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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 Benjamin Campos:
Reduce the size of government and hold the current office holders accountable. Stop runaway spending and use a common sense approach in determining fiscal matters. Lawmakers are to pay a penalty if they are unable to put forth a balanced budget within the specified time required. Learn from history and avoid repeating what occurred during the 30's and 70's with bigger government. No matter how it is spun, bigger government and central planning does not create an environment of freedom and liberty where an economy can grow. The Soviet Union instituted central planning and as a result people were restricted from moving freely and the economy failed. The blue print is there and all that is required is to set America Free.
Answer from Jorge Robles:
As your Congressional Representative my top priorities will be; to offer new opportunities and incentives for small businesses which will result in the creation of new jobs that are desperately needed in our district. We need less regulations on businesses and start up fees. We need to make California a business friendly state.
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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 Jorge Robles:
The United States is in trouble, we owe over 15 trillion dollars and the numbers are growing. There are negotiations by both parties in Washington, D.C. on how to tackle this problem. Some have suggested raising taxes on the wealthy, while others are planning to make cuts in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. I believe a good start in tackling the deficit is to end the wars and stop government waste.We need to rein in out of control governmnet waste. We do not have a tax problem, we have a spending problem.
Answer from Benjamin Campos:
A Constitutional Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which states plainly that a budget must be balanced and passed on time otherwise representatives from both houses of congress will forfeit a day's worth of wages for everyday the submittal of the budget exceeds the deadline in which it was to be submitted. There are no more than two exceptions that this edict would be excused and that is in time of war or when acts of God occur. No other exceptions will be granted.
Currently, the bulk of the budget is made up of domestic programs along with other entitlements which are difficult to grasp just how they contribute to the betterment of our society as a whole and to our national defense when not a day goes by that we hear of massive fraud, mismanagement and waste. For example the recent abuse at the GSA. Therefore, social programs will have to demonstrate their viability in measurable terms by metrics similar to the private sector as to performance and results.
I see defense spending requiring attention but without equipping our soldiers with the best weapons available our social issues are a mute point because if we don't do everything possible to protect Americans from enemies both foreign or domestic there will be no America.
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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 Jorge Robles:
America needs energy; we need the oil from the Keystone Pipeline. Until we perfect green energy America will continue to be dependent on petroleum products. Alternative fuels won't be coming on line anytime soon, certainly not enough to replace the essential role that oil plays in our economy. We need the energy it's critical. Building the pipeline will create jobs and reduce oil dependency on foreign countries.
Answer from Benjamin Campos:
Our country has the resources, has the technology and has the wherewithal to become energy independent. There is no reason why our country should not be the world leader in energy production with our superior technology and superior American can do attitude. As track records go, our energy companies producing energy in the United States have the safest standards the world over but because some believe that this form of energy is bad and not sustainable we are restricted from being energy independent. Why are we in South America subsidizing the production of fossil fuels when we are told not to do it here in the U.S? This is bad for economy, bad for business and bad for the American people.
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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 Benjamin Campos:
Health care is best addressed through the doctor patient relationship. We need to continue to encourage the development of new medicinal techniques and procedures which currently is the mainstay of our health care system but if quotas are implemented and incentives are taken away then health care as we know it will become rationed health care. Individuals in need of health care should be able to deduct all cost associated with the treatment of their illness without having to exceed any thresholds in order to benefit from the deduction Consumers should be allowed to purchase insurance across state lines and disbursements from Health Savings Accounts should be available for use to pay for insurance premiums. The federal government has limited powers enumerated to it by the U.S Constitution and mandating that all citizens purchase health care or pay a fine is not one of them.
Answer from Jorge Robles:
We need to make health care more affordable, we will accomplish this by getting big government out of the way. If we socialize healthcare the quality of healthcare we receive will be inadequate. If Obama care is so great, then why did our Congressional Representatives Opt out of it and why has the Obama administration given waivers for the new Healthcare program to 111 corporations and entities. They do not play by the same rules as the rest of the American people. We need the private sector to compete for our business as well as insurance companies. We need the free market to run health care. Socialize medicine does not work and history has taught us that.
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5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing?
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Answer from Benjamin Campos:
Currently, the campaign rules are so onerous that it takes a full time employee dedicated to keep up to date on the filing requirements and the record keeping processes. This consumes valuable resources that would otherwise be put to buying advertising in the papers, buying posters and mailing out post cards. When you take a close look at the rules that supposedly are to keep a lid on abuses they actually have the opposite effect. They keep those that are in office in office because an up and coming candidate without special interest funding has a very difficult time managing their campaign. The reporting rules should allow a candidate to submit a standard financial statement with disclosures according to GAAP to simplify the reporting process.
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
