4th District GOP Primary Voting Guide

Among other primaries, Tuesday marks the run-off for the GOP nomination to face Rep. Jim Himes for Connecticut's fourth district congressional seat. Below, using information from interviews with Patch and their campaign platforms, is a rundown of Dan Debicella, Rob Merkle, and Rick Torres on the major issues.

Taxes

• Dan Debicella: Extend 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for everyone, regardless of tax bracket. Cap federal spending at 20 percent of the budget. "This would force both sides to debate what they finance and could eliminate the deficit by 2016."
• Rob Merkle: Eliminate corporate tax to attract businesses to Connecticut. Eliminate inheritance tax. Proposes a flat tax rate, or single bracket, of 20 percent and a one-page tax form. Would extend Bush tax credits. Cut capital gains tax.
• Rick Torres: Favors cutting federal corporate tax from what he says is 39.25 percent to around 12.5 percent. Wants to abolish taxes on capital gains and dividends. Wants a flat tax, or single-bracket tax. Supports the elimination of the inheritance tax.

Stimulus

• Dan Debicella: Repeal 80 percent of the stimulus. Instead, reduce the payroll tax by 50 percent for one year. Give each family a tax credit of $1,500.
• Rob Merkle: Repeal it.
• Rick Torres: Opposes it, favors private sector regulation. Wants to end the "too big to fail" philosophy.

Job Growth

• Dan Debicella: "Job creation was my number one focus as a state Senator....Government doesn't create jobs for people. But it can help with small businesses. We Republicans tend to believe that if you help businesses out it creates economic growth."
• Rob Merkle: Eliminate corporate tax. Favors barring federal interference in private contracts, except through the existing U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Federal government should cut taxes and regulations to increase business. "The Federal government can't deliver anything better than the private sector except for the military."
• Rick Torres: "Jobs is the number one issue in the state of Connecticut." Federal government shouldn't be involved in the free market. The state needs to pay less in taxes and needs "conversations with individuals who are non-politicians to step-up and develop new concepts and new directions."

Housing

• Dan Debicella: Keep Fannie and Freddie, but reform the system. Would require that people must be able to put 20 percent down payment on a house and then only get Fannie/Freddie backing if they have good credit. "If you can't afford to buy a house, rent. The government is trying to promote home ownership but that's not a good thing."
• Rob Merkle: Eliminate Fannie and Freddie. Repeal CRA.
• Rick Torres: Eliminate Housing and Urban Development. Let tenants take control of housing and run it. Favors use of homesteader laws – those tenants who live in it seven years or more can own it.

Health Care

• Dan Debicella: Repeal current health care bill. Proposes a healthy living tax credit that focuses on preventive medicine. People could deduct medical costs for things such as physicals, mammograms, and prostate screening. Wants interstate competition between health insurance companies. Favors malpractice reform and an end to state insurance mandates. Wants insurance companies to provide a-la-carte plans and pricing. Calls for improvements in electronic patient records.
• Rob Merkle: Repeal current bill. Favors tort reform. Favors interstate competition for insurance plans. Wants to eliminate state insurance mandates and let insurance companies provide a-la-carte plans. Favors tax parity for individuals and employers.  Wants expanded use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by increasing limits and allowing unspent
 HSA dollars to be gifted/willed tax-free. 
• Rick Torres: Signed "Club for Growth Repeal It' – wants health care bill repealed. Favors private sector control of health care.

Transportation

• Dan Debicella: Expand capacity and quality of road system. Wants improved mass transit through increased accessibility and comfort. Wants funding to increase parking capacity at stations along the Metro-North line. Proposes shuttle service from Metro North stations in Norwalk, Greenwich and Stamford. Proposes relying on reinvesting increased revenues from economic growth to improving our transportation system over the next decade.
• Rob Merkle: No official position thus far. Said state can spend more money on programs if less money goes to federal government.
• Rick Torres: No official position thus far.

Immigration/Border Security

• Dan Debicella: Wants to crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Opposes amnesty, but proposes a "blue card" for those illegal immigrants willing to step forward and register with the government – so long as they are employed and pay taxes. However, if someone with a "blue card" loses their job they must find new employment within 3 months or risk being deported. Describes this a middle ground between amnesty and path to citizenship. "The kick everybody out mentality is not good. Immigration is what makes this country great."
• Rob Merkle: Favors building a fence along the United State's entire southern border. Opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants saying, "It rewards bad behavior."
• Rick Torres: Favors building a fence along the southern border of the U.S. Opposes amnesty for the estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants working in the U.S.

Social Security

• Dan Debicella: Reform Social Security and other entitlement programs by capping Federal budget at 20 percent. Reforms are needed to ensure the Social Security benefits are there for future generations, and will consider all options save for raising taxes. 
• Rob Merkle: Says Social Security is structurally insolvent, and cannot be fixed without implementing one or all of the following:  Adjusting the retirement/eligibility age, means testing, segregating the Social Security lockbox, incorporated into the general fund by Democrats who, again controlling the Presidency and both the Senate and Congress, conversion to a defined contribution vs. defined benefit plan, privatization such as personal control over investments.  When Social Security was enacted, it was intended as a safety net, not a retirement staple.  Average life expectancy was 61, with benefits eligibility at 65.  People live longer, with the same eligibility.  Any changes in eligibility and/or benefits must be phased in over a generation.
• Rick Torres: Favors increasing retirement age from 65 due to the fact that people are living longer and working longer. The system as it stands now is on the verge of collapse and is in need of major reform.

First Amendment

• Dan Debicella: Believes the Patriot Act does not violate the First Amendment.
• Rob Merkle: First Amendment provisions are sacrosanct, to the extent that they do not harm others - for instance you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Says the Patriot Act was necessary and essential when it was enacted, much like Lincoln suspending Habeas Corpus during the Civil War. However, any broad expanse of powers must be strictly monitored for abuses and subject to a sunset provision.  There IS a judicial tribunal which oversees intelligence gathering methodology and application of data, which was fully informed on the Patriot Act, and made changes to the program to promote protections of American citizens
• Rick Torres: Would have supported the Patriot Act. 

Second Amendment

• Dan Debicella: As state senator voted against a bill the increased penalties for trafficking firearms in the state and required lost and stolen firearms to be reported within 72 hours. Believes every American has a right to own a gun.
• Rob Merkle: He is a carry permit holder, and believes in the right to bear arms as a fundamental protection to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – the recent Supreme Court decision concurs.  He said that in countries where guns have been outlawed/confiscated, what has followed are genocides (China, Russia) or significant increases in crime (Australia, UK)
• Rick Torres: Believes in the "sanctity of the 2nd amendment" and will work to amend/repeal recent laws that weaken the individual's right to bear arms. Supports "safe and responsible gun ownership."