The Independent - Candidates Discuss Congressional Issues
News Article
By Unknown
15th Congressional District incumbent Democrat Eric Swalwell faces Republican Hugh Bussell on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot. Bussell narrowly defeated Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett in the top-two primary election in June to qualify for the ballot.
The Independent interviewed both candidates, asking them for whatever personal information they wanted to provide. They were asked their opinions of President Obama's announcement of aiding forces in Iraq and Syria to opposes ISIS, and whether they expect the President to prepare an exit strategy. The interviews were conducted before the President ordered aerial strikes against ISIS forces.
Candidates also were asked about immigration policy, the Affordable Care Act, and what roles the federal government should have in education, and what should be done about Social Security.
Other questions concerned campaign financing limits, federal policy on climate change, the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas, and whether tighter regulation is needed on rail shipments of the more volatile Bakken crude oil that has been the subject of explosions on three trains.
Candidates were asked about fracking in California's Monterey shale deposits, and about the handling of the national debt. They were invited to comment on any issues not mentioned in the interviews.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Hugh Bussell
Hugh Bussell lives in Livermore, has a physics degree, and taught math and science at the high school level. He has worked at Cisco Systems, and currently is a tech manager at Workday in Pleasanton. He and his wife have three children. He has attended Crosswinds Church for 21 years, where he is an elder.
On whether to back President Obama's choice to oppose ISIS militarily, Bussell said that if he had been in Congress, he would have voted for the President's request. "Congress should allow a lot of latitude and deference to the commander-in-chief on issues of defense," he said.
Bussell said, "I was very disappointed to hear the President say, not long ago, that he had no exit strategy. I'm sure he is working very hard with his staff to create one, and will articulate it to us."
The nation needs a plan to protect its border, said Bussell. A law was passed to build a wall along the Mexican border, a first step in controlling immigration there. The children coming across the border should be cared for, "and protected, and helped to return to their families."
Bussell said said he thinks that a reduction in immigration enforcement encouraged people south of the border to send their children north.
The nation is starting to see the effects of the Affordable Care Act. It has not been fully implemented yet. More people will see how it will affect them. For many, health insurance costs have increased. The program has fallen short of insuring the uninsured, said Bussell.
Education is primarily a local issue. The federal government can have a role in pointing out good solutions and examples, but it should not compel individual states or communities "to follow its mistakes."
As a former teacher, Bussell said that he is aware of how helpful standards can be. California has had "pretty effective ones for academic subjects." Some states that decided not to use Common Core were threatened by the Education Secretary with withholding of money.
If there were no changes to Social Security, there won't be enough money to pay full benefits to everyone who is owed. "That would be a fundamental betrayal of American workers," said Bussell.
Any changes that are made should not affect current recipients, or those who expect to collect Social Security in the next 10 years. However, changes must be made to ensure Social Security will still work in 20 or 30 years. Balancing the federal budget would bring more money to Social Security. The retirement age should not be raised, added Bussell.
About aging infrastructure, the government should set priorities about what needs fixing. "We need to control our spending so we have funds available to implement those plans. "I am not advocating raising the gas tax."
Bussell called the current campaign financing laws Byzantine and difficult with unintended consequences. "We should reevaluate the whole system. I don't support a Band-aid solution. We probably need a whole new approach. I'm not sure how to make that happen in the current environment." Congress should have that discussion.
Federal policy on climate control should be based on the best science available. It should balance the needs of the poor and the desire to control the climate.
Bussell supports the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas. "The petrochemicals coming out of Canada will be used, whether we build the pipeline or not. If we don't build a pipeline, the oil will be shipped to other countries, and refined there, with less careful standards than in the United States.
On the three major explosions of rail tank cars containing volatile Bakken crude oil, Bussell said that it underscores the value of having modern pipelines to transport it. "I'm sure they are working in the oil industry to prevent those kinds of incidents in the future. I haven't seen that new regulations are required at this time."
Bussell said in regard to outlawing fracking of Monterey shale that Congress should use the best technology and science to protect the water underground and above ground. "I don't know that Monterey shale is an appropriate place for fracking," he said.
The national debt should be reduced tremendously. "We simply have a spending problem." The temptation to spend is great, because the federal government does not have to balance its budget. Failure to shrink the debt reduces the chance to spend more money elsewhere in the budget, for example, financing a strong military, and meeting Social Security obligations.
Bussell named as his endorsers House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, California Assembly Majority Caucus Leader Connie Conway, state Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, former Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena, and the California Republican Party.
ERIC SWALWELL
Congressman Eric Swalwell grew up in Dublin, and served on the city council there before running for Congress two years ago, defeating 20-term incumbent Pete Stark, also a Democrat.
