JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
What's the best way for the federal government to encourage job creation?
From the beginning, the American people have pursued their dreams through innovation, perseverance, and hard work. We must now re-awaken the entrepreneurial spirit of our people with entrepreneur grants and mentoring partnerships. We must give our economy a strong foundation through low interest loans and tax incentives for small businesses. We need a serious and aggressive investment in renewable energy to create an economic boom in Iowa which will create thousands of new jobs. We need a federal works program which brings people out of the unemployment lines and employs them in rebuilding the infrastructure of our nation.
Do you think the government bailout of large financial institutions, approved in October 2008, was a good idea or a bad idea?
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of October 2008 was a bad idea. While there was justification to be concerned about the nation’s largest financial institutions, the idea of being too big to fail is a bad prospect for society. Bad decisions regarding lending occurred between 2000 and 2008 which put the financial stability of the nation at risk. Yes, something needed to be done, however, the EESA kept the old guard in place. Unfortunately, this legislation denied opportunities for highly intelligent and capable people to emerge and reinvigorate these institutions and the economy. As a result, very little has changed.
Do you think passage of the February 2009 stimulus legislation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was a good or bad idea?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was a good idea because it focused on creating or saving jobs, investing in long term growth, and establishing transparency in government spending. The ARRA saved thousands of jobs in education and public safety. This act created jobs for rebuilding roads and bridges. This act invested in the development of renewable energy. On the downside, a lot of these funds have been slow to rollout to the public. Another pitfall is these are one time funds. So if they fail to jump start the economy, we may soon be facing the same dilemma again.
Do you think the federal government has taken sufficient action to prevent another financial crisis like the one we faced in 2008?
No! We need a vision combined with action for long term economic health. To avoid another financial crisis, we must 1) Put people to work to create revenue, 2) Strengthen Labor Laws, 3) End the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy, 4) New tax breaks to strengthen the middle class, 5) Implement 28% investment income tax on the wealthy, 6) Enact smarter trade policies, 7) Get out of Afghanistan, 8) Maintain a balanced budget, 9) Create the Line Item Veto, 10) Establish and enforce strict regulation and oversight of Big Corporations and Wall Street, 11) Reduce the deficit.
Do you think the agencies currently in place adequately protect Americans from lending abuses by financial companies?
No - With the passage of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we have regained a certain amount of protection which previously existed under Glass-Steagall which should have never been repealed in 1999. There are two important questions: First, will the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as an independent agency have the muscle to ensure protection. I believe this agency will have that muscle if the Treasury and Justice Departments back them up on enforcement. Second, how long will it be before human nature allows greed to re-emerge as the underlying problem?
What changes would you make to the U.S. approach to trade policy, whether to encourage more exports, protect American jobs, or other steps?
We need to insist on fair and balanced trade agreements that protect the working men and women in the United States and around the world. Our trade agreements need to be tied to environmental standards which prevent exploitation and are enforceable with other countries. Our agreements must address unfair trade practices such as currency manipulation. We must eliminate the tax breaks and tax havens for multinational corporations that serve as incentives for taking jobs out of this country. We must be about protecting American jobs. We must also use trade agreements to advance worker rights in other countries.
Do you favor any change in the federal minimum wage?
Absolutely! A 40 hour work week for the entire 52 weeks of the year at the minimum wage of $7.25 yields a total $15,080.00 before taxes. While this is $4,250.00 above the poverty line of $10,830.00 for one person, it is $6,970.00 below the poverty line of $22,050.00 for a family of four. Considering expenses, we are talking about real subsistence living at these levels. In our country, 16.7 million children live in poverty. We can and we must do better. I favor raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour and let’s put people to work.
Do you favor making it easier for workers to unionize, allowing them to sign a card rather than voting in a formal election?
Yes! We have spent the last thirty years or more undermining labor in this country. It is time to reverse that trend. It is past time to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and give workers a choice in forming a union. We need stronger labor laws and enforcement which close loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying benefits and taxes. There must be a balance of power between labor and management which provides labor with the basis from which to work for and protect the wages, benefits, and rights of workers.
