Questions for Candidates for the U. S. House of Representatives District 1

(Question 1) What are your expectations as a new House member? Qualifying for the November election is in July followed by the party primaries in September and October. What are your goals for the few short months remaining in this term?
I understand that a freshman Congressman with a six-month term has a tough road ahead of them in accomplishing the solutions needed for District 1. Firstly I would reopen Bobby Jindal's oil royalty (OCS) Bill with some minor changes. If you look where the money could be spent in the original Bill item G allowed it to be spent anyway the State Government saw fit. Directly below outlined was verbiage that basically said an accounting was not necessary. That needs to be changed and I think we'll get more buy in. The American people have a right to see how their money is spent. I would like to see what can be done for St. Tammany on the federal side due to Katrina. Our infrastructure is being taxed to the max due to the influx of new residents. I believe we have been overlooked. Thirdly,Washington Parish needs connected to the I-12 or I-59. This would help provide Washington Parish an opportunity for some much needed to commerce.
(Question 2) What is the federal government's role in providing solutions and money to help rebuild Louisiana's coast? What role should industry have in the rebuilding process? Is there a specific bill that has already been introduced by another member of the Louisiana delegation that you support?
I believe the Federal Government has a role to play in the restoration of the Louisiana coast line. I also believe that industry that has contributed to the demise of the wetlands and should bare some burden as well as the landowners. I'll explain, if you lease a house to me and I do things to destroy it year after year and you do nothing are you not part of the problem? It's your property by law you have rights and could have stopped me by forced eviction. Now the lessors did the damage I believe they also have a stake here. The Federal Government who is well aware of the eroding coastline also responsible for lack of their performance. Although the leases are a private and legal transaction, the natural gas and crude oil flowing through the wetlands is vital to our country. We cannot afford mechanical failure of the associated equipment causing an environmental catastrophe and major hit to our economy due to soil subsidence caused by neglect. We have the technology to repair the coastline. We have the resources, we need to eliminate the red tape and get moving. I mention Jindals' Bill in the prior question. A little bit of work on it and I think it would fly. Excellent effort by the author.
(Question 3) Many important issues have surfaced during the Presidential campaign. Please rank, in order of most important to least important, the following issues:.
1 Economy 5 Mortgage Crisis 12 Global Warming 2 Immigration 3 Iraq War 4 Afghanistan War 8 Environment 10 Health care coverage
9 Pay equity 6 Education, including No Child Left Behind 11 FISA bill 7 FEMA-Emergency Preparedness
Please describe your position on your top three priorities.
1. Economy- We have to maintain a strong economy. We cannot allow the weakening of the US dollar in the world marketplace. We have to keep our jobs here in America for Americans. Therefore we have to show businesses that we're going to compete with world markets and we're going to win. I'm not an economist by trade however I do know lowering the interest rate only weakens the dollar and drives up inflation. We need to revamp our tax structure to give Americans more spending power. I'm a proponent for a flat or fair tax plan. Leaving more money in people's pocket makes' them able to purchase more and not necessarily on credit.
2. Immigration- Immigration is out of hand. Fifteen to twenty million illegal immigrants within our borders. This would cost an inordinate amount of money and manpower to capture and return these people to the border. I propose that we pass into law a thirty-day grace period for all illegal immigrants to come forward apply for citizenship or green card, get on the tax rolls and pay a fine of $500 per adult and $300 per child. Deny any illegal immigrant any social service until they have applied for citizenship or green card. If you do not comply, we will find them and deport them. Employers hiding illegal immigrants will be fined the maximum allowable by law. We put Americans in jail for breaking the law yet these people walk our streets free.
3. Iraq War- I grow weary as the casualty numbers continue to mount. In my heart I know the job they are doing is the right thing. We've taken the battle to our enemy. I believe we're spending way too much money on the effort. We freed Iraq from a tyrant. It's time we start using some of their money to fund the effort. We also need to let our Generals fight the battle and support them so we can bring our brave soldiers home. We have to take the politics out of war. My hat is off to the Armed Services, Federal State, and Local Agencies protecting us.
(Question 4) Many questions have been raised during this Administration related to open government. Concerns have been raised about the manipulation and delay of information produced by government agencies and the influence of the White House over agency decisions. What is your position concerning Executive Privilege, Whistleblower Protection, the release of Presidential Records, and reports concerning the health, safety, and the environment?
This is a big question! Executive Privilege, there are things that can be made public and some that if made public may have the potential to create mass panic. With that said no one is above the law. Kinds like a Policeman going 80 mph on the Interstate, and he blows right by you. Ten minutes down the road. He's giving you a ticket for going 75. The laws are for everyone. Whistleblower protection, absolutely I am in favor. This keeps people honest. When someone is dealing with the public trust, has access to public funds, has the ability to affect people's way of live, etc. they should be called out for doing unscrupulous dealings. I pay a lot of taxes of most of us due. I want for darn sure the money is being handled correctly and efficiently. Anybody exposing anything contrary to that needs protected. The release of Presidential Records, I believe records can be kept for a period of time before released to the public. We elected this person to be our leader. This person is under intense scrutiny every minute of the day. Unless, the Presidents has been found guilty of committing a crime, hold on to the record until the term has finished. Reports concerning health, safety and the environment, here too, reports have to be well thought out before going public. I'm not saying make the reports politically correct. Make them accurate with current forecast good or bad. No matter what comes out there will always be a faction in the population who will not believe the data no matter what it is. I'm paying for honest leadership, right now I know my expectations have not been met. To be fair they have not been met for a very long time.

