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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 Stephen C. Smith:
Simplify regulations. Eliminate all of the special tax deals for corporations and lower the tax rate to 18% to allow us to compete in the world market.
Encourage all states to be "right to work states"
Switch to a Scolarship or (Voucher) system for all K-12 students so all parents can seek the best education available for thier children.
Audit the Federal Reserve System.
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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 Stephen C. Smith:
We must first preserve the money we are allready spending by finally having full auditing for fraud and waste. Fraud has been rampant in Medicare. Allow for more self-funding of Medicare and Social Security Programs. The current system is going under as is.The military must always remain flexible due to ever changing chalenges. We do not need to be maintaining as many troops in friendly countries as we currently do.
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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 Stephen C. Smith:
All of the above. It is important that we become independent. The new nuclear reactors are clean and efficient. Waste is down to only 10% and half-life is down nearly 20 times traditional reactors. Where possible solar can work. Wind power still has more cost and problems than it worth. In California we cannot get either built due to objections by tribal groups and condor protection groups.
Fracking still looks promising and yes to the Keystone pipeline. While we are not using our offshore and Canadian resources the Chinese are.
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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 Stephen C. Smith:
We have allready seen that the new bill is costing us more and taking away our choices. The basic decisions fall directly on the president. Not good. We can do better with more free market programs by allowing purchased across state lines. A special federal program can be put in place for those who fall through the cracks only. It is possible that we have a special major medical only program to prevent people from losing everything due to healt problems. I say this knowing it may be a slippery slope.
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5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing?
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Answer from Stephen C. Smith:
Transparency, Transparency, Transparency. Other than that why should people support candidates as they see fit. The current system hides who the donors are. I would be willing to eliminate corporate donations if we could also eliminate union donations. I would always eliminate public employee union donations due to a clear case of conflict of interest.
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