TAXES AND SPENDING
What are specific federal activities you would reduce or eliminate to reduce the deficit?
I would eliminate or modify the following:
• Eliminate Bush Tax Cut for the wealthiest 2%
• End Combat troops in Afghanistan
• Eliminate ear marks unless they are directly linked to a particular piece of legislation and fall within the scope of that particular budget item.
• Eliminate existing tax breaks on investment income tax on the wealthy and restore these taxes to 28%.
• Restructure the Farm Subsidy Program to bring it in line with its original intent.
• Eliminate tax incentives and sweet deals for oil companies.
• Revise Congressional Pensions
Do you favor reducing or increasing defense spending or keeping it about the same?
Reduce Defense Spending - We need a strategic global plan and a defense budget to support the implementation of that plan. This plan must be built upon our moral authority and ability to lead by the strength of our example. It must be a plan in which we engage the rest of the world in the process of building a world community based on mutual consideration and the peaceful resolution of differences. With careful planning, we should be able to modernize our defense systems and reduce our defense spending while maintaining the military strength to protect our nation.
Do you favor any changes in the federal tax system?
Yes, too much of the tax burden falls on the backs of hard working men and women. We need a simpler and fairer tax code which makes it impossible for the wealthy and big corporations to shirk their responsibility. Our tax code must be fair to those who are at the lower end of the income ladder and allow them to keep a greater share of the income from their hard work. On the other hand, the wealthy need to pay their fair share. Unto those who much is given, much is expected.
Do you favor any changes to ensure the financial viability of Social Security?
Yes, the government should eliminate the cap on social security contributions, and devise a scale by which social security payments are based on lifetime contributions and retirement need.
Do you favor any changes to ensure the financial viability of Medicare?
The change that I favor involves an aggressive campaign by the Justice Department to reduce and eliminate Medicare Fraud. Medicare fraud which occurs primarily through false billing results in an estimated loss of $60 billion annually. Out of a $456 billion Medicare budget, this loss due to fraud equals 13% of the total budget. Furthermore, we need to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and permit the safe importation of prescription drugs from Canada to reduce the financial burden prescription drugs have placed on Medicare. Health Care Reform must drive down medical costs which is also financially beneficial to Medicare.
Should farm subsidies be further limited?
Yes - The 2008 Farm Bill continued farm subsidy payments regardless the condition of the farm economy. Direct payments of approximately $5 billion per year are paid regardless the farm economy. Counter-Cyclical Payments are paid if farm prices fall below a certain level. Market-loss payment decreases when crop prices are high and increases when prices are low. Federal Crop Insurance increases as crop prices increase. Farm subsidy practices give rise to agriculturally unfriendly corporate farms. We could strengthen our family farms, promote sustainable agriculture, and contribute to our rural economy and communities by restructuring farm subsidies.
EDUCATION
What role should the federal government play to ensure America's high school graduates are ready to succeed in college, the workplace and civic life?
Education is at the very core of my life. As a professional educator of 34 years, I am resolute about the role education must play in the sustaining and advancement of Democracy and society. We must first rescind No Child Left Behind as poor public policy. The federal government must work collaboratively with the states to provide funding and establish criteria for world class high schools. Every high school graduate must possess and be able to demonstrate the prerequisite knowledge and skills necessary for post-high school success. It is the federal government’s role to help make this happen.
Should the federal government establish rigorous national standards and matching exams at various grade levels, so state-by-state results can be compared?
No! Educational standards should be established by each state with the federal government acting as a national clearinghouse for this information. Assessment should be the role and responsibility of each state. The federal government should collaborate with the states to promote a reliable and valid assessment process. We must move away from objective assessments with limited scope to an authentic assessment which measures the application of a student’s knowledge and skill competency. State by state comparison and ranking are of little value. Our goal must be World Class Schools for all students!
Should parents who choose to educate their children in private or religious schools or at home receive vouchers or tax breaks?
No! Each state runs a system of public financed schools. These schools are available to all members of society at the tax payer’s expense. For this reason, if a person chooses to educate their child in a private or religious school, that should be their free choice. However, it is a free choice with which there should be no application of public funds.
