AZ Republic Questionaire

NAME: Michael Patti
OFFICE: AZ State Senate, LD 9
ADDRESS: 14300 N. 83rd Ave. Apt. 2059, Peoria, AZ 85381
CAMPAIGN PHONE: 623-221-9466
CAMPAIGN E-MAIL: Vote4Patti@gmail.com
WEBSITE: Vote4Patti.com
FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/Vote4Patti
OCCUPATION: High School Spanish Teacher
PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS: Substitute Teacher, English Teacher in Spain, Salesman, Data Entry work
EDUCATION: B.A. in Spanish and Political Science from ASU
DATE of BIRTH: 7/25/76
FAMILY: Single
HOW LONG IN AZ? 25 years
PARTY? Libertarian, 1 year
PREVIOUS PUBLIC OFFICE? None
CIVIC ORGANIZATION? Peoria Education Association
PUBLIC FUNDS IN MY CAMPAIGN? No. I do not think public money should be used for campaign purposes. Using stolen money from the general public to run for office is unjust. I am running on issues that are vital to the citizens of Arizona.
CRIMINAL RECORD? No
BEST POLITICAL ADVICE? To stay true to our founding principles with conviction.
FAVORITE BOOK: I enjoy books in reference to politics and history. If I had to choose a favorite book, it would be the following: THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR, THINK AND GROW RICH and THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Braveheart
FAVORITE PLACE: AZ has so much to offer. The Phoenix Metropolitan Area is my home; however, I do enjoy Tucson, Sedona, and Flagstaff. Each and every area has its unique characteristics that make it special.
AZ Political Figure: Barry Goldwater for his moral clarity and devotion to renewing the principles in which our Nation was founded.
GREAT AMERICAN: George Washington
ISSUES
1. AZ Spending: The State of Arizona needs to spend less in all areas of government. By deregulating and returning the agencies to the private sector, we will save a vast amount of money. The people of Arizona have the ability to innovate and provide services where those services are needed. The last thing Arizona needs to do is increase spending.
2. AGENCY/PROGRAM GETTING TOO MUCH MONEY? Overall, government is too large and needs to be decreased in size. I would support the elimination of the Department of Education (including school districts), and deregulating energy and water. In order to attract more businesses to Arizona, I firmly support deregulation that makes it profitable for entrepreneurs to establish their businesses in our beautiful state.
3. TOO LITTLE MONEY? We should spend less on everything and return the power to the citizens of Arizona to innovate and solve the problems we face.
4. TAX CUTS? I would cut the personal income, property and death taxes. I do not think it is right for the government to steal property from its citizens. By eliminating the mentioned taxes, personal income will rise and the citizens of Arizona will be able to donate more money to charities of their choice, and buy items they so desire. This will allow the economy to be revitalized. It is not the government’s job nor is it a founding principle of our nation to forcefully take the fruits of one’s labor.
5. STRATEGY IN PLACE OF TAXES? I would support a single rate transaction tax (not exceeding 10%) on all corporate involved transactions. This is vitally important because the State will earn revenue from all the money spent, even by illegal immigrants. In addition, citizens’ right to privacy will be protected by eliminating the need for documentation and unnecessary bureaucratic forms for tax purposes. I would also support a flat 4% fee on the gross receipts of each corporation. Businesses would be attracted to our stable tax obligation that is not subject to periodic change.
The economy is cyclical. As a state, we must change our mentality from fighting the economic fluctuations to working with them. By simply having our law makers demanding more money from our citizens is not an effective manner in which we should be fighting our economic challenges.
6. May 18th sales-tax measure? Yes, I supported it. However, during the next 3 years, it is imperative that our state takes action to impede the possibility of demanding more money from the voters. I often question if this sales tax will be terminated in 3 years.
7. RELIANT ON SALES TAX? Please see #5
8. TAX INCREASE: No. In fact, I have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge declaring that if elected, I would oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.
9. WHAT IS THE WAY TO BALANCE BUDGET? We need to cut spending and eliminate sectors of the government that would service the people better when privatized.
