In a recent interview, former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican front-runner in the Michigan Senate primary, expressed support for the Reciprocal Trade Act, a bill that would grant the President authority to impose reciprocal tariffs on foreign imports. Rogers, a 61-year-old former House Intelligence Committee chairman, stated that the proposed legislation aligns with his “free-market” stance, arguing that the U.S. should match tariffs imposed by other countries to ensure fair trade.
Although Rogers endorsed the reciprocal tariff plan, he did not back the idea of an across-the-board 10% tariff, which was floated by former President Donald Trump. The proposed measure would allow the President to impose tariffs equal to those imposed by foreign countries on the U.S.
Rogers is the favorite to win the Republican nomination, which will take place next month. A recent RealClearPolitics average of polls shows him leading former Rep. Justin Amash by a significant margin. Amash, a libertarian, left the Republican Party in 2019 and joined the Libertarian Party in 2020.
During the interview, Rogers also expressed his support for lower taxes and proposed extending or making permanent the tax cuts implemented in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He also suggested that a corporate tax rate could be reduced, but emphasized the need for careful examination in the broader context of tax policy.
The former congressman also touched on healthcare and social security, stating that a bipartisan commission is necessary to address the financial issues facing these programs. The Medicare trust fund is projected to be exhausted by 2036, and the combined Social Security trust fund is expected to become exhausted by 2035.
Rogers expressed his support for “all of the above” energy policies, including domestic energy production and nuclear energy. He also criticized the Biden administration for its role in the country’s current inflation crisis, blaming excessive federal spending for the economic challenges.
If he secures the Republican nomination on August 6, Rogers is expected to face Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in the general election. According to RealClearPolitics, Slotkin is currently leading in the polls.
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