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