April 17, 1999

Bauer talks of Kosovo, need for lower taxes

By Katie Thaman
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service
Drake University

DES MOINES, Iowa--Republican presidential hopeful Gary Bauer discussed American involvement in Kosovo and a need for lower taxes at a press conference in Des Moines on April 16.

Bauer, a national conservative activist from Kentucky, said he believes American involvement in the rest of the world is very important, but he said not every conflict can be solved by the United States.

He noted that the conflict in the Balkans has been raging since 1350. "How are American boys flying over Kosovo dropping bombs going to solve a conflict that has been going on for 600 years?" Bauer asked.

Before the United States took any type of action overseas, Bauer said, it should have secured a united political system. The troops need to go in, accomplish their goal and get back out, he said, so the United States doesn't repeat the situation surrounding Vietnam in the 1960s.

Bauer said, " I think this whole thing from beginning to end has been very ill-planned." He said he supports the American troops but does not stand behind President Bill Clinton's strategy.

Within the past year, Clinton could have been fighting economically - with an embargo, for instance, Bauer said. But the president simply threatened and did not follow through on those warnings, he said.

Another issue Bauer said he feels strongly about is tax reduction. He said a property tax cut in Iowa would be very helpful for farmers who are struggling right now.

He would , if elected, propose a flat tax of 16 percent. That flat tax would treat families and corporations equally and provide an overall lower tax rate for everyone.

Bauer said he believes that in considering their vote in a presidential election, Americans center most of their attention on candidates' stances on issues, rather than whether the candidate is moderate or conservative.

He said he is focusing on conveying his opinions to the public, since nyeedo not yet recognize his name.

"By coming to Iowa and other key states, we're going to be able to put ideas on the table people will be able to respond to," Bauer said.

He said the polls mean very little at this point, since they are essentially based on name recognition. The Republican Party has had a Bush or Dole on the ticket since 1976, he pointed out.

As the candidates clarify their beliefs on some of the issues, though, they will lose many of their initial supporters, Bauer said.

Bauer, 52, has never held an elected office, but he has been involved in government for several years. He was the director of the Office of Policy Development for former President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and 1988 and the chairman of Reagan's Special Working Group on the Family in 1986.

He has also worked as the director of research for the national Republican Party, the deputy undersecretary for planning, budget and evaluation in the Department of Education, and the undersecretary of that department.

Though he is currently taking a leave of absence, he is the president of the Family Research Council and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families.

Bauer is married to Carol Hoke of Lancaster, Penn., and they have three children: Elyse, 21, Sarah, 17, and Zachary, 12.