John Anderson for President 1968 Campaign Brochure

John Anderson for President 1980 Campaign Brochure

John Anderson for President 1980 Campaign Brochure

‘John Anderson Addresses America’

Energy

Over the past several years, John Anderson has been a leading Republican spokesman on energy.

Oil-the 50/50 Plan

Anderson is willing to take tough positions on hard issues. In August, 1979, he called for a 50 cent per gallon energy conservation tax on all motor fuels to cut consumption and reduce our dependence on foreign supplies. He realizes the need to minimize the burdens of such an energy tax on those with special needs, so under his plan revenues from the tax would be used to reduce employee Social Security taxes by 50 percent, Increase, Social Security benefits, and allow tax credits for businesses unfairly penalized.

Synthetic fuels

While Anderson supports the accelerated development of a synthetic-fuels industry he believes that the federal role in such a program must be carefully limited. He argues that "the risks, the costs, and the decision-making must be left to the private sector." Anderson is convinced that if the synthetic-fuels industry is ever to become viable, satisfactory answers; must be found to the questions of the economic, environmental and water conservation costs of synthetic fuels.

Nuclear Power

While hoping to preserve nuclear power as an option in the decade ahead, Anderson believes that its further expansion must be hafted unless we can achieve and maintain adequate safeguards for the operation of reactors and the management of nuclear wastes. The resolution of these problems, he says, can be postponed no longer. Anderson supports increased research on nuclear fusion, which, if brought to commercial feasibility, would provide a relatively inexhaustible fuel supply at a dramatically lower human and environmental risk than existing nuclear fission technology.

Foreign Policy

John Anderson maintains that our prestige Influence and power abroad are direct functions of our domestic strength. While addressing America's needs at home, Anderson has also been an effective international spokesman:

Middle East

Anderson has been an historic and consistent supporter of the nation of Israel for 20 years, democratically committed "to a free and open way of life, and to a respect for human rights." Anderson believes that 'We must create an environment in which Israel can feel secure while making the concessions necessary for a peaceful settlement" Anderson has also stated that as President he would be prepared to move the American embassy to Jerusalem at the conclusion of the peacemaking process. He has supported the idea of Palestinian rights as embodied in the Camp David accords, but opposes the creation of a Palestinian state between the West Bank and Jordan. Citing the vote of the U.S. in the Mid-East negotiations, Anderson believes the U.S. Should encourage discussions, but not attempt to dictate to the parties the details, structure, specifications, and pace of the negotiations.

Far East

Anderson supported normalization of relations with China, but criticized the Administrations handling of the subsequent break with Taiwan.

Military Spending

Anderson is an advocate of strong armed forces but he believes that our best defense is a military that's law and flexible. Accordingly, he's opposed such schemes as the B-1 bomber and the MX missile, which he feels will increase our military costs without adding to our security. Anderson believes in the all-volunteer army and would reject my attempt to impose a peacetime draft.

Civil Rights

John Anderson has been a courageous advocate of every major piece of civil rights legislation of the past 20 years:

Housing

Anderson cast the deciding vote in the House Rules Committee for the vital Open Housing Act of 1968. "I believe," he wrote at the time, "that as a nation we must turn our face away from a course of segregation and separatism. We must reaffirm the essential human right to justice and human dignity."

School Desegregation

His eloquent opposition to a constitutional amendment banning busing for school desegregation won Anderson wide praise. The New York Times wrote that Anderson once again displayed "his willingness to rise above partisanship on an incendiary issue."

Inflation

Aside from Its everyday impact, inflation lowers confidence, in our economic system and erodes America's position in the world market. John Anderson would fight inflation on three fronts:

The Budget

Anderson advocates a balanced budget for fiscal year 1981, having recently presented a series of specific budget cuts and revenue adjustments that would achieve this goal. Although such recommendations would require an element of sacrifice, no sector of society would be asked to bear a disproportionate share of the burden.

Taxes

In the context of a balanced budget. John Anderson favors the indexing of personal income tax rates; moving toward a $750 dividend and interest income tax exemption for singles ($1.500 if married and filed jointly); and a scheduled reduction of 2 percentage points in corporate tax rates by 1986.

Increased Productivity

Anderson knows that a fiscal austerity is only half the battle. Equal emphasis must be given to boosting America's productivity. To this end, Anderson has introduced legislation to reduce the tax on savings account interest. To promote capital investment, Anderson supports legislation to reform and simplify tax-depreciation allowances and to provide new tax incentives, including a 10 percent tax credit for research and development. He has proposed a new federal manpower policy aimed at upgrading labor market skills.

Senior Citizens

John Anderson believes the next President must seriously consider the consequences of the aging of the U.S. population. By the year 2000, roughly 13 percent of all Americans will be 65 or older. Anderson supports the elimination of mandatory retirement at 65, has worked to end the limitations on earnings allowed under Social Security, and was a chief sponsor of the cost-of-living escalator which enables Social Security benefits to rise with inflation.

Government Reform

Anderson is chief sponsor of the Regulatory Reform Act of 1979, legislation which would benefit both business and consumers by promoting competition and reducing government red tape. His Limits to Government Act would constrain government spending so that it corresponds only to the rate of national economic growth, and require that the President present a balanced budget to the Congress by fiscal 1982.

Equal Rights Amendment

Anderson is a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, and voted in favor of extending the deadline for its ratification. "The ERA is needed," he explains, "to enshrine in the Constitution the moral value judgment that sex discrimination is wrong, and to ensure that all states and the federal government review and revise their laws and official practices to eliminate discrimination based on sex."

Environment

Representative John B. Anderson adopts a balanced approach to environmental matters as embodied in one of the most important land and wildlife conservation measures of this century, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. John Anderson was a prime sponsor of this bill. Anderson said soon after passage of the Act "I was elated after the House's 268-157 vote in favor of Udall-Anderson for it indicates that a balance was indeed achieved between continuing development of oil, gas, mineral and timber resources and protecting the 'Crown Jewels' of Alaska's priceless mountains, tundra, waterfowl habitat and deep-forested fiords. This legislation goes beyond the drawing of boundaries, and the totaling up of acreages -- it allows Alaska to continue its economic development while adequately preserving the great sections of wilderness area in that state."

Health Care

According to Anderson, "Any efforts to reform our existing health delivery system must be deliberate and judicious." Any reform of health policy must address four vital areas:

1) the closing of gaps on existing medical coverage;

2) increased emphasis on preventive medicine;

3) reform of health care financing;

4) special provisions for the problems of the elderly, alcohol and drug abuse, and debilitating diseases.

Education

Throughout his political career, John Anderson has worked for the fair and efficient delivery of quality education for all people. A long-time proponent of a separate Department of Education, Anderson voted for its creation in 1979, believing this consolidation will make federal education programs streamlined and more efficient. He has actively supported legislation which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of handicap in federally funded programs. Believing that the existence of the dual system of public and private education systems maximizes choice for students and their parents, John Anderson has fought unwarranted federal intrusion into private education.