|
 Tammy
Baldwin
1. We should
not have gone to war with Iraq. I voted against
providing authority to President Bush to use force
there. Now that we are there, we must do several
things. We must work with the interim Iraqi government,
our allies, and international institutions to provide
greater security in Iraq. Without security, American
forces, international aid workers and Iraqi civilians
will not be able to pursue essential reconstruction
efforts. Reconstruction projects must be completed,
so that the Iraqi people can see real progress.
We must get the United Nations, Arab governments
and international aid organizations working together
with the U.S. and our allies so that the burden
and responsibility is shared. This will allow us
to bring our troops home as rapidly as possible.
2. In order
to spur economic recovery and development in America's
inner-cities, we must start by making the necessary
investments in training and educating our workforce.
Educated workers are one of the biggest assets a
city or community can have when trying to attract
new companies, or keep existing ones. I am also
a strong supporter of increasing funding for New
Market Tax credits program that encourages economic
development in distressed communities. It is also
important to have reliable and effective modes of
transportation. Businesses need to have confidence
that they can deliver their products, and communities
need an efficient system so that workers can get
to work without too much delay. I have brought federal
dollars back to Wisconsin that upgrade our transportation
infrastructure, such as our airports and roads.
3. Our
current situation of spiraling health care costs
and rising numbers of uninsured is unacceptable.
My highest priority in Congress is working so that
all Americans have access to health care when they
need it. Making sure everyone has health care coverage,
coupled with education efforts and preventive care,
will reduce health care costs across the board.
In
addition, I support streamlining the health care
system by incorporating new information technologies
and reducing redundancies. These steps will update
the health care system and also reduce costs.
4. I voted
against the USA PATRIOT Act because it gives too
much power to the federal government without balancing
those powers with protections for individual
liberty. There are 158 separate provisions in the
PATRIOT Act, most of which are not controversial
and have my support, such as improving coordination
and sharing of intelligence information between
the FBI, CIA and other agencies, providing increased
authority to investigate money laundering and other
sources of terrorist financing, and modifying laws
to keep up with changes in technology. However,
there are some provisions I would modify or repeal.
The FBI should not be snooping into library and
book store records. We should not allow secret searches
that allow the government to conduct a search without
serving a warrant. We should restore the higher
evidence standard required to seize DNA evidence.
In
addition to these and other changes, it is also
critical that the Department of Justice be forthcoming
about how the PATRIOT Act has been implemented.
This information is essential so that Congress and
the American people can decide how it can be altered
to better protect our security and liberty.
5. The
federal government has a responsibility to assist
minority business enterprises (MBEs) in a number
of ways. First, Congress should provide more money
for the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 7(a)
loan program, which assists small business entrepreneurs
who — despite sound business plans — are unable
to borrow start-up money from conventional lenders.
The 7(a) program has been so successful in helping
entrepreneurs either start up or upgrade their businesses
that funding is constantly running behind demand.
The 7(a) program provides a lot of "bang for
the buck" and Congress should increase funding
while also requiring the SBA to do more outreach
in underserved communities.
I
also believe that Congress should reaffirm its commitment
to assisting MBEs in having sufficient opportunities
to win federal procurement contracts. I am committed
to helping bring back federal dollars back to Wisconsin
and promoting public policies, such as increasing
agency procurement goals, that help all small business
owners - including MBEs - become eligible for federal
contracts and subcontracts.
6. I voted
in favor of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act because
I believe that stronger standards and increased
accountability for our schools will help close the
gap in achievement. I was hopeful that the significant
increase in financial assistance to local school
districts that was promised in the bill would provide
the resources to implement NCLB. Unfortunately,
the Republican Congress and President Bush have
refused to provide the level of funding promised
for NCLB necessary to implement its requirements.
In
addition, parents and teachers in Wisconsin have
told me that testing requirements are too rigid,
so I have cosponsored legislation to modify them.
I introduced the Every Child Is Created Equal
Act that would do two things. It would ensure
enforcement of civil rights provisions that prohibit
discrimination in hiring, as well as ensure that
all service providers serve students with
disabilities or limited English proficiency.
7. I
believe it is absolutely critical that we increase
awareness of racial and ethnic profiling, and end
it. We must clearly articulate that it is wrong
to discriminate against a person due to their race,
ethnicity, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
I am an original cosponsor of the End Racial Profiling
Act, introduced by Representative John Conyers (D-MI).
This bill would define racial profiling, give victims
of racial profiling the right to sue police departments
that have violated their rights, allow the Attorney
General to mandate collection of traffic stop data,
and provide grants to local law enforcement to pay
for data collection.
 Dave
Magnum
1. It is
imperative for us to work to foster a secure and
safe democracy in Iraq. A democratic government
in Iraq, with the freedoms and liberties entailed,
would provide a positive example for the other nations
in the area. However, we must also work to train
Iraqis to protect their own freedoms. The United
States has a responsibility at this point, to help
the Iraqi people to form a working democracy. Although,
we must take the necessary steps to enable the people
of Iraq to eventually take care of themselves.
2. I would
like to see our business environment simplified.
If we can work toward streamlining regulations and
tax codes, all Americans will benefit. In addition,
I'd like to see tax incentives for small businesses
and self-employed individuals that are providing
health benefits to employees and their families.
With these sorts of incentives and hands-off business
codes, our economy should flourish in the inner-cities
and throughout the nation.
3. As a
small businessman, I know the trials and tribulations
of providing health care to my employees, which
I do without any sort of pay reductions. I agree
that we can't afford the huge premium increases
that seem to be occuring every year. As I said in
the last question, I would like to see tax incentives
for employers that provide health benefits for their
employees. Also, I will work to rein in out of control
trial lawyers that are burdening our nation with
billions of dollars worth of malpractice settlements.
Frivolous lawsuits must be halted so that our doctors
don't have to practice 'defensive medicine' and
perform unneccessary and expensive tests on patients
just to protect themselves.
4. Our
leaders were wise to attach a sunset provision to
the PATRIOT Act. When that sunset arrives, we will
have to take a close look at any sort of infringements
that may happen and adjust or eliminate as is necessary.
I think that it is important to realize that there
have been no attacks in the U.S. since 2001. That
tells me that at least the majority of the PATRIOT
Act is working. However, we must also be vigilant
to make sure that we are not taking away civil rights
or freedoms that are gauranteed in the Constitution
or Bill of Rights.
5. Being
in broadcasting, you're forced to learn a little
about your customers' businesses in order to effectively
advertise them. My office will always be open to
the entrepreneurs of our district, regardless of
race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
I pledge to do my best to help 'advertise' Wisconsin
businesses to the rest of the country and the world.
6. When
I go in to see my two boys' teachers at their elementary
school, the teachers talk to me about the unrealistic
goals that the No Child Left Behind Act has placed
on the backs of their schools. While I believe it
is an admirable idea, we must make it feasible for
American schools, so that they can continue to educate
without the fear of funds being taken away. I would
not support the act in its current state, but will
work with community leaders and teachers to find
an appropriate solution to this problem.
7. I feel
so lucky that my boys were able to grow up with
no bias. Their mother's two adopted brothers were
African American and Native American, and when the
family is together for reunions, my children are
fortunate to be able to experience several cultures
at once. I think it is a shame that in this day
and age we are forced to realize that racism is
still very much alive. While I don't claim to have
specific initiatives, I promise that I will always
be an advocate for all the citizens of the 2nd district,
and work to even the playing field for all of us.
|
