Questions by Columbian staff writer Kathie Durbin
Q: Economic recovery: As a member of Congress, how would you work with other House members, the Obama administration and Washington state leaders to help small businesses and create jobs in Southwest Washington? Please be specific.
A: I believe that small business is the fuel of our economy. They employ half of the economy’s work force. I would consult with small businesses in Washington State and from across the nation to find out what their needs and concerns are and what can be done to encourage hiring and business growth. Next, I would listen to them and incorporate their needs and concerns into the process of helping the economy to recovery. I would also work to extend the income, capital gains and dividend tax cuts that are set to expire in 2011. I would also work to stop or repeal the cap and trade bill currently in Congress. I believe we should reward instead of punish businesses to help with carbon output and such. New taxes on small business along with the mandates for health care will hurt them. If small business must choose between paying taxes and other mandates or hiring new employees or investing in company growth, they will choose to pay the government obligation, and that hinders economic growth in the country.
Q: Columbia River Crossing: Our congressional delegation warns that the window for securing federal funding for a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia is rapidly closing, and that the region’s failure to reach consensus on a bridge design and the local funding match could kill the project. Do you believe a new crossing is essential to the growth of Southwest Washington? If so, what would you do to break the political gridlock? If not, what if anything should be done to improve the existing spans?
A: A new bridge over the Columbia River would be a good thing if the process is done right. We must address several key issues before a final plan is done. We must also ask the people what they want by the election process. Being an advocate for fiscal responsibility from our government — I oppose any tolls or increased taxes or creating additional debt to fund the bridge. We can save and plan to build it without incurring debt and by being financially responsible. Also I am opposed to the light rail from Portland to Vancouver. Studies show that basically it would not make a difference. The same amount of cars will still travel the bridge. We need to work together in the whole process as to benefit all parties involved and so as not to create debt or financial obligations that can’t be met.
Q: Energy: Describe briefly your vision for the nation’s energy future and the region’s. What new energy sources should the federal government promote/subsidize? Do you believe it’s possible for the U.S. to wean itself from fossil fuels? Regarding the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, what steps, if any, would you support to hold BP accountable, repair the environmental and economic damage in the region, and strengthen federal spill prevention rules?
A: It will take many years to wean ourselves from fossil fuels in the U.S. and abroad. In the meantime, we can look at several sources of natural energy. Solar, wind and hydro power are all good examples. We need to listen to and encourage all ideas and innovations. We must not allow special interest groups or big money to influence or affect the choices that we make in regard to our energy policies. The oil spill in the gulf is in part the current administration’s fault. They allowed drilling in water that was too deep without a plan for an emergency as the one that happened. I would work to consult every expert from around the globe to help solve the problems arising from the spill. I would need to talk to experts in the oil industry and to others with the knowledge to determine what regulations, etc., would be best for all and also constitutional. BP is, so far, claiming to be doing the best it can and are accepting blame. I think we need to get more help from sources other than BP. The president needs to wave the Jones Act, which keeps foreign ships from our waters and accept help from other countries.
Q: Financial reform: What is your plan to protect American consumers from a recurrence of the abuses committed by Wall Street investment banks that led to the Great Recession? Do you favor reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act or something similar?
A: Yes, the consumer does need to be protected. However, we must be very careful with enacting regulations that could, in turn, hurt the consumer. An example would be the fees imposed on banks that would then be passed on to the consumer, causing them to pay more money to have their bank account with the bank, and that would not be good. We need to listen to the experts and others with the insight and knowledge to make sure that any new regulations are the right way to go, if it will work and if it is constitutional. After I have done my homework and have listened to the experts and to the people, I would work to do the right thing in enacting new regulations that may or may not be similar to the Glass-Steagall Act.
Q: Immigration reform: Assuming Congress does not act this year, what is your vision for strengthening our borders and dealing with the 12 million undocumented immigrants who are in the U.S. today? Do you favor amnesty? Deportation? A path to citizenship for illegals? What is your take on the Arizona law? Please be specific.
A: We need and must secure our borders by whatever means necessary to protect us from those who want to harm America and its citizens. Those here that are not of legal status must leave on their own will and come back in the legal way. The immigrants that have worked hard to be legal or become a citizen must not be allowed to think that their hard work was for nothing. We are a land of laws, and to be here in our great country, you must follow the laws and come in the legal way. The Arizona law mirrors the federal laws. The federal laws are actually more stringent then Arizona’s. The Arizona law bans racial profiling and there must be reasonable causes to stop or ask someone their legal status. With the federal law, a person can be stopped and asked for their legal status without reasonable cause. I support the Arizona law 100 percent.
Q: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: President Obama announced in March 2009 that he would withdraw most combat troops from Iraq by August 2010, deploy 21,000 more troops to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and train Afghan troops, and begin withdrawing military forces from Afghanistan in 2011. Do you agree in general with those goals? Briefly, what in your view should be the nation’s future military and political objectives in these two countries?
A: We can all agree that we need to bring our troops home, but we cannot leave these countries vulnerable to terrorism and unable to defend against it. We need to truly analyze both situations and determine the best route for all involved. Iraq is on its way to being able to protect itself, but there is still evil lurking, so we must not totally leave the area until the threats are gone. Afghanistan is a different story. There are so many diverse tribes in the region with different wants and needs that it is very difficult to weed out the evildoers. The region is very unstable and prone to mass corruption. We need to deeply scrutinize the situation to determine the best strategy to end the uncertainty of the country and help make it function efficiently and to become prosperous.