Candidate Skip Galan's Answers

(Question 1) What are your expectations as a new House member? Qualifying for the November election is in July followed by the party primaries in September and October. What are your goals for the few short months remaining in this term?
My expectations are to work with other members regarding their needs so that they will listen and understand the main issues facing this district. This way it's not "I want- I want ", but what we can do together to help our districts. My goals are simple for the next few months: keep focus on the main issues for this district starting with Hurricane Katrina recovery and coastal restoration.
(Question 2) What is the federal government's role in providing solutions and money to help rebuild Louisiana's coast? What role should industry have in the rebuilding process? Is there a specific bill that has already been introduced by another member of the Louisiana delegation that you support?
The federal government's role is to provide on-the-shelf and out-of-the-box solutions with billions of dollars for the followings. Provide funding for technical support from local higher education and funding in the form of both hard dollars and tax incentives from the large local private small business sector. Industry and government should have a partnership role to move the needed projects forward on a true time line schedule. I support any good legislation from other members of the Louisiana delegation.
(Question 3) Many important issues have surfaced during the Presidential campaign. Please rank, in order of most important to least important, the following issues: Economy, Mortgage Crisis, Global Warming, Immigration, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Environment, Health Care Coverage, Pay Equity, Education including NCLB, FISA Bill, FEMA-Emergency Preparedness
Please describe your position on your top three priorities.
My platform issues are:
A. Protect our borders from terrorists attack
B. Katrina Recovery & Coastal Restoration
C. More of better paying jobs with increase economic development
D. Better Education & Better Health Care
E. Funding the above as a centrist by working with all parties
Note: Most of the 12 issues that are presented fall within the above issues; and some issues are related. Moreover, the 12 issues surely are matters that directly affect other members of the congress; and these issues with my platform issues, have to be jointly discussed and addressed in a positive fashion. Example: After thorough review of documented need, I may have to make mortgage crisis top priority with many members of congress so that my district receives the funding it deserves for Katrina recovery and coastal restoration. Therefore, in order to be effective immediately for a few months, I need to apply experience into a small window of time. On-the-job training is not on the agenda!
(Question 4) Many questions have been raised during this Administration related to open government. Concerns have been raised about the manipulation and delay of information produced by government agencies and the influence of the White House over agency decisions. What is your position concerning Executive Privilege, Whistleblower Protection, the release of Presidential Records, and reports concerning the health, safety, and the environment?
Reasonable quick reply with all-inclusive transparency is the way to open government. However, there is a qualifier regarding this matter. A heavy penalty should carry the non-performance and the non-withholding of information regarding the health and welfare of our citizens. Surely, however, the United States can not give a blueprint of our defense to protect our country from enemy attack.

