NAME: Chris Manning
POLITICAL PARTY: Libertarian
OCCUPATION: Staff auditor
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Farmington
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis in history
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Six years of military service
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: manning4nm.com
What role should Congress or the federal government have in responding to calls for more justice in policing following the deaths of George Floyd and others by police?
Congress should pass the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act to end federal no-knock warrants, end civil asset forfeiture, end qualified immunity and end the drug war. These reforms would go a long way in decriminalizing society and ending the biggest abuses of individual liberties.
What is your opinion of the coronavirus response packages, including the American Rescue Plan, which was signed by President Biden? Is there anything you would have done differently?
We have to stop printing money and adding trillions of dollars of debt. We are approaching nearly $30 trillion in debt. If interest rates return to their historic norms a CBO report showed servicing the interest on this debt will cost over $1 trillion/year which will require large tax increases.
What actions to restore the economy, if any, do you feel Congress should take once the outbreak has been contained?
The best thing government can do to get our economy back to full employment is end the arbitrary restrictions on business operating at full capacity. COVID will be with us for years to come; it is too infectious to eliminate quickly. Public officials need to be honest about this fact.
What is your position regarding climate change? What actions should Congress take, if any, regarding the environment?
I think much of the fear about climate change is unwarranted alarmism. I’ve read much of the scientific articles in the IPCC’s 5th edition and the actual science does not support the alarmism. Conservation and the conversion to nuclear energy for our electricity production are policies we should pursue.
The Biden administration has issued a temporary moratorium on issuing new oil and gas leases on federal lands. Where do you stand on the issue?
This is a bad policy which harms New Mexico specifically and the nation generally. The conversion from coal to natural gas has been one of the biggest drivers in the reduction of CO2 emissions over the last decade.
What are the most important actions Congress should take regarding people now living illegally in the U.S.? What about for those who want to come in?
I’m an advocate for increasing legal immigration. We grant citizenship to about 1 million people a year. We should increase this by 300,000 to 500,000 a year. People here illegally who have not committed any crimes should be allowed to apply for citizenship as well.
Do you believe the borders are secure enough? If not, what do you propose to increase security?
Border security is not the issue. Changes to our immigration policy are. We need to reform the asylum process and increase legal immigration. Allowing people to apply for asylum in their home country will reduce the number of people coming to the border and eliminates the need for increased security.
Do you favor a federal ban on the sale of military style semi-automatic rifles? If so, what would you do about the millions of such weapons now legally owned by American citizens? What other, if any, gun law reforms would you support?
I don’t support a ban on semi-automatic rifles. The Second Amendment is clear, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A CDC study showed over 1 million defensive uses of guns a year. Guns save far more lives than they take.
Federal spending plays an important role in New Mexico’s economy. What should be done to increase other economic drivers here?
We should look to what other states like Texas have done to attract new businesses. The easiest and most obvious is the elimination of the corporate income tax. This also helps small businesses and will encourage new business development.
Do you favor or oppose a national single payer health system?
I oppose a national single payer system. I’ve been in a government run health care system, the VA, and it isn’t a great experience. I have put together substantial reforms to our system which will reduce costs, improve health outcomes, and address our physician shortage. Details are available on my webpage.
Do you favor or oppose the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan?
I support the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and every other country the U.S. military is engaged in combat operations. It’s time to end all our foreign wars and bring our troops home.
Do you favor or oppose limits on late-term abortion, and do you believe tax dollars should or should not be used to fund abortions?
I, like the majority of Americans, oppose late-term abortions. Gallup has tracked this issue for over 2 decades and 80% or more of Americans have opposed abortions in the final trimester. I don’t support using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions.
What should be done at the federal level to address the crisis of opioid addiction? Any other drugs?
The government should decriminalize the use and possession of all drugs. We need to end the drug war. In 1999 Portugal took the unique position in the world and decriminalized all drug use. They now have one of the lowest rates of overdose deaths in the world.
Why do you want to be a member of Congress?
I believe in service to my nation. I served six years in the National Guard, and this is another way to serve. Congress is broken. The majority of voters want an alternative to the two-party system. I believe the Libertarian party and our ideals are the solution they want.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
1. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
No
2. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
No
3. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state?
No
