League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Orange County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Drew E. Leavens Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 45

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 and budget deficits, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy and sustain job creation?

Budget Deficits: Eliminate government waste. De-fund wasteful and ineffective programs like the Farm Bill and the War on Drugs. Add service fees where appropriate (stock and bond trades). Legalize, regulate and tax marijuana.

Economy: Increase the minimum wage, extend unemployment benefits, provide a middle class tax cut, invest in infrastructure projects, be sure our high schools and colleges are preparing kids for the jobs available today and in the future, provide tax incentives for businesses who hire Americans and tax penalties for companies who send American jobs overseas.

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

13 million Americans now have access to affordable health care that did not just last December. Despite all of the negative hype, the ACA has been good for our country and provides our people with peace of mind. I would look to improve the law and reduce any harmful effects on small businesses.

Medicare should not be 'voucherized' and the minimum age should not be moved to 70 as proposed by the GOP. The program has been an enormous success in mitigating the cost of healthcare on our seniors. We should look for savings in Medicare by increasing the investigations of Medicare fraud.

3. What are your priorities with respect to our nation’s energy policy?

We must embrace renewable energy and reduce our consumption of oil and gas. A recent study found that we could power the entire earth by capturing wind energy alone. Solar power also produces clean energy in a cost effective manner. We need to set a reasonable goal of having a significantly higher percentage of our energy come from clean, renewable sources.

Oil and gas, on the other hand, have contributed to the problem of climate change. Oil spills have had devastating effects on our environment and economy. Fracking has polluted our ground water and air and is considered responsible for earthquakes where we normally have none. We need to continue to expand the research and capabilities of electric cars.

4. What, if any, changes should be made with respect to our nation’s security, including our national defense or anti-terrorism measures?

The NSA should not be able to tap the phone lines and emails of everyday Americans. If an individual presents a risk, a court order should be obtained to monitor that person's communications.

We should re-think the drone program. Every time innocent civilians are killed, terrorist groups are able to recruit a multitude of new terrorists, making it likely that our children and grandchildren will be living with this problem.

Intelligence agencies must be coordinated. With several agencies gathering information, there is great risk in having a 'silo' effect. We have already seen the negative effects of that phenomena.

5. What is your position on the issue of immigration reform? What, if any, changes to legislation or policy would you support?

I support making the DREAM Act permanent. Young adults brought here as kids have known only one country. The bi-partisan bill passed by the Senate last year is far from perfect but it is a start. The House must behave like grownups and take on and resolve this important issue. Until they do, I believe it is unacceptable to rip families apart by deporting immigrants without documentation, unless a serious crime has been committed.

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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 24, 2014 10:12
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