Candidate Gilda Reed's Answers

(Question 1) What are your expectations as a new House member? Qualifying for the November election is in July followed by the party primaries in September and October. What are your goals for the few short months remaining in this term?
This period corresponds to the third hurricane season after Katrina. My priority is full Federal support to accelerate hurricane protection and recovery. I will insist that the Democratic majority recognize the Federal responsibility for the damage caused by the failure of the levees and the urgent need to accelerate the hurricane protection efforts. We are asked to be satisfied with protection by 2010--a delay putting our communities at risk--while we work to recover from the Corp of Engineers previous failures. I will press for Federal support to: a) reimburse our communities for overtime costs due to Katrina damages
b) design and fund widening of the critical LA-25 hurricane evacuation route from Covington to the MS state line
c) establish a universal emergency channel compatible with all first responders' communication systems (law, fire, medical) .
d) remove levels of bureaucracy and red tape by having FEMA report directly to the President
e) overhaul the Stafford Act so that practicality reigns
The decline of Louisiana's wetlands stems from the benefits delivered to the nation's economy from off-shore oil/gas production. Louisiana pays the costs in greater hurricane risks, but has not received its fair share of benefits. I will insist on getting a larger share of the greatly increased revenues from existing outer continental shelf oil/gas royalties. Getting fair treatment for all 6 parishes in District 1 in the aftermath of Katrina is my primary reason for going to Congress.
(Question 2) What is the federal government's role in providing solutions and money to help rebuild Louisiana's coast? What role should industry have in the rebuilding process? Is there a specific bill that has already been introduced by another member of the Louisiana delegation that you support?

The Mississippi River, Port of Orleans and Louisiana natural resources have contributed to the nation immeasurably without a fair share return to Louisiana. Rather than sending outer continental shelf revenues to Washington, more should be retained in Louisiana so we can provide for coastal restoration and rebuilding efforts. Federal agencies will remain important for expedited environmental reviews and some implementation.

The private sector should have a lead role for efficient implementation of construction and other projects utilizing open and ethical contracting The FEMA and Corps of Engineers debacles have demonstrated the inefficiencies of federal management. We need to engage capable private firms who are committed to Louisiana to implement the rebuilding of levees, the port and river facilities, and the medical infrastructure that is important to tourism, technology industry, and our people.

Offshore oil/gas development has helped cut up our wetlands. These companies ought to help fix what they helped break. They also have a vested interest in healthy wetlands as they have billions of invested dollars in pipelines and infrastructure that are threatened by wetland loss. Oil companies are as dependent on the wetlands as we are.

The terrific work of Representative Charlie Melancon and Senator Mary Landrieu to secure a fairer share of outer continental shelf oil royalties for Louisiana on new leases needs to be expanded. I want Louisiana to have a greater share of oil royalties on existing leases as well to provide for more immediate restoration of our coasts/wetlands.

