Stuart, FL – West for Congress announced today that it has submitted over 8,000 petitions collected by volunteers to place Congressman West on the August primary ballot:

“The 2012 election is truly is a choice between two futures for our nation. The fact that so many Floridians have chosen to stand with us, sign petitions, volunteer and contribute shows they have no intention of letting us continue down the current path of dependency and decline. Americans understand that economic freedom and individual liberty are the solution to all of the problems we face,” West said.

 ”I look forward to returning to Washington in January of 2013 with a new President ready to put aside ideology and proven failed policies so we can create an environment where small businesses and entrepreneurs can create jobs, families can buy homes, invest, save for college and save for retirement, and the success enjoyed by each and every American is only limited by how hard each individual works to achieve it.”

“We are proud to have so many voters in Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties, and across Florida putting their name on petitions to place Congressman West on the ballot in 2012. Like our strong grassroots driven fundraising, this is just another indication of the widespread support behind our campaign and Congressman West’s straightforward, commonsense ideas to restore the economy, reduce spending and keep America exceptional,” said Tim Edson, Campaign Manager for Allen West.

Q: What do you believe the killing of Osama bin Laden achieved?

Congressman West: In a tactical sense, the achievement was that you took out the current leader or a figurehead for al Qaeda. But in a larger strategic sense, it doesn’t mean as much because the organization is still around and you know, we have to be concerned about the potential of body bombs being used on our aircraft. So we can’t be focused on this, it was a great thing that happened, all the credit goes to our men in Navy Seal uniforms that went across the border in that late night raid operation. But we still have to stay focused on—like the State Department official said—on the war on terrorism, which is a hollow misnomer, it is not over.

Read the full interview with the American Enterprise Institute here.

“The president’s weapon of choice is tax policy, and the “enemies” are small businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and corporations deemed “undesirable.”

The collateral damage of these policies will spread far and wide into the heartland of America. The middle class will also suffer from the president’s tax war. The 160 percent increase in federal cigarette taxes from 2009 will no doubt affect those earning less than $250,000.

Unless changes are made in the tax code, Americans will be bombarded with the heavy artillery of the largest tax increase in the nation’s history, causing massive economic injury and destruction.

For starters, if the Bush tax rates are allowed to expire, the current tax brackets of 10 percent to 35 percent will rise to 15 percent to 39.6 percent. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, which includes up to $2,500 per student for qualified college costs, as well as the tax exclusion for forgiven mortgage debt, and tax credit for employer-provided child care are going to affect average, hardworking Americans.

Children who wish to continue the legacy of their parents, will find it increasingly difficult to do so, as the death tax exemption will shrink from $5 million to $1 million.

Investors will be battered with a capital gains tax increase from 15 percent to a maximum of 25 percent. Seniors who rely on their dividend returns will also be hammered.

The president says “everyone must shoulder their fair share.” But how does he define “fair” when 47 percent of wage-earning households pay zero federal income taxes, while the top 25 percent pay 87 percent?”

Read the full article in TCPalm here.

 ”Today we are pleased to launch a state of the art, user friendly online headquarters that will allow the voters of Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties to learn more about Congressman West, his ideas for getting our nation back on track, and Florida’s 18th Congressional District. Our website will also allow voters to easily communicate and connect with Congressman West through social media, get involved with the campaign, and spread the word about our campaign to their family, friends and neighbors.

Our online headquarters will also serve as a rapid response center to correct the desperate distortions and outrageous mudslinging sure to come from Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Washington Democrats, their left-wing special interest allies, and the Big Labor bosses already paying professional protestors to disrupt and interfere with Congressman West’s efforts to have serious conversation with voters up and down the Treasure Coast.”  

Palm Beach County, FL – Today West for Congress released FEC numbers for the first quarter of 2012 showing $1.8 million in contributions and $3.3 million cash on hand. Congressman West offered the following statement:

“I am honored and humbled to have so many great Americans putting their hard-earned money behind our campaign. The fact that 97 percent of our contributions came from individual contributors, instead of Washington lobbyists and special interests, is a sign Americans want a strong constitutional conservative in the House that is willing to stand for the principles that made America great, regardless of the critics. Thanks to the generous financial support we have across the 18th District, Florida and the nation, we have the resources to continue advocating for policies to get our economy back on track by getting government out of the way and out of the pockets of hard working tax payers, return our nation to a fiscally responsible course, develop domestic energy resources to lower gas prices and move toward energy security, and continue to ensure we have the defense capabilities to meet future strategic challenges.”

Congressman Allen West is running for re-election in Florida’s 18th Congressional District including all of St. Lucie and Martin Counties, and part of Palm Beach County. For more information visit AllenWestforCongress.com.

For announcement click here

For video click here