Ben Carson

Ben Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 18, 1951. He graduated from high school with honors, pursued his undergraduate degree at Yale University, and went on to medical school at the University of Michigan. He became director of Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33. One of his most famous medical achievements there included separating conjoined twins. He has written several books on his career in medicine and his political views. In 2015, Ben Carson announced his plans to seek the Republican nomination for the 2016 presidential election. His poll numbers have fluctuated, though he remains one of the top Republican presidential contenders. [1]

Campaign Website

Tax Reform

Source: Ben Carson's Tax Reform Plan

Repeal the Entire Tax Code and Replace It With a True 14.9 Percent Flat Tax

• "Everybody should pay the same proportion of what they make. You make $10 billion, you pay a billion. You make $10, you pay one. You also have to get rid of deductions." [2]
• Tax all income at 14.9%, with "no deductions, tax shelters, or loopholes", applied only to those whose income exceeds 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Eliminate deductions for home mortgage interest, charitable giving and state and local taxes. Carson claims "the overwhelming majority of Americans do not benefit from these itemized deductions."
• Eliminate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
• Abolish the death tax

Jobs and Business Policy

"Small businesses provide the entrepreneurial spirit that can make our economy thrive." [3]

• Believes the current regulatory climate has harmed the ability of small businesses to grow and create jobs.

Proposes abolishing Affordable Care Act to reduce burden on small businesses [4]

• "Small businesses cannot expand beyond 50 employees without facing significant economic consequences from Obamacare. [Carson believes] removing such burdensome regulations would boost small businesses and help jumpstart the economy."

Increase entrepreneurship and job growth through flat tax rate [5]

• [In response to question on Carson's preference of a flat to a progressive tax rate] "What we have to think about is, 'How do we fix the economy so that it encourages entrepreneurial risk taking and capital investment? How do we create a ladder that allows those people in the lower income brackets to move up that ladder?' That's what we need to be concentrating on. Not how do we make them comfortable in that situation. That's not what America was all about. And we can do that."
• "In recent years, our economy has stagnated. I believe restoring free market policies, implementing a simpler, flat tax system, reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and reducing government debt will rapidly increase economic growth and jobs, allowing more people to achieve the American dream."