League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Marin, Sonoma County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Jim Judd Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 6

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. In this time of high unemployment, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy?

I will be a Congressional Representative that is the catalyst in bringing together local business and governmental leaders were an atmosphere of success is instilled, thereby allowing local businesses to thrive. Additionally and as important, I will be a driving force to incentivize local business owners for the new jobs needed, where we all move forward and benefit in a new economy.

2. How should federal budget priorities be changed, now and into the future? How will you balance the costs of military action overseas and national security with the costs of domestic needs?

As in business in tough financial times we must make tough economic decisions. As a nation we can no longer kick the expenses of $1.4 trillion in deficit spending or $14 trillion in debt down the road to future generations. Just like our personal lives, there are wants and necessities which demand a prioritization of our personal finances. This same common sense approach must be instilled in government. Our countries financial health requires hard choices with respect to our countries wants. We can no longer afford our wants. We must address our basic financial necessities in order to servive. We need responsible government spending.

3. What, if anything, should be done by the federal government to address our dependence on fossil fuels or spur the use of clean energy?

The Federal Government should promote an environment that incentivizes all possible renewable energy sources with the understanding that each energy source needs to be viable and capable of standing on its own in the consumer market, free of tax subsidies. I support a common-sense energy and environmental policy that will help reduce or eliminate the negative effects caused by our growing energy needs. Energy powers our economic engine. We all need energy. Without it, America is little more than a third world nation. Common sense tells me that we can meet our energy needs and move away from foreign dependence using our own resources while we develop viable alternative sources. Alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal, and natural gas can all be used effectively; each for its most effective purpose.

4. What, if any, changes should be made to current federal policies or programs that promote or provide health coverage for Americans.

I believe that all American citizens should have the right to choose health insurance coverage but it should not be mandated. I don't believe in legislation that is fraught with earmarks and special interest pork and that ignores affordability and tort reform. Choice and competition was the mantra we heard from Congress during the health care debate. Sadly, the legislation had neither personal choice nor reduced costs. It does bring us government mandates, higher premiums, and soon to come, health care rationing. Who can make better choices for your health care needs, you or some bureaucrat?

One-sixth of our nation's economy is spent on health care, half of which is spent by government. In 1970, 20.4 million individuals were enrolled in Medicare, today that figure has more than doubled. Additionally, in 1990 22.9 million were enrolled in Medicaid, today that figure has also more than doubled. Medicare has an unfunded obligation of $38 trillion because of benefits promised, but unpaid. We are on a collision course of unsustainable funding for Medicare and Medicaid.

So what do we do? The current path government has Medicare and Medicaid on only enforces the need to remove government involvement in our personal health coverage. Government should only identify the broad goals allowing states to be free to marry these goals with private providers.

What about choice and competition required for cost controls in a free market? Congress needs to adopt legislation to permit the purchase of health coverage across state lines by individuals and businesses. It is a fact that Medicare is a major driver in health care costs and the looming addition of baby boomers, like me, will all too soon crush the system. I believe a transition into a defined + contribution system in which the government contribution for benefits is adjusted for age, income, or health status will be an answer in our continued quest for reducing the cost of health coverage.

Let's reform how we treat the tax treatment of health coverage. Doing this reform will encourage individuals without employer based coverage to purchase insurance by removing the after tax purchase of coverage which would allow an individual tax deduction or tax credit creating additional affordability.

5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing or disclosure of political expenditures?

Keep it simple, have each race have a set dollar limit equal to each other (i.e. candidate vs. incumbent) free to use on campaign expenditures set by a third party administrator.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. No candidate may refer to another candidate in the response.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 10, 2010 07:04
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