Huntsville Time

5th District GOP hopeful wants sci-fi to aid NASA

Williams sees tax on science fiction books as space funding solution

04/22/02

From Staff Reports

Michael Williams, a Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District seat, has a novel plan to fully fund NASA: Tax science fiction.

Williams proposes a 1 percent "NASA tax" on science fiction books, science fiction comic books, space sciences books and any other space-related literature.

The tax would also apply to "space, space-related, and science fiction toys, puzzles and games," Williams said in a listing of his platform.

He also proposes increasing tax depreciation for research and development expenses to at least equal similar tax breaks granted by European governments. Several other tax breaks he proposes include investment tax credits and a 3- to 5-percent tax cut for the middle class.

A pro-life candidate, Williams also promises if elected to sponsor a bill that would allow abortions only in cases of rape, incest or for medical reasons. He also favors providing money for medical research to perform "pre-birth" adoptions, which "will allow for the safe removal of unborn children from their mothers that does not harm the mothers or the unborn children."

Williams wants Congress to adopt a resolution establishing a "global grand convention" that would ensure all inhabitants of Earth the same basic rights found in the U.S. Constitution.

His resolution would also require holding a constitutional convention when 30,000 colonists have settled or been born "on the moon, Mars or any other celestial body besides the Earth."

A Hampton Cove resident, Williams, 28, holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a bachelor's degree in business management from Athens State University. He works at Publix Super Market at Hampton Cove.

He is a graduate of Madison County High School, a member of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the North Alabama African-American Chamber of Commerce.

Williams faces Stephen Engel of Athens in the June 4 GOP primary. The winner faces U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, in November.