Shawn T. Ponterio for President 2020

Please visit or message me on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/shawn.ponterio.9 or Shawn Ponterio @Ponterio2020

1. Get money out of politics!
                - Reduce Congressional salaries and presidential salaries to correspond with the U.S. median household income.
                - Term limits for House and Senate representatives (15 years).
                - Representatives must pay for their own healthcare.
                - Prohibit donations from lobbying groups (anything that has a monetary value) that exceed donation limits from private individuals.
                - Prohibit donations to political parties that exceed donation limits from private individuals.
                - Prohibit donations to political candidates that exceed donation limits from private individuals.

2. Decrease the cost of healthcare, prescription drugs, and health insurance
                - Repeal section 9008 of the Affordable Care Act
                                - Annual fee on branded prescription pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers
                - Repeal section 9009 of the Affordable Care Act (Sec 4191 of Chapter 32 of the Internal
                Revenue Code of 1986)
                                - 2.3 percent tax on the sale of any taxable medical device by the manufacturer, producer, or importer
                - Repeal section 9010 of the Affordable Care Act
                                - Annual fee on health insurance providers
                - Significantly Reduce annual fees associated with new drug applications, generic drug
                application, and pharmaceutical facilities
                - Repeal and/or amend current legislation that limits or hinders new companies from entering the healthcare industry

3. Ways to help poor and lower income communities in major cities
                - Freeze the increase of property taxes for homeowners with an annual household income less than $50,000 so long as the property remains in the family's name.
                - Individuals/families on welfare, housing assistance, or any other assistance programs based on annual income will not immediately loose eligibility due to an increase in income that causes annual earnings to surpass eligibility requirements. A grace period or transition period will be allowed to fuel upward mobility.
                - Significantly increase the funding for k-12 schools in lower income communities
                - Reevaluate and revamp the curriculum for high school seniors to include classes related to budgeting, investing, real estate, entrepreneurship, trade skills, and credit. Provide a transitional program for seniors similar to the transition programs given to service members at the end of their service.
                - Increase the number of available youth programs
                - Allow school choice without the requirement for a voucher. (priority goes to students within nearest school district).
Cut any federal spending on programs that can feasibly operate on their own and are self sufficient

4. End the War on Drugs
                - Federally legalize the sale, purchase, and manufacture of marijuana (States maintain authority to regulate/prohibit as voted on by the people of their state.
                - Repeal mandatory minimum sentences
                - Drug offense sentencing guidelines based on the controlled substance schedule, not type of drug(i.e.: heroin/crack)
                - Sentencing changed to revolve around rehabilitation, not punishment

5. Criminal justice reform
                - Repeal mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes
                - Increase the threshold for felony larceny to reflect the increase in monetary value due to inflation.
                - Repeal any life sentencing requirements/options for nonviolent crimes
                - Increase mandatory minimums for violent crimes
                - Sentencing for nonviolent crimes changed to revolve around rehabilitation, not punishment (i.e.: requirements for community service)

6. Immigration reform
                - Increase funding for border security
                - Increase the number of points of entry
                - Allow immigrants to apply for refugee status at a US Embassy in their home country or bordering country
                - Cut any federal programs providing monetary assistance to illegal immigrants
                - States may enact their own legislation for monetary assistance to illegal immigrants based on a vote by the people of their state
                - Illegal immigrants are prohibited from receiving Medicaid/Medicare or other healthcare assistance from a federal program
                - States may establish healthcare programs for illegal immigrants based on a vote by the people of their state

7. Firearms and gun control
                - Any restrictions on the type of firearm allowed or prohibited shall be designated to the states and voted on by the people of said state.
                - Residence may only buy firearms from their state of residence and in accordance with their state's firearms regulations
                - Firearm preemption laws shall not apply to cities or metropolitan areas whose population is larger than 100,000 residence.
                - Nationwide concealed carry.

8. Abortion
                - Late term or live birth abortions shall be prohibited (Exception for late term abortion: The life of the fetus or mother is in danger)
                - States shall have authority to further restrict abortion based on a vote of the people of their state.
                - No state law shall restrict or prohibit abortion when conception was due to rape or incest.
                - Any state further restricting access to abortion shall ensure increased access to birth control and family planning education (Sexual education)

 

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.