League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino Counties, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Edwin P. "Ed" Chau Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 42

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. What, if anything, do you believe the federal government should do to control global climate change?

Global warming has resulted in temperature increases on both land and sea. The melting of glaciers, rise in sea level, and the extinction of species are becoming more evident. It is clear that the increase in greenhouse gases is attributed to human activities caused since the start of the industrial era. We also know that fossil fuel burning has produced much of the increase in CO2.

We should place a cap on the emission of carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and other gases that cause damage to our environment. We should provide tax credits for green projects. We should invest in the research and development of clean and renewable energy sources, and work with the United Nations and the international community to reach accords and commitments to resolve this serious problem before it becomes irreversible.

2. What should the federal government do, if anything, to ensure that every American has health coverage?

Health insurance premiums increased by double-digits every year since about 8 years ago. Employee health insurance premiums have increased 75% in the last 10 years; Healthcare costs account for nearly 1/5 of the total personal income, and medical expenses cause half of all personal bankruptcies. Almost 47 million Americans, including 11 million children, have no health insurance. We are spending more money per capita (more than $6,000) than Canada (about $3,000); but yet, we cannot even provide the kind of health care that the Canadians are providing. Studies show that he U.S. ranks 37th in health system performance, between Costa Rica and Slovenia. The need to improve the system is urgent.

Quality Health care must be made affordable to all.

Medicaid and SCHIP should be expanded to provide broader coverage for the individuals. A single-payer system, similar to the VA system, or the Medicare system, would be an effective system where patients would have a choice of providers and hospitals, and comprehensive coverage and equal access for all medically necessary procedures without increasing the overall spending.

We should also be able to purchase prescription drugs from other developed countries if the drugs are deemed to be safe in accordance with the rules promulgated by the FDA.

3. What, if anything, should the federal government do about immigration?

We must first secure our borders with additional staffing and technology such as electronic sensors and surveillance equipment. We should then take a hard look at a guest worker program to help fill some of the jobs, farming or otherwise, that are much needed. We should expedite the current immigration backlog, which may take more than 10 years for family members to be reunited. We should maintain laws that will keep families together to the extent possible.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 29, 2008 11:38
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