Arizona Daily Sun - "No quick fix in CD-1 for $4 gasoline"
Interview
Arizona Daily Sun - "No quick fix in CD-1 for $4 gasoline"
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Questions on the economy
1. What measures, if any, would you support in responding to current mortgage and foreclosure trends?
2. What is the most significant way you could help improve the economy of this district?
3. What changes, if any, would you support in federal policies affecting the country's energy future?
4. What actions, if any, would you support in responding to recent gas prices?
5. What measures, if any, would you support to reduce the federal deficit?
6. Do you support the use of earmarks?
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Republicans
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Barry Hall, Sedona
1. I like the idea of the 300 billion dollar package put forth by Congress to help with foreclosures. Otherwise, I am still looking for solutions.
2. Search out ways to bring jobs, investors, retirees, and newcomers to the district. Be a watch-dog for the hospitality and tourism industries.
3. More research and implementation of wind-generated energy in Northern Arizona and more alternative fuel sources in general.
4. I would try to accurately determine whose involvement is making the price of oil go up. Then, attempt to vigorously and aggressively remove each culprit one by one until relief comes.
5. Lower spending, seek out tighter budgetary constraints, watch-dog military contractors gouging us, watch-dog the GSO for other gouging of government, and look for new means of inflow revenue other than fees, fines and taxation.
6. No. They are a menace to honesty and integrity in the Halls of Congress.
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Tom Hansen, St. Johns
1. First an investigation to determine all the reasons why this happened; then implement solutions, preferably at the state level, to prevent a reoccurrence; and finally, if laws were broken, bring the criminals to justice. I would not support a financial bailout by the government.
2. Through use of environmentally sensitive technologies for development of our solar, wind, forest waste and other energy resources. Then through permitting and financial support for transmission systems to move the electric energy to markets. This includes energy storage technology development to transition from fossil fuel to sustainable energy independence.
3. To be brief: Set appropriate time-declining incentives for domestically manufactured renewable energy sources; phase out subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear over 20 years; ease the permitting of transmission lines to support a national grid; and increase R&D funding for energy storage technologies, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
4. Short of immediate purchases of better gas mileage vehicles and driving mileage reductions, little will reduce gas prices in the short term. In the long term, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can reduce gasoline consumption by 90 percent, and reduce the price of gasoline, when they have fully replaced conventional passenger vehicles.
5. An imperative Congress must set is to balance the federal budget. Return nearly all education, welfare, health care, and block grant programs, with their funding, to the states. States should be able to operate them more efficiently. Then set federal taxes to balance the budget and start paying down debt.
6. Yes, but only for programs of a national or large regional scope to address a specific issue that is of benefit to all Americans. Not for local scope issues.
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Sydney Hay, Munds Park, Scottsdale
1. Federal legislation could be crafted to enable more families to escape foreclosure instead of just bailing out mortgage companies. Such legislation could design a process by which the shortfall would extend the length of the loan, rescuing the borrower from the immediate crisis while still protecting the lender.
2. There are a number of things we should do; expanding our domestic energy production to lower costs and to reverse the effects of market speculation; immediately eliminating burdensome regulations on small business; making the tax cuts permanent.
3. We need an immediate, comprehensive approach that utilizes all of our nations available resources to become energy independent as soon as possible. This includes domestic oil production, clean coal technology and advanced renewable technology. The quicker we can lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and increase supply, the better-off we'll be.
4. We have extensive known oil reserves in our county. We can produce oil efficiently and in an environmentally responsible way.
5. The first thing we should do is stop the wasteful earmarking that's going on in Washington. It's deplorable that Congress spends money on wasteful projects like Tea Pot Museums when tax payers are struggling with rising gasoline, food and energy costs.
6. I do not support the earmarking process. I believe Congress should follow the appropriate authorization process, which has done very well for Arizona in the past. It's when Congress earmarks funds that Arizona is short-changed.
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Preston Korn, Flagstaff
1. The government was never meant to be a giant insurance agency, bailing out every industry that experiences hard times. America was founded on freedom. Freedom to succeed, and freedom to fail. The government should stay out of the process.
2. Small business is the backbone of our district. I believe we should stop penalizing small businesses for hiring people but rather give them incentives to provide jobs. We can help our district by allowing them to create more jobs.
3. I would encourage actions that get us off our dependence on foreign oil and actions that increase the research and use of alternative energy.
4. It is government that has caused the weakening of our dollar and our inability to refine oil and search for oil. We must be more fiscally responsible, not print too much money, and stop placing unreasonable restrictions on businesses who wish to refine or search for oil in the US.
5. We must stop government waste. Last year the average citizen worked until July 11th to pay for the cost of government. The federal government needs to switch to a bi-annual budget process so we can have true oversight over programs put in place. Reduce spending!
6. No. Earmarks' purpose is to make Congressmen look good back home. The federal government should deal with federal issues, not items like a walking tour in Virginia and a post office museum in Las Vegas. The last Omnibus bill included 11,000 earmarks worth $23 billion. Earmarks should be eliminated.
