Vote 2002
It's the taxes, stupid
Congressional candidates all want lower taxes
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by Staff (Editorial@boulderweekly.com)

Stan Matsunaka (D), a candidate for Colorado's Congressional District 4, defies the tax-and-spend stereotype typically associated with Democratic politicians. His voting record on taxes makes him look more like a Republican, and he has even gained the endorsement of the Republican-friendly Greeley Tribune.

Matsunaka has consistently supported lowering taxes to promote growth in Colorado-decisions that seem to make sense in a suffering economy. As a state legislator, Matsunaka voted for more than 30 tax cuts, lowering income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and eliminating the marriage tax.

In addition, Matsunaka has consistently supported tax cuts and credits for educational, business, non-profit, transportation, rural, and agricultural purposes.

On health care, Matsunaka has shown an unusual ability to think outside of the box-the box that says socialize health care and throw money at it. Instead, Matsunaka master-minded a state Senate bill to expedite access to medical treatment and pharmacies. He also devised a bill to require the development of a uniform health-care claims process.

Marilyn Musgrave (R), is a conservative Republican who probably wishes her Democratic opponent were some squishy liberal with no real understanding of economics. He's not, so she has tried in vain to capitalize on her own record of fiscal conservatism.

A former schoolteacher and state senator, Musgrave has been called a "real Ronald Reagan champion" by former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong. She stands tough on issue of national security and terrorism, and she takes a hard-line Pat Buchananesque stance on immigration, calling for sweeping reforms that would send immigrants south of the border and keep them there.

John Volz (L) wants to put government in its place-just like most Libertarians. Volz says the government hasn't acted constitutionally "in so long that nobody knows how it's supposed to act anymore."

If elected to Congress, Volz says he would work hard to abolish the IRS.

"The very name itself instills fear in the bravest of men and women," Volz says. "I will do all I can to abolish this evil and corrupt organization. They all know it's unconstitutional, let's force their hand."

A St. Louis native, Volz works as a finance adjuster in Denver.

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