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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Economy,
Budget,
Energy,
Health care,
Campaign financing
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. In this time of high unemployment, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy?
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Answer from Terri Linnell:
We have countries competing against our businesses unfairly, using slave/child labor, unfair business tactics, unfair trading policies. It's time to tax imports and level the playing field for American products and American industries. Our businesses are the backbone of our country, they come first.
Answer from David B. "Dave" (Babicky) Secor:
End Multi-national Corporate, Agri-Business, Big Oil subsidies.
Reinstate Glass-Steagall Act to again separate Conventional Banking from Investment Banking and put end to Too-Big-To-Fail Banks.
Reduce Military Footprint with presence in 130 countries with over 630 bases is far too much.
Cut funding for bloated military/industrial complex.
33% minimum tax on yearly incomes over $1 million.
Use savings from programs above to Rebuild American Infrastructure.
Triple investment in Research and Development.
Money to states to rehire teachers, firefighters, police, and fund quality public education.
Each $1 billion spent on defense budget creates 8,000 jobs.
Each $1 billion spent on infrastructure creates 25,000 jobs.
Government/Private Sector Cooperation -Invest in Solar, Bio-fuels to move toward energy independence.
Answer from Michael Benoit:
We need to drastically reduce the federal government, including taxes and the economy will begin to heal.
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2. How should the federal budget deficit be addressed, now and into the future? How should budget priorities for defense and domestic programs be adjusted?
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Answer from Michael Benoit:
Ron Paul has a plan to cut one trillion in federal spending the first year and I support that plan.
Answer from David B. "Dave" (Babicky) Secor:
Put the people back to work and paying taxes.
End Multinational Corporate, Agri-Business Subsidies.
End Bush Tax Cuts for those making over $250,000 per year.
Overhaul banking system. Reinstate Glass-Steagall Act.
Overhaul Tax Code to encourage re-investing corporate profits into the business rather than current system which encourages only extracting profits for the benefit of executives and major stockholders.
Re-visit Trade Agreements that encourage jobs going overseas.
Answer from Terri Linnell:
Balance the budget. There is no if's, and's, or but's. No excuses. Ron Paul's plan seems the best I've seen yet and does not cut programs people rely on to eat, such as social security and Medicare. Since the books are not completely open to the public, I cannot thoroughly examine them, but I will as soon as I get to Congress.
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3. What are your priorities with respect to our nation’s energy policy? Should there be an emphasis on clean energy and reducing carbon emissions, and/or on reducing our dependence on foreign sources?
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Answer from David B. "Dave" (Babicky) Secor:
Energy Independence and reducing emissions are both top priorities. Increasing domestic oil production will not do it. Tar sands oil is not the answer. We must move with all deliberate speed on advances in both solar energy and the necessary electrical energy storage systems, and bio-fuels which are near major breakthroughs. At least triple investment in R&D, with Government and Private Sector working together. Incentivise conservation and efficiency to go from current 34% efficiency to at least 70%. We cannot depend on oil. Until we achieve energy independence we are totally at the mercy of events in the Middle East. Independence is a top national security issue!
Answer from Michael Benoit:
We should allow for alternative fuels such as Hemp Oil.
Answer from Terri Linnell:
Energy is very important to our economy. It gets us to work, makes our factories run, brings us our food and water. We need to be self sufficient, not only individually, but as a nation.
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4. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs?
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Answer from Michael Benoit:
We need to repeal health care mandates on the people.
Answer from David B. "Dave" (Babicky) Secor:
We must move to Universal Coverage. Healthcare is now 17% of GDP and quickly rising. No nation with universal coverage spends over 12% of GDP,and most spend less. Moreover, those plans are NOT all the same. Germany's plan, Norway's, England's, Taiwan's, Switzerland's - are ALL DIFFERENT! We can take the best from each plan, avoid the pitfalls of each, and create a plan that work's best for the USA. Healthcare, like education, is a right, not an entitlement.
Answer from Terri Linnell:
The insurance industry is a monopoly, exempt from monopoly laws and their current prices are outrageous. Remove the exemption. Healthcare is a issue up to the people to resolve, not the federal government. I believe we should be able to pay cash to our doctors directly if we choose.
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5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing?
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Answer from Michael Benoit:
Allow peaceful people to give all they want.
Answer from David B. "Dave" (Babicky) Secor:
I take no money from corporations, lobbyists, PACs, unions - only contributions from individuals with a maximum total of $100. Voters need to know that their representatives' votes are not for sale. In our Congress, both parties are taking enormous bribes. None is immune to bribery (Our Senators, both Feinstein and Boxer supported SOPA, the attempted takeover of the internet by corporatists). Why? Each got over $1 million in contributions from corporations that would benefit with SOPA. We need publicly funded elections for AL federal offices!
Answer from Terri Linnell:
Remove all money. "Lobbying with Money is Bribery." As long as we permit our Congressmen to accept any money or gifts, we open ourselves up to them accepting bribes. It must stop. Bills are being written for whomever has the most money, instead of for the people.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as
submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
