League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues United States Representative; District 13

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 and Jobs, Health Care, Energy Policy, National Security, Immigration Reform Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 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? Answer from Barbara Lee: A real economic recovery for our urban centers will take time and patience along with thoughtful investment in our collective future. A "cuts only" budget strategy does not address the jobs crisis being experienced in our congressional district, and in every corner of the country. We need to take the necessary steps to steer our economy and get it back on track. Targeted economic stimulation can provide a roadmap for economic revitalization in the United States. Congresswoman Lee believes that we must craft policies that will help our most disadvantaged neighbors. Stimulating Job Growth While Supporting the Unemployed We need to continue to support not only long-term unemployed and underemployed Americans, but also put forth creative job growth strategies. People will only invest capital, expand their businesses and create more jobs once they feel comfortable with the economy and the overall fiscal health of the country. The government can act as the much-needed catalyst to give the US market the jumpstart it needs to get back on track. Cut Military Spending Military expenditures currently represent over half of all discretionary monies in out federal budget, and this funding continues to increase each year. We must decrease the militarization of our budget, and increase investment in humanitarian priorities. Congresswoman Lee supports major and immediate cuts to the military, which would constitute a savings that could be reallocated to fund healthcare, improve our schools, and promote an alternative energy industry. This would also force our military to drastically draw down its troop levels, and thus prompt a re-thinking of how our troops are deployed and on what basis they should come home. Congresswoman Lee believes in a strong national defense based on real threats, but also recognizes that a "smart security" strategy will reduce tensions as we seek global peace and security. Green-collar Jobs Create Pathways Out of Poverty Green technologies are spurring economic growth in a variety of ways. As more and more Americans realize the benefits of using renewable energies, demand for green technologies has skyrocketed. Locally, there are a variety of programs, including Oakland's Green Jobs Corps, that have promoted job training for environmentally-focused careers such as electricians who install solar panels, construction workers who build energy-efficient green buildings, and plumbers who install solar water heaters. In addition, Congresswoman Lee supports the Green Jobs for All program that has empowered local youth to take a role in providing and benefiting from green job training in their East Bay neighborhoods. Answer from Dakin M Sundeen: As a middle class American, I have felt and seen the effects of today's economy. Many qualified people either do not have jobs or have had to take jobs that they would otherwise not be in. I believe this to be the most important issue facing our country today. To begin a new national renewal of economic prosperity, we need to start with reforming the Federal Tax Code. We have the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, and an $85 billion tax preparation industry. I support reform to a flatter, fairer system, with far less loopholes and giveaways. A simpler tax code would go a long way towards improving prosperity for all. We also need improvements in our energy and water infrastructure. Upgrading the water supply infrastructure in California would provide many well paid construction jobs, and many more for maintenance. The increased water supply will help grow agriculture and industry and the employment that will come with it. Finally I believe that building a class of skilled workers is the way to increasing the middle class. These workers will gain their skills in trade schools and community colleges. We need to open up the access to accreditation to the best trade schools out there, while increasing enforcement of the fly-by-night shops that take advantage of people searching for better opportunities. We have a growing need for skilled workers, not necessarily college educated ones. There is beauty, dignity, and honor in those skilled trades that keep our society functioning. Let's give them a shot at a middle class life that they deserve. 2. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs? Answer from Dakin M Sundeen: As we have seen from recent and past history, when healthcare decisions are made in Washington DC, regular people seem to lose. Bureaucrats and lobbyists gain the power to make the choices that should be made with our doctors. Reducing the involvement of the Federal Government in healthcare will go far to improve our outcomes and costs. I believe that repealing the inappropriately named Affordable Care Act is the first step to bringing healthcare back into our own control. Replacement should start with a piecemeal approach to fixing our nation's healthcare system. "One big bill" creates many problems and unforeseen difficulties, that we have all seen from the passage of "Obamacare." We should focus on bringing healthcare out of the federal government and back to the people. From there we can reduce the influence of the insurance industry and move to end the subsidies that increase costs. State insurance markets should be opened up, and we must increase the supply of doctors. These reforms can go a long way towards putting the decisions back into our hands, and out of Washington's. Answer from Barbara Lee: It is time to stand up for equality of access, care and coverage. We simply cannot afford to return to the days when predatory insurance companies and profit-driven motives are allowed to control healthcare needs. Affordable Health Care Act President Obama secured significant health care reform as one of his first major legislative priorities. It is a law with a number of varied triggers--some that have been in effect since 2010, and others that will go into effect over the next several years. The new state-run health insurance exchanges have given millions of Americans and small businesses access to affordable coverages. However, Congresswoman Lee still believes a public, single payer option would provide the most affordable, quality and accessible health care system. Congresswoman Lee Pushes Health Priorities In addition to supporting the Affordable Care Act, Barbara Lee continues to champion a host of other health-related initiatives like education and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), preserving a woman's rights to choose and strengthening global health systems. The Congresswoman has pushed for a greater focus on prevention, screening and treatment of STDs as well as an effort to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV in prisons. Always at the forefront of the fight for women's rights, Barbara Lee has consistently fought against the frequent attempts to restrict women's reproductive rights. Congresswoman Lee also pushes to strengthen health programs in developing countries by supporting the recruitment, training and training of indigenous health workers in those countries. 