10. GLOBAL WARMING: No.
11. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: I am a product of legal immigration. The majority of the people who come here to work simply want a better life for themselves and their families. First and foremost, we must secure our border with non-lethal measures. Second, the current application process to obtain visas is complicated, expensive and time consuming. Such regulation promotes human trafficking and modern-day slavery. At the moment, many of these workers find it cheaper and easier to work in the United States illegally. Since I support legal immigration and legal migration, I would promote legislation that would make the process more affordable and efficient to obtain the necessary documents to work in Arizona legally. These individuals would not become citizens, but it would help relieve pressure on our border. In order to obtain these objectives, we must have secure borders. I would support humane, non-lethal, deterrent technology. I would also encourage the federal government to reform immigration that is comprehensive in scope. Conflicting laws have made it difficult and unclear for these people to do what is right. Amnesty is not the solution. We need a solution that separates immigration and migration, and deals with them separately. This would allow law abiding members of our communities to shed light on their existence instead of living in the shadows of our society.
12. SB1070? The issue with SB1070 is that it does not address border security, while it increases negative tension and emotion between certain groups of people. I would have preferred to see legislation that secures our borders while preventing those who are here illegally from receiving any form of public assistance at taxpayer expense. Only those services could be provided upon proof of eligibility. What we currently have with SB1070 is the beginnings of a “national ID” program imposed on all of us.
13. INTRODUCE ONE BILL? In order to revitalize our economy and attract new businesses to our beautiful state, I would repeal the personal income, property and death taxes; while creating the single rate transaction tax (no greater than 10%) and the flat 4% fee on gross receipts of each corporation to stabilize the tax obligation. The people of Arizona would be able to keep more of their earned income, while more manufacturing firms will find Arizona more attractive to establish their business.
14. Unsuccessful Bill? HB 2106 by Representative Crump. This bill wanted to ban photo radar.
15. Legislature reduce court influence? All three branches of government need to perform their duties within their constitutional limitations. By fulfilling their duties, each branch of government will be able to check and balance the other branches. If a court (state or federal) is performing outside its duties, then the Legislature would need to challenge the decision through the judicial branch by the guidance of the Attorney General.
16. LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE? I would strongly support regulation that removes all government involvement in health care issues. By allowing charities and a re-vitalized county hospital system to assist those who cannot support themselves, the quality of service would improve while serving more people in our communities. Currently, doctors have indicated that 60%-70% of their costs are due to government involvement. By removing the government entanglement in the most sensitive area of our lives, doctors would be able to decrease patient costs. Medical expense accounts would also provide independence to patients by eliminating the need for catastrophic insurance, thus strengthening patient/doctor relationships without third party interference.
17. FAVOR OBAMACARE? No.
18. FEDERAL HEALTHCARE REFORM IMPROVE ACCESS? By allowing the Federal Government to force citizens to use government regulated healthcare goes against the founding principles of our country. The Constitutional interpretation made by Congress to enforce federal healthcare upon its citizens goes again the foundation of our country. Although our politicians claim patients will be able to choose public or private healthcare, the private companies will not be able to compete against a bureaucracy that has no limit on the amount of money it may use. In addition, the cost to the states will further bankrupt the citizens. Federal healthcare simply empowers the national government to meddle in our private lives. Decisions will not be made by doctors in the best interests of the patients. Instead, bureaucrats will be determining what services are provide and to whom. The only manner in which we could really improve healthcare for all is by returning to free market principles and eliminating government involvement.
19. Healthcare Burden on State: Yes, the federal health-care reform will be a burden on the state. By not following free-market principles, the state will be forced to pay its share of the healthcare bill. Needless to say, government bureaucracies have no need to be economically sound. When more money is needed, the government will demand more from its citizens.
20. BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH? Yes, I would support the research in a limited sense. It would have to have the potential to be licensed for profit where in the end it could be self-funding.
21. VOUCHERS? Yes, I would support unrestricted vouchers allowing parents to truly send their child to the school that best fits their needs. Schools would become more competitive and administrative costs would decrease. Not only would parents be empowered, but schools would be more competitive in providing a better service for their students. Parents need to have the final say in where they send their child for school.
22. AIMS? I personally believe the AIMS test does not achieve the goal of graduating competent young men and women who are able to think independently, solve problems, listen, and participate in the democratic process. Instead, we have continued to stress test scores instead of emphasizing what students are able to do. As a result, the extrinsic values such as test scores overshadow the intrinsic value of becoming a competent member of society.
