League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Santa Clara Counties, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Jerry McNerney Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 11

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California 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?

I raised my three kids in California, and my family experienced periods of economic difficulty. I was a renewable energy engineer and small business owner, and I had to take out a second mortgage to afford my kids' college education. I know what it's like when times are tough, and nothing is more important to me than creating jobs in California and getting our economy going again.

Small businesses are the engine that drives the American economy, and my experience makes me committed to helping small businesses in our area succeed. I formed a Small Business Advisory board made of local business owners who give me advice on what I can do to help. I worked to pass a law that provides tax relief to companies that hire new workers, and I voted for tax cuts to help small businesses grow. I also wrote a bill to reduce the burden of the estate tax so that small businesses and family farms can be passed from one generation to the next.

I'm upset by how many good American jobs have gone overseas in recent years, and I've helped lead the charge to crack down on outsourcing. I introduced a bill called the Stop Outsourcing and Create American Jobs Act to get tough on companies that ship our jobs abroad. My bill closes tax loopholes used by big corporations to send jobs overseas and gives preferences in government contracts to companies that hire workers here at home.

Times are still tough, and we have a lot more work ahead of us on the economy. Creating jobs in our area is one of my priorities, and I'll keep doing everything I can to give small businesses the tools to succeed and to stop the outsourcing of good American jobs.

2. How should federal budget priorities be changed, now and into the future? How will you balance the costs of military action overseas and national security with the costs of domestic needs?

Every weekend when I'm home in California, I hear from people who are concerned about the growing federal deficit. The debt is a serious problem, and one I'm working hard to control. Although our country had to take significant action in the last few years to prevent an even worse economic downturn, the debt is a growing concern that threatens our long-term economic prospects. It's essential that we act in a fiscally responsible way.

I'm working to eliminate wasteful spending and control rising deficits. For instance, I voted against using more than $350 billion in bailout money, and I've always voted against pay raises for Members of Congress. I've voted to trim funding for numerous federal agencies, and I support a bill to identify wasteful programs and require a direct, up-or-down vote to eliminate them.

I'll keep working with members of both political parties to identify spending that's wasteful and make sure that every dollar spent is put to good use.

3. What, if anything, should be done by the federal government to address our dependence on fossil fuels or spur the use of clean energy?

We need a forward-thinking energy policy more than ever. California families have suffered too much from volatile and high gas prices, and buying millions of barrels of oil from overseas puts money in the hands of countries like Iran and Venezuela that are hostile to America. Achieving energy independence is essential for the economic well-being of California families, for our national security, and for the environment. I'm leading the fight for balanced policies that keep energy bills low by responsibly producing more energy domestically, investing in energy efficiency, and bringing online new forms of clean energy resources.

I have more than twenty years experience as a renewable energy expert and small businessman developing clean energy technology. I know from firsthand experience that our area can become the country's leader in renewable energy use and production, creating good paying jobs in the process. I'm committed to bringing these jobs here. In San Joaquin County, I'm working with local officials to create clean energy jobs, and I was thrilled that just last year a new plant opened up that is manufacturing electric cars and trucks in Stockton. I wrote legislation that will help bring a new solar development to Tracy, creating 200 jobs, and I also frequently meet with innovative small business owners who have great ideas for renewable energy job creation in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara Counties.

I'm also putting my expertise as a renewable energy engineer to work as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. I'm the author of three bills, passed by the House of Representatives, that will help train the next generation for green jobs, increase the efficiency of our electrical grid, and invest in infrastructure for electric vehicles. I've also co-authored legislation to help spur local manufacturing of these cars.

I'll keep fighting for good energy policies that keep gas and electric bills as low as possible and create high quality jobs. With the right mix of incentives, our country can achieve energy independence.

4. What, if any, changes should be made to current federal policies or programs that promote or provide health coverage for Americans.

America's doctors and nurses are the best in the world, but health care costs have been spiraling out of control for too long. As a father and small business owner, I experienced these soaring costs first hand. Rising costs are a burden for families, small businesses, and the economy.

The new health care reform law is making a positive difference for families and small businesses across our country. I supported the law after traveling our area on a listening tour and hearing from thousands of people about health care. Before the law was passed, I hosted multiple "Congress at Your Corner" town hall events to hear from anyone who wanted to attend; met with patients, doctors, and small business owners to learn about their experiences; visited hospitals, nursing homes, and health centers to learn about how health care reform would affect them; and received tens of thousands of phone calls, letters, faxes, and emails from California residents.

Health care reform includes important patient protections that are making life better for Californians. The new law prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions and makes it illegal for an insurance company to drop you if you get sick. The law lets young adults stay on their parents' plan until they're 26 and improves Medicare in many ways, including by closing the "donut hole" that forces many seniors to burden heavy out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. Reform will also lower insurance premiums and reduce health care costs by promoting vigorous, transparent competition between private insurance companies.

I'm committed to continuing to listen to your thoughts and ideas as health care reform is implemented. The new law is a major step forward, but I know it's not perfect. I'll keep studying the best proposals, listening to the concerns and suggestions of Californians, and working to improve the law as we move forward.

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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. No candidate may refer to another candidate in the response.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 22, 2010 10:10
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