Welcome to the Post Register's live chat with United States Senate candidate Rex Rammell. Rammell, a Rexburg resident, left the Republican Party this year to run as an independent. We welcome your questions. Play nice, no name calling and all that, and Rex will take them one at a time. Enjoy.

Mr. Rammell, I've read that you support deregulation to save the market. Isn't deregulation one of the things that got us in this mess?

Congress mandated that Fannie and Freddie loan a minimum of 42 percent of their loans to low- and high-risk individuals. This was the cause of the beginning of the financial crisis. If a true free market existed, these loans would never have been made and consequently, never defaulted on. Less regulation in a true free market system would have presented this meltdown.

I'll keep this rolling. The INL is the economic driver for this region and it is funded, in part, by the federal earmarking process. As US Senator, would you put earmarks into appropriation bills in order to enhance site funding?

Earmarks are not necessary in appropriation bills that have been correctly legislated.

Where's Rex?

I am sitting right here at the Post Register.

Where did you get the 42% figure?

I heard it on Glenn Beck.

Does Glen Beck endorse you?

If he knew me, he would.

Polls are scant in Idaho races, but the ones I've seen place you in single figures. Can an independent win a congressional race inn Idaho?

The reason I have been in single digits is due to lack of name awareness. Our recent efforts in debates, radio interviews, TV appearances, large signs and newspaper questionnaires will raise my name awareness and should put me in the race. Most polls show a large number of undecideds. An independent has hard row to hoe but it must be done. If I do not win this time, I will win next time.

Does that mean you'd run against Sen. Crapo in 2010?

Possibly. If Sen. Crapo does not retire, I will choose between him and Rep. Mike Simpson.

Rex, you put a ton of your own money in the race. Are you going to spend it?

I'm glad you brought this up. Most of the money that I have loaned myself I have had to repay myself. My projects in Jackson, Wyo. have been caught in the financial crisis and I will not be able to put as much money into the race as I would like. I still will end up spending close to $100,000 of my own money to try to make a difference.

Are you still driving around the billboard?

Yes. It's called the Conservative Express.

What's the progress of your lawsuit against Jim Risch?

It has been tied up with preliminary motions, which I believe are deliberate attempts to postpone the trial until after the election. It will not go to trial until 2009, but we fully expect to win some time next year.

You've made clear that you don't support the $700 billion bailout and that you support a return to free-market principles. That would seem to be a long-term fix. Is there something that should be done in the short term to try and shore up the nation's financial system?

To provide liquidity to the markets I think financial incentives for private investors to take on the bad debt are the way to fix the problem short term. Financial incentives in the form of tax breaks may entice private investors to buy the bad debt. I would start with that.

If you win will you Caucus with the Democrats or Republicans?

Republicans.

Pat Buchanan recently wrote a piece talking about how America should balance its budget. His premise was that because America doesn't have the stomach to dig into entitlements, the only way to do it is to reduce America's military presence around the world. Do you agree with this?

I don't see pulling back troops as the answer to solving the entitlement crisis. I believe that at some point, and maybe it will be when the country is broke, Congress will have to fix the problem.

Many Idaho educators complain that No Child Left Behind has tied their hands and forced them to alter their teaching methods in ways they consider unproductive. Would you vote to reauthorize No Child Left Behind?

No. Let the teachers teach and then the parents can decide if their children need more help.

Did you support then Gov.-Risch's decision to shift a couple hundred million property taxes to the sales tax?

No, I did not. I supported the property tax decrease but would not have offset it with a sales tax increase. I would have used the surplus in the general fund and I would have cut the budget for Health and Welfare to make up the rest.

Have you read or heard of the book, THE LIMITS OF POWER: THE END OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, by Andrew J. Bacevich?

No.

Which members of Congress do you admire?

I like Sen. Tom Coburn, a Republican from Oklahoma, and Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. They are both strong conservatives who believe in limited federal government and free market capitalism.

Do you have any endorsements from an Idaho Politician from either party? who?

Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis. There are many Republican leaders that support me but will not endorse me publicly.

Who do you support for President?

Between Barack Obama and John McCain, I support McCain although I disagree with him on many issues.

Have you read Coburn's book, BREACH OF TRUST?

No.

If you could devise the country's energy policy. What would it entail?

Use of every available natural resource.

so you will be voting for McCain?

At this point, yes.

What books to you read? or what informs you?

I like to read Constitutional books. The last book I read was "How the West was Lost."

Would you have voted for Obama if he had picked Mrs Clinton for a running mate ?

No.

Do you support the Federal Reserve Banking System?

No.

Gold Standard?

Yes.

Would you introduce legislation to repeal the Federal Reserve and put the U.S. back on the Gold Standard?

Yes.

Much has been made about you running in order to cost Jim Risch this race. Can you address the idea that you are running simply to deny Risch a seat in the Senate?

Any animosity between Jim Risch and myself concerning the elk will be solved in the courts, not the polls. Spending $100,000 of my own money and 16 months campaigning is a bad way to get even with somebody.

If you had to choose between Larry Larroco and Jim Risch for U.S. Senate...who would you choose?

I honestly could not vote for either one of them. LaRocco is a liberal and Jim Risch is a thief.

If McCain was unable to finish a term, do you think Palin would be a good president ?

She would be the best out of the four who are running.

Would you repeal Social Security as well? Medicare?

Yes, I would move both to the free market.

what about the people now drawing Social Security and using Medicare...what would you do with them?

The government must fulfill any commitment it has made.

Would you support Congressman Mike Simpson's efforts to designate the Boulder White-Clouds as Wilderness?

No.

Is there any function of the Federal government started prior to WW2 that you deem as worthy of support?

Everything in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

would you have supported the recently passed farm bill?

No, I would not have supported the Farm Bill. Too many subsidies for wealthy farmers.

I would take that as a NO...does Article 1 Section 8 provide for an interstate Highway System?

Interstate commerce is a proper function of the federal government. Interstate highways affect interstate commerce.

Are there federal agencies you would cut in order to balance the federal budget? If so, which ones?

Department of Education.

Social Security, Medicare, Medica

If you are asking whether I would cut those, yes.

How should the US respond to Iran's attempts to build a nuclear weapon?

Strong sanctions and we must be prepared to go to war. They cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

Medicaid,cut them all? When? What would you do with the people using them NOW?

There would have to be a transition phase until they could be completely removed from the jurisdiction of the federal government.

WOW....

Let's toss out a general question. Why are you running and what do you hope to accomplish?

I hope to be one of the U.S. Senators to help America return to the Constitution where I believe the solutions to our problems lie.

Would you support a federal ban on abortion? Or would you leave it to the individual states to decide for themselves?

I would support a federal ban on abortion if I had the vote. If not, I would leave the jurisdiction to the states.

You are an official independent. What to you think of the Republican effort to prevent you from voting in their primary election?

The Republican Party has the right to set its own rules. If that excludes an independent, then I support that decision.

Could you be more specific about a "return to the Constitution?"

We've got a couple minutes remaining, so ask quickly if you've got another question.

Article 1, Section 8 enumerates the powers of Congress. Anything outside of that I would not support.

If we continue to send the same kind of people back to Washington, we can expect the same kind of results. It is time for a changing of the guard. It is time to send someone to the United States Senate who will vote strictly on conservative principles. It is time for a new kind of senator.

We have one more question. Thanks to everyone who participated in today's forum. This transcript will be posted on our web site through Election Day.

So you believe that the solutions to all our problems can be found in Article 1, section 8?

And thank you for participating in this forum!

No, the entire Constitution. Article 1, Section 8 specifically deals with the Congress. The rest of the Articles are just as important.