23. SPENDING MORE MONEY ON EDUATION? We need to eliminate the Department of Education and School Districts to save money, and attach the money to the students. This will empower parents to send their child to the schools that fit his/her needs. In doing so, schools will become more competitive and provide a better system. By simply adding more money to public education, we encourage more bureaucracy and less parental involvement. I want to return the responsibility to the parents to do what they think is right for their child.
24. Prudent for BONDS? I support privatizing and removing government from education. In other words, the separation of education and state will improve the quality of learning for all of our students. Currently, the middle class cannot afford to send their children to the school of their choice. I strongly support unrestricted personal and corporate tax incentives for scholarships and tuitions. Such scholarships and private aid would assist those who do not have the means to obtain an education.
25. STATE PARKS? I support using free-market principles to save our state parks. In order to do this, I would lease state land to private companies who would manage the parks for profit. The companies would attract more people to visit the parks in order to increasing revenue. Working for profit gives the incentives to these companies to provide quality service and expertise without bureaucracy involvement. Profits would be made while fulfilling the strict guidelines provided by Arizona. My plan would reduce the government and encourage innovative entrepreneurs to save our parks.
26. BIrthcertificates? Every candidate should be required to provide all documentation needed to be eligible for the desired office.
27. WOULD I SUPPORT:
a. PROHIBIT ABORTION? The people of Arizona would need to make the final decision. I would not support state funded abortions.
b. LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA? I am anti-prohibition of any sort. Although I do not support drug usage, prohibition has already been tried with alcohol and was a complete failure. I would agree that the prohibition of drugs is a complete failure too. Government is spending vast amounts of money to fight the drug usage in our country. In order to defeat the drug cartels and dealers, we would have to approach it through free-market principles and economic means. Legalization reduces the incentives of drug dealers to provide their clients with the desired product.
c. Birth ceritifcate: Every candidate should be required to provide all documentation needed to be eligible for the desired office
2020 QUESTIONS:
My 10-year plan?
I would enact legislation deregulating business development, education, water, and energy. Personal income, property and death taxes would be repealed. Increasing a single rate transaction tax of no greater than 10% while providing a flat 4% fee on gross receipts of each corporation will provide state revenue. The key is to get government out of the way and to allow the people of Arizona to solve our problems through innovative measures. The empowerment of the people to take ownership of their communities and lives will further advance the progress of our magnificent state.
Most significant obstacle of AZ:
The most significant obstacle facing Arizona is the dependency of its citizens on the government to care for them. We need to return to the founding principles of our nation that promotes freedom and personal responsibility. Currently, we see a government demanding more money from its tax-payers to pay for ongoing bureaucracy. As a society, we need to end out of control spending and return to sound economic principles to provide such services. Through innovation and entrepreneurship, the people of Arizona will replace the wasteful spending of state government services. The economy will be revived by increasing income and business growth in our state.
ROLE OF STATE UNIVERSITIES:
Our goal is to increase and maintain a highly educated workforce in the state of Arizona. Our universities need to continue to focus on guiding students to fulfill their interests in pursuit of a productive career.
How can government help business for the next 10 years?
The best action a government can do for business is to remove needless regulation that prohibits many entrepreneurs from achieving their business goals. Regulation actually hurts the people it was created to protect. The endless paperwork along with expensive fees impedes on business development, and protects those who are already in the industry. Economic stimulation and innovation is stifled and thus prohibiting more jobs for people to obtain.
HOW CAN GOVERNMENT ENSURE AZ STUDENTS HAVE THE TOOLS?
The responsibility is in the hands of the parents to ensure their children have the tools they need to succeed in the next 10 years. Parental involvement is the key to student success. By empowering parents to make the decisions necessary for their child, the government needs to separate itself from education. Students need to be lifelong learners who are able to critically think, reason and understand logic. With these skills, they will be able to adapt to the rapidly changing world in which we live.
WHAT SHOULD AZ LEARN FROM THE GREAT RECESSION?
The most important lesson from the Great Recession in Arizona is that the government cannot provide everything for everyone. Although economic cycles are natural, we cannot expect the government to protect us from such fluctuations. We have become a people who think they are entitled to government services. This is not healthy for a society rooted in liberty and personal responsibility. In order to protect our financial lives and economic security, we must include our founding ideals in our political dialogue and act on those ideals.