ROCHESTER— In a new plan policy introduced Monday, Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis point to China with a “Declaration of Economic Independence” that also addresses taxes, regulations, spending, and education.
Speaking at a New Hampshire warehouse, the Florida governor vowed to boost the economy and fight for the middle class.
“We will take back control of our destiny and make sure our future is as proud, independent and free as our past,” he said at Prep Partners Group, which coordinates warehousing, distribution and other logistics for other companies.
DeSantis said he will wrest economic control from China by ending the nation’s preferential trade status, banning imports of goods made with stolen intellectual property and preventing companies from sharing crucial technologies with China.
The 10-point economic plan is the third major policy proposal put forward by DeSantis, whose campaign has struggled in recent weeks. Although long seen as the main rival of former President Donald Trump, DeSantis laid off more than a third of his staff and his campaign has been crippled.
During the presentation of his economic plan, DeSantis focused on the reckless spending of the federal government. His plan describes him as a “new sheriff in town” who will ban wasteful spending and enforce work requirements for welfare programs. He also claimed that he could achieve 3% annual economic growth by keeping taxes low, eliminating red tape and encouraging investment.
On the education front, DeSantis said he will stop incentivizing “useless degrees” by holding universities accountable for the loans their students rack up. His plan will also promote vocational and apprenticeship programs that educate “craftsmen and engineers” rather than “politicized managers and bureaucrats.”
FOUNTAIN: With information from AFP