Swalwell is a member of the Dublin Lions Club, Hayward Rotary, Cornerstone Church in Livermore, and serves on the advisory council of Tri-Valley Conservancy.
A member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Swalwell said that dealing with ISIS offers a way to protect America. However, it must be done with allies in the region, something the United States learned in the Iraq War.
There must be an exit strategy. "The President must come to Congress so we can make sure we are not mired in a Middle East conflict, with U.S. troops taking heavy casualties. What does success look like? That's one of my biggest questions."
The nation must make its border secure. An unprecedented number of children are coming across the border. "We must remember they are children seeking what we were born into -- freedom and opportunity.
"We must look at why they are coming across the border, at the threats to their lives from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. "Each case should be considered on a humanitarian basis. "If they are not qualified as a refugee, they should return. There should not be a blanket policy of returning every child," said Swalwell.
On the Affordable Care Act, "I believe 'Mend it, don't end it.'" Costs are decreasing this year for Covered California. Swalwell said that Kaiser Permanente officials told him that their new premiums as part of Covered California will be lowered.
As for the federal government's role in education, it should be "a national obsession, but a local possession." Federal policy should be guided by what local experts say is needed.
Swalwell does not support No Child Left Behind. "There is an obsession with testing. It demoralizes our teachers. Also it doesn't teach to individual needs in this economy. The need is for creativity. I would like to see them roll back their testing requirements."
Swalwell supports the state's participation in Common Core. "It was created by states on input from local districts. It is not perfect, but achieves the goal of graduating well-rounded students. As it evolves, we will see success."
Swalwell said that when the President wanted to change the Social Security formula to a Consumer Price Index key, he opposed it, because it would reduce cost of living benefits to Social Security recipients.
Currently, people with income over $113,000 don't have to pay any higher amount into Social Security. That cap should be removed, said Swalwell. The amount paid could be indexed geographically, "because $113,000 represents different purchasing power in Omaha than in the Bay Area."
On the issue of aging infrastructure, there should be a long-term highway bill, instead of the short-term highway bills that have been passing. "Now we have 90-day and 120-day continuing resolutions that don't serve any of us well."
Swalwell contends, "We need five years, at least, to give priority for roads, bridges and tunnels, and local transportation funds. I support Measure BB, which will extend BART to Livermore. It will buy highway improvements, more pedestrian and bicycle access, and increase access to transit and Wheels."
New laws are needed on campaign spending. "A Constitutional amendment would reverse the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and the McCutcheon decision. They said that corporations are considered people, and can spend unlimited amounts, with little transparency. It has poisoned our ability to get things done in Washington."
Swalwell said that he has voted for bills that set up matching funds for financing candidates, which can go a long way eliminating outside donations.
Swalwell believes that Climate Change is one of the greatest threats to face humanity. It's a real, evolving threat. Failure to address it will threaten "our children and their health. The time to act was yesterday."
Swalwell voted against the Keystone XL pipeline. "It's bad for the environment. It uses America as a middle person. Canada exports the dirtiest fossil fuel, and it is burned around the world. We should spend our efforts on renewables."
Swalwell is the senior Democrat on the Energy Subcommittee of the House Science Committee. He participated in the hearings on the issue of shipping Bakken crude oil. He is concerned. The committee scrutinized routes to make sure everything is as safe as possible.
"The long-term solution is to invest in clean sources of energy. Much more can be done. Our national labs are leading the way. Right now it's still a 'drill, drill, drill' mentality."
On fracking of Monterey shale, Swalwell said, "If we can't make it safe, we should not allow fracking. Moreover, if we can't ensure that fracking will not cause earthquakes, we should not allow fracking."
About paying off the national debt, Swalwell said that Congress should be mindful of the debt, and be responsible with taxpayers' money. Overall spending should be reduced, but there should be more spent on the National Institutes of Health. "If we have treatment and cures for what ail us, we can bring down the overall cost of Medicare and Medicaid, which would help bring down the debt."
Swalwell said that the government needs to go after Medicare fraud and managing federal contracts in a more competitive way, which will cut down on how much is spent on government contractors. "I sponsored legislation to create more contracts for small and medium businesses" in the science field."
Defense spending should not be immune to budget cuts.
Support for a "Made in America" jobs program is important, one that would reward companies that keep jobs in the United States. Businesses that go offshore should pay a higher tax.
Among Swalwell's endorsers are the entire Livermore City Council, President Obama, the California Democratic Party, Supervisor Scott Haggerty, and Sen. Diane Feinstein.
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