Should the federal government further expand Pell Grants, offer new tax credits or take other steps to expand access to college?
Absolutely! As we reform high school to ensure all graduates possess the prerequisite knowledge and skills necessary to move into post-high school life, we should provide the opportunity for these graduates to continue their free public education through grade 14 at one of the state’s public institutions. However, if they choose to attend a private college, they could pursue financial benefits through existing grants and loans. Education is the gateway to a strong economy and secure democracy. The funds we expend on education are an investment in the future of our children and society.
Should the federal government expand support for post-secondary training at trade schools or community colleges?
Absolutely! The Iowa model for post-secondary enrollment is a good model for such a transition. However, we must reach a point where all high school graduates are afforded the opportunity to pursue two additional years of training or schooling at public trade schools, community colleges, public colleges or universities as duel credit during high school, or as a part of their post-high school education.
What changes should Congress make when it reauthorizes the No Child Left Behind Act, if any?
The No Child Left Behind Act needs to be rescinded. This act was unveiled in an unfunded and corrosive manner which undermined the credibility of the law with educators and parents. This law bases student and school assessment on standardized measures rooted in the industrial model which are not compatible with the concept of a 21st Century education. The federal government needs to reach out to states as a collaborative partner with available funding and services valued by educators and the states as they strive to fulfill their responsibility of providing ALL children with a World Class education.
HEALTH CARE
Do you think passage of the new federal health care bill was a good or bad idea?
The federal health care bill was a good idea, however, the process that unfolded during debate and passage reflected the worst in partisanship. This bill was a good step in the right direction. The following are much needed changes which have the most immediate impact on people:
• Eliminating denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions,
• Protecting against denial of coverage based on the expense of an illness,
• Baring a lifetime cap on coverage,
• Requiring insurance companies to keep children on their parent’s policy until age 26.
These all represent positive developments in health care reform.
What do you think are the one or two best ideas included in the new federal health care law?
There are several good ideas in the new federal health care law. I feel the elimination of pre-existing conditions as a reason to be denied insurance is long overdue. I feel the elimination of an insurance company’s ability to drop a person’s insurance coverage because they have become too expensive is long overdue. Insurance companies have been far too powerful for far too long. It is time the government intervene and protect the American people from inappropriate practices that are counter to the best interest of the American public.
What else should the federal government do to rein in the rising cost of health care?
The federal government needs to create a competitive market place by implementing a public option plan. Medicare must be allowed to negotiate drug prices. We must open up the northern border and allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada. We must make wellness activities a part of insurance coverage. By engaging wellness activities, we focus on the prevention of illness and disease which will drive down health care costs. We need a better system for the maintenance and sharing of medical records for the patient’s benefit. By sharing records we could avoid duplication, improve care and reduce cost.
What else should the federal government do to improve the quality of health care?
We must see the current health care reform as the first step toward the attainment of universal coverage under a single payer plan.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Do you believe man-made climate change is real and should be addressed?
Man-made climate change is real and must be addressed. Global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases is evident at the polar caps, the Great Himalayan Glacier Basin, and other large ice masses around the world. The shrinking of the polar caps is causing the oceans to rise and changing the water temperature which impacts climate around the world. The shrinking of the Great Himalayan Glacier Basin which serves as a primary water source for the major tributaries from China to India holds the potential for serious geo-political ramifications. We must reverse global warming!
What specific steps, if any, should the federal government take to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and encourage development of cleaner and/or renewable energy sources?
First, let’s move away from Cap and Trade which is a financial boondoggle for Wall Street and will compromise the achievement of emission reduction. We must implement firm caps that will allow us to reduce green house gas emission by 80% by 2050. We must have a national commitment to the development of renewable and clean energy similar to our commitment to win World War II and put a man on the moon. We must end our dependence on foreign oil by 2050 and make fossil fuels a thing of the past by the end of the 21st Century.
Should the federal government open new areas for oil and gas exploration?
