Anchorage Daily News Candidate Questionnaires
October 31st, 2008
Q: The most important issue in this election is …
The high cost of energy touches us all. It puts huge strains on families and businesses. We can transform this state and this country when we do energy right — we can stimulate the economy by reducing utility bills and creating jobs. We can address climate change, and we can reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil by developing Alaska’s oil and gas, and renewables, like wind, tidal, and geothermal.
Q: Should Congress continue President Bush’s tax cuts to stimulate the economy? Explain.
With gas, food and health-care costs rising, I favor middle-class tax cuts. Bush’s tax breaks for the wealthy haven’t helped middle-class Alaskans. Prices keep going up and paychecks remain the same, making it harder and harder for families to get ahead. The question isn’t who’s going to cut taxes, it’s whose taxes they’ll cut. Some support tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent. I support tax cuts for middle-class families and small businesses.
Q: Are changes needed in the way congressional earmarks work? Under what circumstances should members of Congress be allowed to direct federal spending to specific projects in their district?
Earmarks should be put together in a way that is evenhanded and transparent. Then, they can be an appropriate way to fund critical Alaska projects when the federal bureaucracy fails to respond to uniquely Alaskan conditions. Earmarks must support the public interest, and never be advanced for special interest. Once reformed, a fair and transparent earmarking process can solve Alaska problems, benefit our state and follow a process that reflects our values.
Q: Is it appropriate to use the polar bear listing as a threatened species to limit oil and gas development in the Arctic or regulate distant greenhouse gas emissions? What other steps, if any, do you think government and industry should take to protect Alaska’s polar bear population?
Alaskans have always done a good job conserving our natural resources while developing our economic opportunities. I support the goal of protecting endangered species, which can be done while we balance conservation and development. As demonstrated by the recent listing of the polar bear, the Endangered Species Act can be finely tuned to protect both animals and economic interests. Despite the bears’ listing, oil companies continue their resource exploration in the Arctic.
How good a job is the military and the Veterans Administration doing in providing ongoing care to soldiers and ex-soldiers who served in the war? What specifically would you do to improve services?
They can do much better. Our veterans should be treated like the heroes they are, and Congress must make sure veterans and their families receive the support they’ve earned. That means necessary funding and top quality management for the VA. It means health care here in Alaska — our veterans shouldn’t have to leave the state for medical care. It means the new GI Bill so returning veterans can afford college and get good jobs.
Q: Under what circumstances, if any, would you support a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons?
America has the right and responsibility to defend itself. However, we should not put America’s military in harm’s way unless there is no other way. Pre-emptive military operations as an extension of self-defense should not occur until we have exhausted diplomatic efforts and only when we face serious and imminent threat. Currently, I do not believe that to be the case with Iran.
Q: How long do you believe the U.S. occupation in Iraq should continue?
It should end as quickly as possible. We cannot continue to ask the American military to do what the diplomats and the Iraqis should be doing. Continued military presence in Iraq stretches our military too thin, affecting our ability in Afghanistan and other trouble spots. The financial costs weaken our competitiveness in a global economy, and the impact on our moral authority undercuts America’s diplomatic leadership. Long-term presence aggravates these problems, injuring long-term American interests.
Q: Rural Alaska has been hit particularly hard by high fuel prices. Are there specific steps Congress or a member of Congress should take to address this?
Yes, remembering that it’s important to coordinate federal, state and local efforts. That’s why the Denali Commission has such a critical role. Congress can address rural energy costs in other ways. For example, it can continue funding programs like LIHEAP, and expand support for state programs like PCE. Additionally, expanding federal production tax credits for non-hydrocarbon energy will improve the investment climate for renewable projects, and that can help make rural Alaska energy self-sufficient.
Q: What role do human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases play in global warming: None, some, most, or all? Explain.
Even President Bush agrees with the IPCC that humans play a large role in global warming. The policy challenge isn’t how much we’re responsible for global warming, but rather what we’re going to do about it, and what legacy we leave future generations. Climate change is one of the most significant issues facing Alaskans. For us, the impacts are real and personal — they affect our health, our livelihoods and our cultures.
Q: Coastal erosion is a serious issue in a number of rural Alaska villages, with discussions about relocating some communities. Do you believe this is appropriate or realistic? Explain.
Coastal villages are paying a price for climate change, and villagers are working to keep their communities intact. I agree this is the right thing. Relocation efforts are proceeding already. Clearly, cost is a factor, and relocation decisions will be subject to budget considerations.
Q: How important a priority is reducing the federal deficit?
Controlling the deficit is a big priority. Federal deficits affect confidence in the national economy, and confidence levels impact economic performance. Deficits hit us in the pocketbook because they ultimately cause economic stagnation and drive up interest rates and the cost of government. It’s unfair for this generation to pass self-inflicted economic problems and massive debts onto our children and grandchildren. That’s why it’s important to use basic business practices and rebalance the national checkbook.
