League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Ventura, Los Angeles County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Rafael Alberto Dagnesses Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 26

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?

The most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation's economy and sustain job creation are to remove government roadblocks for businesses. Washington must let innovators grow their companies. For instance, we have energy resources right here in our own backyard. By lifting obstacles on our reserves, we could access our natural gas and oil resources, build refineries and employ more Americans. While allowing our entrepreneurs continue to seek out alternative forms of energy. If we can have a common sense, coherent energy policy, the direct and indirect benefits are endless.

In Congress, a top priority will be to reform the tax code so that it's simple, understandable and fair. If businesses don't balance budgets and pay their bills, collection companies and the IRS will be knocking on their doors. Why should the federal government be any different?

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

I will fight to repeal Obamacare. Obamacare lacks common sense and leads us to government control of our health care which will be disastrous for our citizens and our country. We must focus on a new patient-centered system of consumer choice. With market-based health care solutions, we will have lower costs and better quality of care. One of many solutions can start with removing barriers for medical insurance companies to sell across state lines.

We must also fix Medicare for our seniors. Under Obamacare, our physicians are faced with unsustainable Medicare payment systems that contradict the supply and demand market-based system. Since the big expansion in federal entitlement spending, unfunded liabilities within our Medicare program have grown. Medicare patients must be given the opportunity to choose their Medicare plans and health care providers.

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

Our country has sustainable energy sources that we must tap into in order to build an affordable domestic energy program. I support removing and streamlining regulations to open doors for our companies to invest in our own oil and natural gas supply. We will unleash the American entrepreneurial spirit once we no longer depend on foreign countries who do not share our same principles of freedom and liberties.

America's national security and job creation directly coincides with our energy policy. Let's protect our country and our free enterprise by building more domestic oil productions and refineries, and investing in our own renewable energy. We should simultaneously encourage entrepreneurs to continue research and development in alternative sources of energy without government interference picking winners and losers, like Sylondra. Imagine an America who no longer relies on others and instead becomes an exporter. We can substantially reduce the cost of fuel at the gas pump while improving our National Security.

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

Peace through strength must be a critical component of our defense strategy. Unfortunately I believe our nation's military has regressed in strength. By maintaining an advanced military, our enemies will think twice before initiating any harmful action.

Incidents like Benghazi, which had an incoherent and possibly criminal response from our government, are the types of incidents that encourage our enemies and discourage those present and future guardians from stepping forward. As our only democratic ally in the Middle East, it is imperative that we partner with Israel to ensure both countries are safe and secure from terrorism.

I also believe that we must have a wall built in order to protect our citizens from terrorists entering through our borders.

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

I believe current politicians are weakening our immigration laws. The issue regarding our borders is more of a national security issue than an immigration issue. Securing the border to prevent illegal smuggling, drug cartels, gangs and even terrorists from infiltrating our country is critical.

As an immigrant myself who fled Communist Cuba, and waited almost two decades to gain citizenship while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, I understand why many want to come to the greatest nation in the world. However, I witnessed first-hand how government dependency has cultivated crime, poverty and drug abuse in low income areas. I was raised in the Rampart area of Los Angeles. I am a former Los Angeles Police Officer who worked some of the most dangerous areas in our state. As a father of three sons, I do not want them to witness what I have seen. I want them to live in a safe and productive society. I do not support amnesty.

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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: April 28, 2014 19:47
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