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Democrats
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Ann Kirkpatrick, Flagstaff
1. My top priority is keeping families in their homes. I will work to allow the Federal Housing Administration to offer federally insured mortgages to those who need relief most. We must also crack down on predatory lenders, whose dishonest tactics triggered and aggravated the crisis.
2. People in this district are hardworking, innovative and self-reliant. To realize our full potential, we need to improve our schools, bring new jobs to the region, and build and repair critical infrastructure.
3. We need to free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. We must end tax breaks for Big Oil, and invest those funds in renewable and sustainable energy sources like the wind and solar power we have here. These changes would create more jobs in Arizona and throughout the country.
4. I would prevent Wall Street speculators from driving up prices and make price-gouging a criminal offense. In the long run, though, we will only avoid higher prices by investing in alternative energy. As long as we rely on foreign oil to keep America moving, we will never control fuel costs.
5. We need to restore fiscal responsibility to our government. President Bush and the Republican Congress turned a surplus into a $9 trillion deficit. We need to reverse their terrible economic policies, give the middle class tax relief and stop borrowing from China to pay for a never-ending war in Iraq.
6. Yes. Arizona sends far more money to the federal government than we receive. Our members of Congress need to fight for important projects like dams, highways and bridges that are often funded through the earmark process. This process must be reformed to make it much more transparent and ethical.
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Howard Shanker, Flagstaff, Ahwatukee
1. I support keeping interest rates low. We must also improve regulation of the secondary mortgage market. I also support monetary relief for homeowners in certain instances, so that we can better weather the cyclical downturns in the market.
2. I would most significantly and positively affect the economy of this district through investment in the renewable energy industry. By investing in the solar and wind power industries, we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil, grow our economy, and create high-paying, sustainable jobs.
3. We need to be aggressive in order to be energy-independent. We must improve incentives for investment in renewable energy at the federal level, we need to improve funding for research at the university level, and we must develop a national energy grid so that we have a more efficient energy market.
4. I don't believe there's a quick fix to this problem. More drilling is far from a quick solution-- that would take a decade at least to affect gas prices. I would support temporarily using our national reserves to increase supply and bring down the price of gas.
5. We must institute a pay-as-you-go policy. We must demonstrate fiscal responsibility by raising the money we spend each budgetary cycle, rather than borrowing. Also, as we withdraw our troops from Iraq and reduce, and then eliminate, our presence there, the reduction in defense spending will end our federal deficit spending.
6. I am opposed to earmarks. However, if it's the only way to bring money and projects into the District, then I will work hard within this system to bring resources back to Arizona.
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Mary Kim Titla, San Carlos, Chandler, Tucson
1. I support creating a mortgage credit for homeowners who do not itemize tax relief and policies that promote accurate loan disclosure and closes the bankruptcy loophole in federal law that shields Mortgage companies.
2. We need funds to build infrastructure. We can create jobs by building new roads, bridges and office buildings. Let's provide incentives to American companies who want to invest in renewable energy research and development. Recently nine companies that make solar equipment passed over Arizona due to the lack of incentives.
3. We must develop an energy strategy that gives incentives to American companies to develop and research alternative energy. At best, the U.S. has a 2 year solar incentive program while Germany offers a 20 year solar incentive program.
4. 1) Ease refining restrictions to streamline refinery production; 2) Require greater disclosure to limit oil speculation thus dropping oil costs; 3) Increase competition by lifting the Ethanol Tariff and increase corn and ethanol supplies; 4) Open the Strategic Petroleum Reserve along the Gulf of Mexico and increase the oil supply
5. We can balance the budget by making sure tax cuts are fair and live by PAYGO rules.
6. Yes, as long as there is transparency in seeking funds
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Independent
Brent Maupin, Village of Oak Creek
1. All participants must be held accountable for their actions. In general, banks do not want to foreclose on their loans. Therefore, they can rewrite the loans and, if necessary, take part equity. This would allow the home owner to stay in their home and give the bank incentive to not foreclose.
2. When we bring the highest levels of Integrity into our decision making process real solutions for all of America's problems will be found. From here, the economy for this district and all of America will improve. I would also support more alternative energy research in Arizona.
3. We must make it a priority to get off of foreign fuels and develop our own resources. Incentives to developing bio fuels from algae to switch grass, to electric cars that charge from solar panels while parked to fuels made from carbon based materials, including our trash, must be implemented.
4. 50 percent of the price per barrel of oil is now due to unregulated speculators. All Congress has to do is place a limit on this and your fuel bill will be cut in half within 30 days, but all Congress does is fight with each other. Vote in an independent.
5. We must come up with a solid plan to get off of foreign oil. We can then get out of Iraq and stop spending the $11 billion per month that the war cost. Producing our own energy in America will stimulate our own economy and help to pay down our debt.
6. No. However, if necessary they can be better managed if they were to be limited in number and then highlighted through proper Sunshine Laws that would allow for adequate time for review and comment. Currently the use of earmarks is out of control.
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