As we move away for our dependence on foreign oil and transition from our dependence on fossil fuels, we will need to increase domestic exploration for oil and gas. However, there should be a firm moratorium on any new offshore drilling with a long range plan to phase out current offshore operations. We also must not open up environmentally sensitive lands for oil and gas exploration. Research suggests there are ample oil and gas reserves available in the continental United States to meet our oil and gas needs during our transition to renewable, clean, and safe energy and fuel.
SOCIAL ISSUES
Do you believe in equal marriage rights for same-sex couples?
Yes! It should not be the business of government to tell people who they can love and with whom they can make their lives. This is a civil rights issue, and the rights of these individuals must be recognized.
Do you favor allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military?
Yes! This again is a matter of civil rights. Homophobes need to recognize that they are acting on prejudice and bigotry. A person’s sexual preference is nobody else’s business unless that preference infringes upon the rights of another person. Homosexuals can serve their country with the same honor, distinction, and valor as anyone else.
Do you favor any changes in federal abortion laws?
No, I believe the current laws protect a woman’s right to choose.
Do you favor any changes in federal gun laws?
No, I believe the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution needs to be protected.
Do you favor continuing to allow the death penalty for some federal crimes?
No, I oppose the death penalty.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Do you agree with current U.S. policy regarding military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan?
No, and I am pleased to see we are withdrawing our combat forces from Iraq. We need to do the same thing in Afghanistan. We need to base our foreign relations on a new strategic plan that will restore our leadership around the world.
Is the amount of military or economic aid sent to foreign countries too much, too little, or about right?
This answer is dependent upon the prevailing situation. It is preferable if we could send less military aid to foreign countries, however, this aid might be necessary to establish a balance of power critical to maintaining the peace. Our goal should be to pursue diplomatically those things which would make a reduction in military aid possible. I believe we should maintain a level of economic aid to foreign countries which is necessary to promote self-reliance. Our goal should be to help countries develop an economy and social system which promotes a quality of life for their families and children.
Under what circumstances would you support military action against another country or group?
The sign of a great nation is when military action is only used as a last resort. We must never use military action until we have exhausted all diplomatic options for resolving a dispute. Before engaging military action, we should consult with our allies and seek to bring the world community to our side. Then, when there is no other option available, and we have a strategic plan for action, we must act decisively and without reservation. We must never again base military action on presumptions and misguided ideology.
What one or two countries do you perceive pose the greatest threat against U.S. national security?
Walt Kelly’s quote, “We have met the enemy and he is us” just about sums it up. This is not to say the world is without danger. We live in a world of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Any race that can justify the existence of these types of weapons is always at risk. However, the quote does express the notion that it is our response to other countries and situations that may pose the greatest threat. As the greatest and most powerful nation on earth, we must be about leadership which seeks to create a civil community of nations.
IMMIGRATION
What changes do you favor to current immigration laws?
We must first deal with all of the undocumented workers in the United States by giving them a pathway to legal status in this country. This is not amnesty, but a process to allow them to come out of the shadows and join society. We need to use local, state, and federal officials under the direction of the federal government to tighten border security. Any person or company hiring undocumented workers must face criminal prosecution and punishment. We must open our immigration program to provide a legal avenue for unskilled workers to enter this country for temporary or permanent purposes.
Do you favor creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have committed no crimes other than immigration violations, if they pay a penalty and learn English?
Yes!
In general do you favor increasing levels of legal immigration, decreasing them or leaving them about the same?
I favor increasing the levels of legal immigration. I also feel it is important to open the doors to unskilled as well as skilled workers. Immigration can be a source of economic development. Immigrants not only bring a work force, but consumers and taxpayers. Immigrants can be a source of innovation, cultural development, and social advancement. We must never forget that this, the greatest nation on earth exists because we are a nation of immigrants. We are not a melting pot as much as we are a grand tapestry of diverse beauty.
MISCELLANEOUS
Do you favor any changes to how the federal government approaches protecting civil liberties while also protecting security?
Civil liberties must be protected at all costs. Our liberties are our greatest security, and when we diminish liberty we in turn diminish security. Benjamin Franklin said, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.” Thomas Jefferson counseled by saying, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. . . They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” With the words of Franklin and Jefferson, we find the answer to our dilemma.
