Baltimore Sun -Baltimore Sun Election Center profile

Interview

Responses to our questionnaire

Q: What executive action, if any, should President Obama take to change how immigration laws are enforced if Congress cannot reach a compromise on the issue? If Congress acts, would you support a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally today?

President Obama should not go outside his constitutionally mandated powers to try to resolve the immigration issue. President Obama should enforce the current laws to the best of his abilities, and make every effort to contain our borders. When Congress acts I believe they should introduce my Guest Worker program allowing immigrants to enter with work permits and be verified with the E-Verify system.

Q: What changes, if any, should Congress make to Social Security to ensure the program continues to meet its obligations to seniors after 2033?

First: Congress should impose a means test on recipients over 70 1/2. If they already have plenty of funds they don't need Social Security. Second, Social Security should invest in ten year treasuries which would accumulate compound interest faster than at present, and third: the wage cap (presently $130K/year) should be incremented rapidly over a four year period to $200K and then allowed to increase at an inflation adjusted rate after that.

Q: Should Congress raise the federal gas tax next year to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent? Why or why not?

If the federal gas (and diesel) tax went solely to repair highways we would have enough to do the necessary repairs Congress moves these funds around to fill in gaps. It's a shame when people purchase fuel efficient vehicles and then get slapped with a higher tax because the gas tax revenues are not as much as they were in past years. To make up the difference we may have to put a highway tax on tires, or motor oil, or even electricity if more and more people purchase plug-in electric vehicles.

Q: What lessons should the U.S. take from the advance of ISIS militants in Iraq as the Obama administration works toward withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2016? How should the U.S. confront the threat posed by ISIS?

The president is following a prudent course against ISIL, but I believe the president should not tie the military's hands behind its back. The president should say that we will do what's necessary to stem this threat, and if that means we put special forces on the ground, we'll do it.

Q: Identify one specific policy you would pursue in Congress that has support from the other party. (Green Party candidates should identify a policy that would have Republican support; Libertarians should name a policy with Democratic support).

Most Democrats from my state are in favor of decriminalizing marijuana, making it available for medicinal use, and eventually legalizing it with restrictions. I favor this policy and to this end my first step will be to reclassify marijuana at the federal level as a Schedule III drug instead of Schedule I. Reclassification will allow medical research to determine the safety and restrictions under which marijuana can be sold and used.

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