League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Citizen Education Fund
Essex, Middlesex County, MA September 16, 2008 Election
	John F. Tierney Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 6; Democratic Party

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Massaschusetts and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What is the government's role in regulating trade and to what degree is that role dependent on the current balance of trade and the rate of unemployment in the United States?

The federal government, and the Congress specifically, is constitutionally empowered over trade activities between states and with foreign countries. It should exercise that power in promoting U.S. economic growth and technological advancement and remain mindful of our need to strengthen relationships with other nations as may be appropriate. It is important that issues of environmental and safety concerns, as well as labor considerations, be taken into account within trade discussions and be given the same emphasis and enforcement weight as other major provisions in agreements. Doing so will allow consideration of employment conditions, especially when coupled with domestic education, health care, and training initiatives for unemployed individuals.

2. Scientists warn that the U.S must begin to cut global warming pollution during the next 10 years and reduce pollution by 60%-80% by 2050 in order to mitigate the most severe impacts of global warming. What three legislative proposals would you present to reduce global warming's short-term and long-effects?

#1. Legislate a sensible cap-and-trade policy on emissions.

#2. Encourage the development of non-fossil fuel powered vehicles or, in the short term at least, raise mileage standards.

#3. Require electricity to be generated from no less than 15-20% renewable sources by 2020.

3. What do you believe are the most pertinent threats to national security and what do you propose to do about these threats?

#1. Nuclear proliferation remains a significant threat. We should strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime and expand on the Nunn-Lugar program to reduce and eliminate existing nuclear weapons and materials.

#2. Nations competing for increasingly scarce resources such as oil, water, minerals, and food, is a growing challenge. We should expand efforts to coordinate actions in order to peacefully deal with environmental challenges and shortages. Such efforts include technological solutions, trade agreements that allow nations to progress, and policies - beyond just military means - to promote responsible development and education and health initiatives.

#3. Acts of terror around the globe and potentially here at home remain a serious threat. We must continue to follow up on legislation recently passed that would implement the 9/11 Commission's recommendations to secure our ports, rail transit, and nuclear power plants and chemical facilities, while ensuring that health, law enforcement, intelligence, military activities (where appropriate), and disaster planning and response are coordinated and in place. Internationally we must ensure that our now depleted military services and equipment are restored. We should implement a "whole of government" approach to security efforts, which encompasses not just military capacity, but also intelligence, diplomatic, and developmental efforts by which we can work with other nations to successfully confront and defeat terrorists, as well as create conditions inhospitable to their future recruitment of others.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 12, 2008 07:27
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