Who is Jon Huntsman, Jr?

Who is Jon Huntsman, Jr?

Campaign Platform and Promises
Tax Reform:

Individual Taxes

Simplify the Personal Income Tax Code and Lower Rates
Supports a version of the plan crafted by the Fiscal Commission, headed by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, commonly known as the "zero plan". Will introduce a revenue-neutral plan that eliminates all deductions and credits in favor of three drastically lower rates of 8%, 14% and 23%. Eliminating deductions and credits in favor of lower marginal rates will yield a simpler and more efficient tax code, decreasing the burden on taxpayers.


Eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is not indexed for inflation and is penalizing an increasing number of families and small businesses. This tax is especially burdensome on the majority of small business owners who file as individuals.

Corporate Taxes
Reduce the Corporate Rate from 35% to 25%
Lower the corporate tax rate to the average of other OECD nations.
Shift from a Worldwide System of Taxation to a Territorial System
Shifting to a territorial system will allow American companies to compete with other global players and allow US-based multinationals to bring capital home to invest in new jobs.
Implement a Tax Holiday for Repatriation of Corporate Profits
A tax holiday for repatriation of corporate profits earned overseas will make available between $400 billion and $600 billion for companies to make capital investments. This is a critical tool in creating a pro-growth business environment that will get Americans back to work.

Capital Gains and Dividends
Eliminate the taxes on capital gains and dividends in order to eliminate the double taxation on investment

Regulatory Reform
Rolling back President Obama’s health care overhaul and financial regulation reform
Rein in the Environmental Protection Agency’s job-killing regulations
Dramatically improve the cost-benefit analysis of future regulations and the discipline of federal regulatory agencies – particularly independent agencies like the National Labor Relations Board – which have avoided White House oversight for political reasons, not legal ones.

Energy Independence
Expedite the review and approval of safe and environmentally-sound energy projects, including the development of North American oil and gas reserves; oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska; shale gas and oil in the U.S.; and Canadian oil sands.
Eliminate subsidies and regulations that support foreign oil and inhibit clean, domestic alternatives such as natural gas, biofuels and coal-to-liquid fuel.
Streamline approval for new energy production
Break down barriers blocking the full and safe deployment of fracking
Create better partnerships with Canada on energy production and oil trade.
Ensure our transportation fuel markets are competitive
Commence expedited review of the transportation fuel distribution network by both the Federal Trade Commission and Senate Judiciary Committee (the concentration of distribution ownership is similar to the broadcast network domination in the early 1970s, which triggered market-opening FCC rules and an antitrust consent decree).
Spur investment in modernizing the power grid
Encourage State-Based Solutions to energy production. Currently, EPA rules prohibit states from coming up with their own ways to reduce pollution at the lowest cost to local businesses.

Trade
Pursue New Trade Opportunities, Particularly Across the Pacific
It is in the strategic interest of the United States to reach trade agreements with the world's largest economies that share our values.
Thus, the United States should take the lead in initiating free trade agreements with Japan, India and Taiwan, among others. We must begin to send a message to the world that we will once again lead on trade liberalization.
Support the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization Negotiations
Although discussions have stalled, the United States should urge completion of the multi-lateral negotiations aimed at promoting free trade between nations of varying prosperity, which will benefit both developed and developing nations.
Lead in Reaching a Successful Conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Gov. Huntsman's Administration will make completion of the TPP a priority. This framework would open the markets of Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam to U.S. goods.


Professional Accomplishments
CEO of the Huntsman Corporation

Political Accomplishments
U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, becoming the youngest head of an American diplomatic mission in a century.
U.S. Trade Ambassador
Worked closely with American business owners to facilitate commerce in the growing Asian market, bringing jobs and capital back to America.
Butted heads with the Chinese government as he stridently advocated for the release of American citizens wrongfully imprisoned.
Elected 16th Governor of Utah in 2004
Implemented his 10-point plan for jumpstarting Utah's economy -- including historic tax reform. He simplified the tax structure and cut taxes by more than $400 million -- the largest tax cut in the state's history.Utah held its AAA bond rating and earned national accolades for debt management. Under his leadership, Utah ranked number one in the nation in the job creation and was named the best-managed state by the Pew Center.
In 2008, spearheaded and passed comprehensive, market-based health care reform that gives consumers freedom to choose and negotiate their own coverage in a competitive marketplace.
Signed landmark legislation to protect the sanctity of unborn life and defend the Second Amendment.


Personal Background
Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
Wife Mary Kaye, seven children, including two adopted girls from China and India.