League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	G. Bill Gonzalez Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 32

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

Questions & Answers

1. In this time of high unemployment, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy?

Improve access to capital for small businesses. Create partnerships with private and public sectors to retrain the unemployed and long-term unemployed. Provide incentives to businesses to hire Veterans, the long-term unemployed and keep jobs in America. Support public education, access to higher education and training programs for all Americans. Invest in public infrastructure.

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?

Mandate that Members of Congress keep their agreement made in the Budget Control Act of 2011. This law requires $900 billion in discretionary spending cuts over 10 years. We can bring down and control the federal budget deficit only if we combine new revenues with spending cuts. ALL Americans must be willing to share the sacrifice of bringing down the federal budget deficit.

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?

We need a national energy policy that encourages innovation and change rather than maintaining business as usual or the status quo.

We must provide incentives to the private sector so that innovation can pioneer new sources of clean energy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We must also be good stewards of our environment and better manage our natural resources.

4. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs?

We should not totally do away with the Health Care Reform Law. Millions of Americans are still struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet because they are under-insured or their out-of-pocket expenses are increasing rapidly. Millions more don't have insurance because they've lost their jobs or have been denied coverage.

Health care savings can be achieved by improving efficiencies, realigning incentives to emphasize quality care instead of quantity of procedures. We should provide incentives to reward healthcare providers for the quality of care they provide and overall healthcare outcomes, and not base reimbursement on the quantity of care provided.

I will advocate for adoption of patient safety standards and support development of innovative measures to reduce medical errors and hospital costs.

5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing?

Limit the amount of money special interest groups and corporations can contribute to political candidates and political campaigns. Also, require that a percentage of contributions be allocated to public education systems or support for children services.

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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.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 31, 2012 12:07
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