Name: Ron Paul
Party: Republican 
Official Website: http://www.ronpaul2008.com
Bio:
Paul was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Paul graduated from Gettysburg College and the Duke University School of Medicine, before serving as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the 1960s. He and his wife Carol moved to Texas in 1968, where he began his medical practice in Brazoria County. Paul and his wife are parents of five children and have 17 grandchildren. Paul was first elected to Congress in a special election in 1976 for Texas’s 22nd District. Paul also served as representative for that district from 1979-1985, where he served on the House Banking Committee. Having chosen to run for the Senate instead of re-election, Paul left Congress in 1985 and returned to full-time medical practice after he was defeated. In 1988, Paul ran for President as the nominee for the Libertarian Party, and placed third in the popular vote. In 1997, Paul returned to Congress as a representative for Texas’s 14th Congressional District, where he serves on the Committee of Financial Services, where he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology, the House Committee on International Relations, and the Joint Economic Committee.
Where This Candidate Stands On The Issues:
What is your plan to end the war in Iraq?
Paul voted against the use of U.S. military force in Iraq. Paul believes that the U.S. went to war without an appropriate war declaration. Paul also believes that the war should no longer be funded, and has voted against continual funding of the war. Paul believes that U.S. troops should be withdrawn. Paul has argued that Congress should pass a resolution that expresses opposition to any more undeclared wars. He believes that the U.S. should be building a consensus for the future that makes it easier to end our current troubles in Iraq.
What is your plan to help solve the credit crunch?
Paul has co-sponsored the Mortgage Cancellation Relief Act to bar the IRS from considering partial mortgage forgiveness as income subject to taxation. Paul believes the IRS should not victimize homeowners for doing their best to pay their debt to banks. Paul has stated that strict reins should be put on the IRS by Congress to limit its affect on home ownership.
How would you improve the US’s education system?
Paul strongly believes in returning control of education to parents. As President he would advance tax credits, and reduce taxes to make it easier for parents to home school by allowing them to devote more of their own funds to their children\'s education. Paul would veto any legislation that creates national standards or national testing for homes school parents or students. He also believes that, as long as No Child Left Behind remains law, it must include the protections for home schooled children. Paul voted no on the No Child Left Behind Act, as an opponent of required testing. Paul voted no on allowing school vouchers in the District of Columbia, but voted yes on vouchers for private and parochial schools, to allow states to use certain federal funds designated for elementary and secondary education to provide scholarships, or vouchers, to low-income families to send their children to private schools, including religious schools. Paul has also called for abolishing the Department of Education.
What is your plan to make the U.S. less dependent on foreign oil?
Paul has focused on increasing the number of domestic refineries. Paul also voted no on increasing CAFE standards and incentives for alternative fuels. Paul sponsored a bill to repeal the 1993 4.3-cent increases in highway motor fuel taxes.
