U.S. Senate hopeful calls for free markets, border security

Sam Clovis concedes that most of his opponents – Republican and Democrat – will be taller, thinner, younger and better-looking.

“I hope you won't hold that against them,” the Sioux City Republican quipped to a Coralville audience Wednesday.

Despite his self-described shortcomings, Clovis promised to always tell the truth and work to restore voters' trust in the federal government.

“And when you talk to me, I'll listen,” he said and promised to respond. “You may not like what you hear, but you will hear the truth.”

Among the truths, the Morningside professor and radio talk show host said is that the federal government is “spending your money like it is their own.”

Clovis, who will be at the Linn County Fair in the Republican Party booth from 9 to 11 a.m. June 27, called for reforming the tax system by moving to a consumption tax and reducing corporate taxes to 10 percent domestically and for repatriation of money being held overseas.

Coupled with that, the federal government should get out of the marketplace. By that, he explained, the federal government's 2,107 subsidies costing $850 billion a year should be eliminated. Same with the 1,000 grant programs that cost taxpayers another $660 billion.

“If we get the government out of the market, think about how much money would be repatriated,” he told about 30 people who attended his campaign stop at the Coralville Public Library.

“And I'm not talking about reducing Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security,” he added.

On national security Clovis, a 25-year veteran of the Air Force, said the nation can deal with a smaller military, “but not a less ready force.”

In response to questions about immigration, Clovis called for securing the borders because “you have no nation if you have no borders.”

The immigration bill being considered by the U.S. Senate is an “abomination,” he said, that is “grossly funded” because its lacks the money for 20,000 additional border agents and to build fences and other physical barriers.

Clovis didn't mention his Republican opponents for the nomination by name, but went after presumptive Democratic nominee Rep. Bruce Braley for being more liberal than Sen. Tom Harkin.

“It's hard to imagine getting to the left of Tom Harkin,” Clovis said. “Are you going to trust someone just like the guy we're going to get rid of? Someone who will cave to special interests? Who will not protect life? Who will not protect marriage?”

Clovis joins Ankeny attorney Matt Whitaker, former U.S. Senate staffer David Young of Van Meter, Ames attorney Paul Lunde and, possibly, former Reliant Energy CEO Mark Jacobs of West Des Moines, who announced Wednesday he's forming an exploratory committee.

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