Budget
Cain feels that the Republican Congressmen are too cautious in their budgetary and economic legislative approach and warns that the country is ‘sick’ of this. He also feels that the party is losing the battle of the messages, and intends to roll up his sleeves and tackle it head on.

“I'm telling you that there are more American people that are looking for some courage and some leadership on this rather than just saying, well, we're not going to touch it because we don't want to upset the applecart. People are sick of that.”

“Republicans have been losing the war of words for years now. Now they are just caving because they don't even want to try. I don't agree with that approach … I'm going to be talking to the people straight about what we need to do and why. And I'm going to take on all of the fights that's going to try to demagogue some of the ideas that even I have put on the table. You can't be afraid of a fight.”

“And I'm here to tell you, the reaction that I'm getting around the country, people are sick and tired of this word in Washington, compromise. This is why nothing ever gets done. They say, "OK, realistically we ought to play ball with the Democrats" but they're not solving anything … I would take a much more deliberative role in trying to make something happen…”


May 10, 2011, Fox Business, Cavuto

• Eliminate the taxes on repatriated profits, which are earnings of American-based multinational companies that sit in bank accounts overseas to avoid double taxation for bringing their profits back to the U.S.


• Make the current tax rates permanent. Families and businesses do not plan for two years at a time!


• Reduce the corporate income tax from 35 to 25 percent, with the potential for additional incremental decreases over time.


• Eliminate the tax on capital gains and their dividends.


• Suspend payroll taxes for both employees and employers for one year.

Policy

Cain released his economic plan, Vision For Economic Growth, on September 15, 2011. The centerpiece of the proposal is the radical new national taxation code, popularly known as the 999 Plan.

Cain believes that economic freedom, deregulations, a smaller and less intrusive government, along with long-term policies designed to offer stability for businesses, will provide the private sector with the kick-start required to galvanize the economy through local capital injection, production growth, risks taking and a steady dollar.

This is where the 999 Plan comes in. As the name entails, the first phase of Cain’s proposal would see to the removal of the present national tax system, and replace it with an across the board flat 9% income, corporate and national sales tax. Cain contends that his system would eliminate all the inefficiencies of the existing taxation system and more importantly, ensure federal revenues would remain revenue neutral upon implementation.

The 999 Plan would also produce an immediately increase in national production, job creation and eradicate the concept of class warfare that is weighing down the nation. Other notable aspects of the plan include:

Eliminates all tax loopholes
Put a stop to all payroll taxes
Eliminate death taxes
Zero taxes on capital gains and repatriated profits
No double taxation on dividend incomes
Creation of inner cities Empowerment Zones

A successful implementation of the 999 Plan would kick start Phase 2 of Cain’s Vision For Economic Growth. Phase 2 advocates the establishment of a national Fair Tax system and the dismantling of the Internal Revenue Service. The Fair Tax is a system that, as defined under Congressman Rob Woodall’s Fair Tax Act of 2011 (H.R. 25),

“Imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. Sets the sales tax rate at 23% in 2013, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. Allows exemptions from the tax for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions …. Grants states the primary authority for the collection of sales tax revenues and the remittance of such revenues to the Treasury … Prohibits the funding of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after FY2015”

"If you are at or below the poverty level, your plan isn't 9-9-9 it is 9-0-9... Say amen y'all. 9-0-9."

General Policy On Guantanamo

“No, I -- I said that I believe in the philosophy of we don't negotiate with terrorists. I think -- I didn't say -- I would never agree to letting hostages in Guantanamo Bay go. No, that wasn't -- that wasn't the intent at all.”

On Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

“I do not agree with torture. However, I will trust the judgment of our military leaders to determine what is torture and what is not torture… I agree that it was enhanced interrogation technique… I would return to that policy. I don't see it as torture. I see it as an enhanced interrogation technique…”

“It turns out that America can be a nation with high fences and wide open doors. That’s what built this nation. So we can have high fences and wide open doors all at the same time.”

“Americans have embraced their role as the world’s premier “melting pot,” welcoming immigrants from every corner of the planet. We readily learn about other cultures, customs and beliefs. We appreciate those who are willing to come to this country and make America a more vibrant and enriched place.”

“The Immigration Bill could have succeeded if the political class in Congress and the president had listened to the public and addressed the four distinct problems. Namely, secure the borders convincingly, expand the temporary worker program for skilled legal immigrants, establish a reliable legal immigrant identification program and then propose a reasonable program for the 12 million (and counting) illegal persons who broke our laws to get here, but not amnesty.”

“First things first: the term “comprehensive immigration reform” tossed around by liberals is simply code for “do nothing” which becomes amnesty. There are 3 steps to solving our illegal immigration problem: securing the border (we put a man on the moon, so this isn’t that hard!); enforce the laws; promote the existing path to citizenship.”

“Illegal immigration also puts a tremendous strain on America’s entitlement and health care systems. Illegal immigrants are typically uninsured and cannot afford to pay for their medical care, driving up costs for all Americans, even those actually insured. In fact, several hospitals in the U.S. have declared bankruptcy as a result of the costs of caring for illegal immigrants.”

“I just got back from China. Ever heard of the Great Wall of China? It looks pretty sturdy. And that sucker is real high. I think we can build one if we want to! We have put a man on the moon, we can build a fence! Now, my fence might be part Great Wall and part electrical technology…It will be a twenty foot wall, barbed wire, electrified on the top, and on this side of the fence, I’ll have that moat that President Obama talked about. And I would put those alligators in that moat!”

“America’s got to learn how to take a joke. Let me, allow me to give you my real solution to the immigration problem. I happen to believe that it is four problems. Yes, we must secure the border, with whatever means necessary. Secondly, enforce the laws that are there. Thirdly, promote the path of citizenship that’s already there. We have a path for citizenship for illegal aliens. It’s called legal immigration. And then fourth, I happen to agree with empowering the states and allowing them to deal with that issue. If we work on the right problem, we will be able to solve it. And in the case of immigration, we got four problems that we need to work on simultaneously”