League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Zein E. Obagi Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 33

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, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy?

We are in need regulatory certainty and the repeal of outdated regulations. For example, tax incentives that promote the renewable energy sector are set to expire at the end of this year. Even if renewed by Congress soon, Congress waited too long and kept too many investors on the fence about whether they would invest in this essential part of our economy. This same is true for the new market tax incentive, which draws capital to our low income areas. That incentives is renewed each year as part of appropriation; it needs to be kept on the books long term to work.

Locally, our companies are hurt by the International Trade in Arms Regulations that prohibit American technology companies from selling declassified satellites and satellite-related parts internationally. American businesses cannot compete fairly in the global market for satellites, satellite parts, launch rockets and related equipment due to the fact that we are functioning under an outdated International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that is in need of change.

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?

First, we need to address Medicare fraud because nearly a quarter of our budget is spent on Medicare, and the system is rife with abuse. By placing an initial and extendable limit on a senior's spending in a year, we will ensure every senior is attentive to charges made by healthcare providers. Overall, Medicare is not sustainable as written. We cannot ignore the simply mathematical truth that putting in $150,000 and taking out $300,000 will not work. People are living longer than ever, which is great, but that was not expected when Medicare was developed. We must therefore adjust Medicare to preserve it as a vital program that demonstrates our sustainable dedication to our elderly. We will have to reduce our defense budget, but we must do so intelligently. We cannot let go of 100,000 combat-tested troops, and we must keep our air-fleet up to date and at the edge, so I support the purchase of F-35s. After all, 1/3rd of those monies do come back to California.

We must also enhance our cyber security and protection of the military investments we have already made. As for cuts, I will look to generals in the military for where we can cut their budget. Cuts are inevitable, they must happen but must happen intelligently and keeping in mind that our local economy heavily relies on defense spending.

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?

Businesses will not invest into America's renewable energy sector unless they have firm assurances that the regulatory framework will remain unchanged for a period long enough to allow them to recoup their investments. Our permitting processes for all energy projects needs to be streamlined and centralized to give companies prompt decisions + yay or nay + on projects. Businesses need to see the U.S. as the most friendly place to develop renewable energy.

We also cannot permit China's subsidized renewable energy sector to cost undercut American renewable energy companies. We must impose tariffs on foreign renewable energy equipment when that equipment is directly subsidized by foreign governments.

As a fresh voice in Congress, I will develop respectable relationships across the aisle with Republicans, and raise their awareness to the adverse effects of irresponsible energy projects that do not adequately protect our environment or serve our national interests. Rather than present mere stubborn opposition, I will use my experience as an attorney to bring creative solutions to negotiations.

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

We must become proactive about Medicare fraud as I have expressed above.

Every person in America must have access to affordable healthcare. That means, even if you have pre-existing conditions, are employed, unemployed, self-employed, or under new employment, you must be able to access affordable health care. Binding a person to employment so he or she can retain healthcare coverage is practically slavery, so my unequivocal position is that affordable healthcare coverage must be accessible to all.

My position on the Affordable Care Act is wholly dependent on whether it is constitutional, and whether it adds to the federal deficit. If it does increase our national debt, then I cannot support it and will seek to replace it (see below). If ACA does not add to the deficit then I will support it and review the bill to cut out the special-interest flack in its 2,700 pages. The truth is not even ACA's "author" has read the bill. We must make sure that health insurance costs do not skyrocket for everybody as a result of augmented demand, so I am concerned about how ACA will play out in practice and will monitor the situation closely.

Two U.S. circuit courts (federal appellate courts) have upheld ACA, and two have deemed it unconstitutional. The Supreme Court could strike ACA down in part, strike it down in its entirety or uphold it. If the Supreme Court strikes down ACA, then we will need to replace it with a public insurance option, and those who want private insurance can take a voucher to a private health insurer and pay the difference if any.

Of course, to be sustainable this "single-payer option" must be coupled with tax reform, too, so that the wealthiest Americans do not continue to pay taxes at a 14.5% marginal rate. We also need to contemporaneously reform Medicare to weed out the opportunities for fraud, and ensure they are not duplicated in any public option. I would fight against public health care because government does few things efficiently. Competition between the public insurance plan and private insurers would keep both competitive. As a Conservative Democrat, I am the only person in this race who can work across the aisle and also within my own party to reach accords. It is time to address health care responsibly and sustainably.

5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing?

We must provide public financing of federal campaigns, so all serious candidates have a fair basis to voice their ideas, and the competition is between ideas rather than who has received the most special interest support.

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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: June 1, 2012 12:12
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