League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	David William Steinman 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?

Keeping Jobs in America. Stop shipping jobs overseas and fight to protect workers' rights and wages here in America--and globally. I support the highest labor and environmental standards both in America and throughout the world. As a businessman I have a four point plan for improving the economy: 1) America must engage in fair trade and support high labor and environmental standards throughout the world as part of trade. 2) As an author who has specialized in empowering people and your representative in Washington, I will work tirelessly to make sure every homeowner is able to modify his or her loan to a new low interest rate. This will free up thousands of dollars every month for homeowners who are likely to spend their money in the economy--and this is only fair after the bailout we have given the banks. 3) As an environmentalist and businessperson, I believe it is important to replace our fossil fuel and nuclear-based energy sources with renewables such as geothermal from the Salton Sea, wind and solar and to build a smart grid from our vast geothermal reserves into the metropolitan region. This will create thousands of jobs and keep money in the local community. 4) My own business depends on a healthy Main Street and a healthy Main Street depends on a strong dollar. For too long our government and federal reserve have favored a declining dollar to serve the interests of multinational corporations that ship jobs overseas. I support strong dollar policies which will favor local businesses and make the price of gas also much lower.

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?

I am strongly in favor of government accountability and financial sustainability. We can trim trillions from our budget. I support our troops 110% and believe in a strong national defense but many military experts believe that we can save over one trillion dollars over the next decade with cuts in the Pentagon budget without sacrificing national security or veterans' services. Duplication is a huge problem in Washington. We have some 19 different job training programs in Washington, for example. Consolidation of duplicate programs is a must. Corporate tax loopholes must be closed. Corporations that ship jobs overseas should not be rewarded with tax credits. As a businessman, I know that we can trim five to ten percent from our budget and still retain excellent social services, simply by becoming more efficient. Our future priorities must include education, social services and most of all keeping America strong and peaceful. We must stop getting into wars that are draining our treasury (much less our blood). As the father of three children who will be likely to be called into action if there is another war, people can count on me to make sure America stays strong--and peaceful.

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?

As a businessman, author and consumer rights advocate, I am strongly in favor of energy independence and renewable clean energy sources. I founded the Green Patriot movement and wrote Safe Trip to Eden to promote the great advances in renewable energy that are creating energy independence and to show why even if you don't believe in all of the global warming science that it is still good for America and our communities and economy. As a candidate and your representative in Washington, I am the only one who has called for decommissioning the San Onofre nuclear plant and replacing our fossil fuel and nuclear energy sources with clean renewables, which we have in abundance nearby our community, including vast geothermal reserves. I will work ceaselessly with environmental groups to make sure that a smart grid is built from these resources into the metropolitan region, which will create thousands of jobs and help the local economy as well. I am strongly in favor of tax credits that encourage solar and wind energy as well as the use of electric vehicles. I will push local government to create building regulations requiring solar in every home, including thin film cell technology, as well as tax credits and amortization plans for making these affordable to all home purchasers and builders.

I will call for smart urban planning that positions communities within walking distance of commercial centers, encouraging alternative forms of transportation. I have met with mayors of our local cities who have told me this is key to a vital local economy.

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

When the Food and Drug Administration finally stops telling us that toxic sludge and bisphenol A are good for us and raw milk dangerous, our health quotient will begin improving--but that will take stopping the revolving door policy at FDA and other agencies that put people from the pharmaceutical industry into positions of power with implicit agreements that they will return to their corporate homes after enacting policies that favor their companies. I will work to stop this. I am a strong believer in health and medical freedom and believe that we must incorporate preventive medicine into all health care. We must have more federal oversight over insurers and hospitals to ensure that people are not being harmed. We must be sure no one again is ever dropped from a policy for getting sick or prevented from getting affordable insurance because of a pre-existing condition. I believe insurers should be run more like nonprofits, as people will feel cheated if they do not get the best medical care because an insurer wants to rewards its shareholders. It isn't fair to the insured.

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

Get the money out of politics. It corrupts. Public financing of all campaigns. Corporations are NOT people. They are driven by the need for profit and do not necessarily have a social conscience or ethics or sense of morality like most people. Corporate funding of campaigns through independent organizations must be limited or eliminated. It is corrupting our system.

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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: May 17, 2012 15:21
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