3. What are your priorities with respect to our nation’s energy policy? Answer from Dakin M Sundeen: Increasing energy costs affect all Americans, especially those at the lower end of the economic spectrum. We need affordable energy, not fantasy solutions. This means having to be realistic about where we get our energy, and having to make tough decisions about the environmental trade offs. There is a new renaissance of domestic energy production happening now, and it is creating jobs and lowering costs. We should be engaged in all forms of energy extraction, and California should be a part of it. I fully understand the environmental concerns, and I know we can do this right with smart regulation and accountability. If energy producers damage our ecosystems they will be held responsible. Moving us forward into a better future with affordable energy will increase employment, lower costs for food and consumer goods, and improve the lives of our poorest citizens. Answer from Barbara Lee: At the national level, energy policy is in many ways inseparable from environmental policy. Global warming represents a very real, serious environmental crisis for us all. Since the cause of global warming is known -- the emission of greenhouse gases, mostly CO2 from burning fossil fuels like oil and coal -- Congresswoman Lee believes it is important to develop protocols that will reduce the creation and emission of greenhouse gases. Implementing eco-friendly energy policies will not only improve the quality of life for our residents, it will provide a pathway for economic revitalization and the strengthening of our national security. As a country, we must prioritize the implementation of comprehensive policies that reflect our values. In so doing, we will achieve the goals of providing the abundant clean energy we need to protect our people as well as our planet. PRIORITIES Invest in Efficiency and Clean Energy According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 30% of all human-generated CO2 emissions result from fossil fuel use in transportation. For this reason, we must build a strong network of pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation in our cities. Because there are parts of the country where motor vehicles must be used, Congresswoman Lee believes we should invest in technologies that increase mileage per gallon, or that run on low or no-carbon fuels. Stop Giveaways for Big Oil and Fossil Fuel Projects Congresswoman Lee has fought against efforts to provide tax-payer funded giveaways to Big Oil and subsidies for inefficient coal-to-liquids projects. Instead, she is committed to investing in truly clean and renewable alternative energy sources that will create new jobs, reduce American dependence on oil and fossil fuels, and build a greener future. Congresswoman Lee strongly opposes the construction of TransCanada's Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. Instead of pursuing this misguided effort, Congress should be focused on developing the clean-energy technologies of the future. 4. What, if any, changes should be made with respect to our nation’s security, including our national defense or anti-terrorism measures? Answer from Dakin M Sundeen: National defense is one of the most important powers of the federal government and should be treated with the respect and seriousness it deserves. Like most Americans I was saddened and angered by the events of 9/11. But I was also disappointed and frustrated by our entry and continuation of the Iraq war. We need a consistent and robust security policy based on protection of Americans. This includes: judicious use of our military, coordination between intelligence services, and ensuring the NSA sticks to it's mission of watching foreign communications and not our own. Answer from Barbara Lee: As a leading voice in Congress for global peace and security and international cooperation, Congresswoman Lee has advocated for policies that reduce conflict, end war, and address the conditions that spark violence. Congresswoman Lee is dedicated to finding peaceful alternatives to military intervention. Days after the 9/11 attacks, she cast the lone dissenting vote in both houses of Congress against authorizing President Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against anyone associated with the attacks. Congresswoman Lee remarked at the time that she viewed the Authorization for the Use of Military Force to be a "blank check" for the executive branch to use military force. In the years since that vote of conscience, Congresswoman Lee has been joined by hundreds of her peers in Congress in votes to limit the executive branch's use of military force. Congresswoman Lee has also argued for ending America's state of perpetual war and reigning in the military-industrial complex. She spearheaded efforts to bring combat troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan and ensure no permanent military bases were established in either country, and is a leading voice in promoting diplomatic alternatives to war with Iran and Syria. Congresswoman Lee opposes wasteful Pentagon spending and has advocated for modernizing the military with increased funding for programs that protect our nation's ports and keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists. PRIORITIES Repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force: In the dozen years since Congresswoman Lee cast the only vote in opposition to the AUMF, many of her colleagues have joined her attempts to repeal this misguided legislation. To that end, she is the author of H.R. 198, the Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force. Rein in the Bloated Pentagon Budget: Congresswoman Lee finds it deeply shameful that the government wastes billions of dollars on