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Energy:
The most important aspect of U.S. energy policy is the need to become
less dependent upon foreign oil. One of the reasons for our problems with
terrorists rests upon the need for our troops to protect our main source
of oil, Saudi Arabia. Besides the need to drill for other sources of oil
in our country, we need to also increase research on cleaner sources of
energy than oil and coal. Solar and wind energy are not yet sophisticated
enough to provide a majority of our energy needs and may never reach that
capability. Renewable energy sources require further research to determine
how much energy they will provide in the future. Nuclear energy is clean
and has been used successfully in France and Japan. The issues of safety
have been quite extensively addressed and the main problem remains disposing
of the waste. We may have to use more nuclear energy until we find other
clean sources that can fulfill our needs. Of course, improved practices
of conservation will help alleviate some of our present demands, but it
can never be the complete answer. I would support federal funding for
more research into developing other clean energy alternatives.
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Guns:
All Americans should have the right to defend themselves. It is a right
guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the Constitution. I would support
safety features that would not undermine the ability of the gun owner from
defending him/her self.
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Homosexual
rights: All Americans have the same right to just and equal treatment
and safety under the law. At the same time, society has a right to maintain
those values and institutions they deem make for a strong and healthy nation.
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Social Security:
As our population increases and medical improvements allow citizens to live
longer, social security will fail to provide any reasonable amount of money
for retirees. There is no social security trust fund earning interest to
cover future increased costs, and with unexpected budget demands, such as
the recent war, it is difficult to know when there will be a trust fund.
I support a small percentage of an individual's social security benefits
be used to invest in guided stock investments for a period of over twenty
years, drawing upon the experiences of other nations as a guideline.
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Taxes:
I believe that lowering taxes are a means to stimulate a faltering economy.
Our present efforts to stimulate our economy require short and long-term
solutions. The short-term solutions include tax credits for corporations,
accelerated depreciation and the lowering of interest rates-as has been
done by the Federal Reserve Board. In the long-term, we should consider
cutting or removing the tax on capital gain and removing the AMT tax. Government
spending for the war effort will boost the economy in some areas, but the
demand for large scale troop equipment and weaponry is not yet as great
as in other wars.
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Transportation
and Housing: Besides the economic slowdown, our greatest problems locally
are the need for an educated population to enter the high-tech industry,
transportation, and affordable housing. As a Congresswoman, I would support
federal funding in those areas if I saw plans that would solve those problems.
Fannie Mae has an Assisted Housing plan that I would support. I support
BART if its cost overruns would not put too much of a drain on the local
businesses and citizens.
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Education:
The educational standards being used to hold schools accountable and testing
are producing some good results. I go into more detail in the chapter on
education in my book and in my position papers, which are included in online.
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Abortion:
My stance on abortion is similar to President Bush's. I am pro-life, but
I would not impose that position on the majority. I would use my office
as a Congresswoman to express the value I place on all human life, and the
importance of protecting the unborn. I would promote programs that would
decrease the number of abortions. I would not vote for any legislation whose
purpose was to directly increase the numbers of abortions. I would also
work to pass laws that would protect the life of any born-alive infants.
Since the House of Representatives does not approve judicial appointments,
I would not be faced with making decision about pro-choice or pro-life federal
judges.
