right wing nut job! At least he isn't bothering to hide it like the other nut jobs at the debate. America please take notice!
Ernie wrote:
If everyone remembers that Obama said the he would cut the deficit in half in his frist term as President. Well it's coming to the end of his frist term and the deficit has not been cut in half as a matter of fact it has increased.
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As a matter of act, if the Bush Tax Cuts were allowed to expire the annual deficit would be cut in half. Unfortunately, the Republicans reneged on their promise to the American people that the deficit ballooning BTCs were just temporary and they would be allowed to expire. That promise was made to the American people in 2001, and again in 2003. And that promise was broken during the 2008 presidential campaigns, and again in 2010.
The American people shall never forget.
In some ways I really like Paul. I voted Democrat for the first time at the last major election, but I think Paul is one of the few GOP hopefuls that has some kind of a brain. He may be bat-shizzle crazy, but there's some kind of intelligence behind everything he says. I don't agree with everything he states in this proposal and don't think half of them would fly, but there are some aspects that are certainly respectable. Cutting his own salary? Very cool statement. Ending all the foreign wars? Yes. Removing the department of energy and FEMA? Mmmm... not too cool. I think those things are important to keep in place. Will be curious to see how this goes for him. I can't stand Herman Cain and think his 9-9-9 plan is beyond ridiculous.