unwanted Pentagon programs. Currently, the Department of Defense is the only federal department not subject to audit. Congresswoman Lee has introduced amendments which would audit the Pentagon and hold the Department of Defense accountable for its excessive spending and reign in fraud, waste, and abuse. She is also the author H.R. 559, the Audit the Pentagon Act of 2013. Establish the Department of Peacebuilding: Congresswoman Lee has introduced legislation in the 113th Congress, H.R. 808, to create a Department of Peacebuilding. Nationally and internationally, this bill would target the culture of violence pervading our society and invest in programs promoting violence reduction and conflict management, as well as create a cabinet-level secretary of peace building. Address Humanitarian Crises Around the World: Congresswoman Lee has spearheaded Congressional responses to humanitarian disasters such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the famine in the Horn of Africa, as well as the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. She has also supported measures to provide much needed humanitarian aid to victims of the ongoing Syrian Civil War. Lead the Opposition to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Congresswoman Lee has opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since day one. In 2002, she attempted to avert war with Iraq by introducing an amendment allowing inspectors to certify that there were no weapons of mass destruction. After the invasion, Congresswoman Lee spearheaded congressional opposition to establishing permanent military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is past time that we bring our service men and women home from war, which is why Congresswoman Lee has introduced H.R. 200, The Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act. This bipartisan bill would provide funding for the orderly removal of American combat troops from Afghanistan. Oppose Military Strikes in Syria: Congresswoman Lee strongly opposed military intervention in the Syrian conflict in response to President Bashar Al-Assad's heinous use of chemical weapons against his own people. Rather than pursuing a military response which could result in further loss of innocent lives, Rep. Lee supports humanitarian and diplomatic solutions which would prevent these atrocities. Craft a Diplomatic Solution to Iran's Nuclear Threat: Congresswoman Lee has introduced H.R. 783, the Prevent Iran from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons and Stop War Through Diplomacy Act. This straightforward legislation directs the president to appoint a Special Envoy for Iran to pursue comprehensive and sustained negotiations. She supports the negotiated deal with Iran regarding their nuclear program, and strongly opposes any new sanctions that could undermine these negotiations. Find a Two-State Solution to the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict: The Congresswoman is committed to maintaining the long-standing friendship between the U.S. and Israel and working with all parties to find an acceptable two-state solution which recognizes both Israel and Palestine's sovereignty. In 2013, Congresswoman Lee authored H. Res. 238, which expresses the sentiment of the U.S. House of Representatives supporting a lasting two-state solution, reaffirming Israel's right to exist and promoting a Palestinian state that would meet the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination within their own nation. Bring Transparency and Oversight to U.S. Drone Policy: Congresswoman Lee is concerned with the expansive use of drones by the U.S. government and the vague legal justifications for these targeted attacks. She has introduced the Drones Accountability Act, H.R. 2183,which would impose a moratorium on drone strikes until Congress has provided an effective oversight mechanism to ensure accountability. End the Cuba Embargo: The 50-year-old Cuba embargo has been a foreign policy failure, damaging our economy and making it more difficult to strengthen diplomatic relations with our neighbor, Cuba. A majority of Americans agree that it's time to forge a new, productive relationship with Cuba. Congresswoman Lee has been at the forefront of this issue, urging her colleagues in the House to support a new approach in our interactions with Cuba. 5. What is your position on the issue of immigration reform? What, if any, changes to legislation or policy would you support? Answer from Barbara Lee: The time is now for reform that strengthens our economy, advances our values of equality and opportunity, and honors our history as a nation of immigrants. Last June, a bipartisan coalition in the Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform by a vote of 68 to 32. It's time for the House to take up its own bill and act to fix our broken immigration system + for the benefit of California's economy and for the sake of our country's future. Commonsense immigration reform will boost job creation, expand the economy, and strengthen the economic security of workers and the middle class. According to a recent White House report, comprehensive immigration reform will create approximately 77,070 new jobs next year alone. This legislation would foster innovation and business growth, raise workers' income, and increase state and local tax revenue. It would contribute to the housing recovery for California homeowners and bolster the local technology, agriculture, and tourism sectors. To grow the economy and support our communities, we must enact comprehensive immigration reform that upholds our core principles -- to unite families, provide an earned pathway to citizenship, protect our workers, and secure our borders. Answer from Dakin M Sundeen: Immigration is always a touchy subject in a land of immigrants. We all want to see a fair system that protects the nation's borders, while respecting the dignity of it's immigrants. Our current system seems to encourage illegal immigration while legal immigrants are forced into unnecessary costs and delays. Our system should be reformed with an emphasis on our national need for labor. I support a realistic increase in border security, while giving a pathway into legality to undocumented people currently here. Our legal system should also be streamlined to bring the best and brightest into our country to stay permanently. But we also should work towards a temporary worker program that allows for flexibility and accountability. Better immigration policy with a focus on improving America is the way forward. 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.