Meet the Candidates: Michael Opitz

Michael Opitz is running against Rep. Phil Gingrey and William Llop for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives District 11 seat. He lives in Marietta with his wife of 33 years and has three children. Patch asked Opitz questions about the District 11 race via email. 

What made you want to run for office?

I am motivated to run for Congress because Congress needs help:
(a) improving its compliance with the principles of the U.S. Constitution; (b) developing legislation to induce manufacturing activity in the U.S.; and, (c) revamping our tax code along the lines of the F.A.I.R. Tax.

I will bring a new voice to Congress and push hard to seriously address our nation’s problems and work to provide good solutions for Georgia and the 11th District.

Our nation is in serious trouble due to the lack of job creation. We need to bring manufacturing back from China and Third World countries by changing the laws that have forced American companies to move off- shore. We can bring back American manufacturing which is the source of good paying blue collar and white collar jobs by eliminating job killing EPA rules and other job killing regulations.

We need to drastically reduce government spending, balance the budget, and reduce taxes. We should reduce government spending by 1% per year until we are stabilized.

I will earnestly resist any legislative proposals that are not clearly in compliance with the Constitution of the United States of America.

What are the most important issues facing District 11 in the future?

Unemployment is the biggest issue facing the 11th District.

Congress has created laws and has allowed federal agencies such as the EPA to impose regulations that have encouraged many American manufacturing companies to leave the U.S.

We need to roll back all bureaucratic regulations to 2007, effectively creating a restart point for a thorough congressional review of all laws and regulations that have an impact on employment. We then need to review each regulation and repeal those that inhibit job growth.

I will work with local and state governments to ensure that all are eliminating taxes and regulations to get government out of the way of job creation.

You’re a supporter of tax reform. What specific reforms do you propose?

I strongly support the implementation of the Fair Tax and repeal of the 16th Amendment, which established the Income Tax.

• The U.S. has the highest corporate tax (39.8% including state and federal taxes) rate in the world making our exports too pricey to be competitive in the global market place.
• The Fair Tax will stimulate our economy and make us more competitive by eliminating the taxes built into the price of any manufactured product to be exported.
• The Fair tax will stimulate creation of manufacturing jobs.
• The Fair tax does not punish production, but taxes consumption. It will 
capture additional taxes currently avoided by illegal aliens who often 
do not pay income tax.
• The Fair Tax will eliminate the IRS and save billions of dollars spent on 
the IRS personnel and facilities.
• It will eliminate the IRS as an abusive and intrusive federal government 
agency police agency.
• The Fair tax will eliminate special federal government tax courts.
• Our federal tax code will be drastically simplified. 
The Fair tax will eliminate special interest tax loopholes while also reducing lobbyist influence and corruption in Congress.

What are your thoughts on District 11’s transportation issues?

District 11 faces a number of serious transportation challenges, including the fact it has no means of paying for major improvements without some form of additional taxation. The District has grown rapidly over the past several decades and most of our interstates and arterial roadways are now exceeding their capacity, especially at intersections. We need to fix them before the congestion begins to damage our quality of life and impedes our continued economic development.

We also have need for some forms of convenient and cost-effective public transportation to help those who need it to get to places they need to go. Seniors and young folks are often unable to depend on autos to get around. Yet they need to go shopping, to the Doctor, to part-time jobs, etc. We need to encourage the development of a transportation system to serve their needs as well as those who need to commute to and from work.

The TSPLOST offers some solutions to some of our issues. However, I am hopeful, if it fails at the polls, we will have an opportunity to create an improved version that will serve our needs more effectively going forward.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

I have my M.A. Degree in Psychology with emphasis in Organization Development. I am a Georgia registered Mediator and Arbitrator. I fully understand that one does not compromise their principles just to reach agreement, but listens to the different points of view and builds bridges to find a best solution to any given dispute. This approach is lacking in Washington.

I am a “Constitutional Conservative” who will speak strongly for the citizens of the 11th District, while adhering to constitutional principles.

I understand manufacturing, and my goal is to bring manufacturing jobs back from China and other “third world countries” before we become one. I will be a loud voice and strong vote in Washington to change the laws that will enable us to bring manufacturing jobs to the 11th District.

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