(Question 3) Many important issues have surfaced during the Presidential campaign. Please rank, in order of most important to least important, the following issues: 1 Iraq War
2 Economy
3 Health care coverage
4 Environment
5 FEMA-Emergency Preparedness
6 Immigration
7 Education, including No Child Left Behind
8 FISA bill
9 Afghanistan War
10 Mortgage Crisis
11 Global Warming
12 Pay equity Please describe your position on your top three priorities.
Iraq War-- We should never have taken our eyes off of Bin Laden and the worms who killed 3000 of us on 9/11. Iraq did not attack us. We need to refocus on getting those criminals who did --wherever they are hiding. The war in Iraq is neglecting and diverting from our military priorities in Afghanistan. It is costing us a whopping $3 billion a week to stay --not counting the huge medical tally. This is not fiscal conservatism! With this money we could restore our wetlands in 5 weeks.
To sacrifice our sons and daughters in a war with no exit strategy and unclear, ever-changing objectives is not practicing family values! I plan to support our troops the right way, by removing them from the raging civil insurgency in Iraq. I will withdraw funds for feeding the war, knowing full well that there are enough funds to withdraw safely.
I come from a proud 3 generation military family. My dad is a WWII veteran who fought aboard the USS Salt Lake City. My husband served 4� years as a Navy air crewman. My oldest 2 sons served as Navy officers and the eldest is a Commander pilot in charge of all C-2 planes on the West Coast. My nephew scraped body parts off of streets outside of Baghdad for 1 of his teen years. My position is not soft or cowardly--it is strong and it is smart. It is patriotic and in total support of our military heroes.
Economy-- I am a fiscal conservative. You cannot spend what you do not have. Smart government is what I am all about. Smart government enables its people to provide for themselves, without unneeded give-aways. Smart government means reprioritizing and putting the needs of people 1st again. It is not acceptable that senior citizens agonize over which to do without, food or medicine, because they cannot afford both. It is not acceptable that military veterans are returning to find their benefits cut. Gas at $3.50 a gallon, milk at $5 a gallon, a war costing $3 billion a week---something is not right here.
The tax gift to the wealthiest is a sale that is over. These cuts should not be made permanent. To give tax cuts to the middle class strengthens the economy and increases spending power. To give tax cuts to the very wealthy only strengthens their trust funds. Scalise may be willing to feather the nest of the Paris Hiltons among us. I prefer to tackle health care and national security.
High oil prices need to be attacked by developing a full range of supply alternatives with the energy industry prodded to apply their multi-billion dollar profits to aggressively develop new sources + solar, synthetic fuels, geothermal, wind + that will reduce oil demand from other countries. This will help reduce prices in the long run, keep more dollars home, and provide alternative energy jobs in this country. Health Care Coverage-- We need broad access to affordable health care. Making insurance premiums deductible is not solving the problem because working families cannot afford $12,000 yearly in insurance premiums in the 1st place. Health insurance premiums have risen 4 times faster than wages over the past 6 years. Bankruptcy driven by health care costs has skyrocketed to 50%. Private incentives for private insurers and savings account ideas are not going to cut it. 50 million including 9 million children are shut out.
HMO's and private insurance companies have usurped the roll of doctors and have based, on profit margins alone, decisions on who gets what care. They cherry-pick and use pre-existing conditions as reasons to exclude. They make life and death decisions based on their wallets rather than medical necessity. District 1 citizens do not want people in business suits making medical decisions for them. They want doctors as their medical advisors instead. Health care should not be held for ransom by profiteers. It should focus on preventive rather than ER care. Needed are a greater supply of doctors and incentives for students to become primary care physicians. Millions of working Americans and business owners are struggling with inadequate benefits, punishing premiums and crippling co-pays. Improving/expanding Medicare is an option, provided the doctors are paid equitably. Covered charges and doctor payments would be rendered on a scale set by a state-appointed panel of medical experts. It would be no different than paying police and firefighters out of tax dollars.
(Question 4) Many questions have been raised during this Administration related to open government. Concerns have been raised about the manipulation and delay of information produced by government agencies and the influence of the White House over agency decisions. What is your position concerning Executive Privilege, Whistleblower Protection, the release of Presidential Records, and reports concerning the health, safety, and the environment?
Executive privilege is being abused by President Bush to avoid accountability. He is derailing legitimate Congressional investigations. Unauthorized spying and illegal wiretapping on Americans without warrants, firing U.S. Attorneys selectively for political gain, arrogant withholding of incriminating documents, destroying crucial email trails, use of torture, refusing to allow aides to testify, and then the ultimate slap +he tells us it is all for our own good to protect us from terrorists. He is invoking executive privilege way past the acceptable level of candid remarks to close staff. OSHA regulates employment conditions relating to occupational safety and health leading to safer and more healthful workplaces. It also administers the whistleblowing provisions of fifteen other statutes, protecting employees who report violations of various trucking, airline, nuclear power, pipeline, environmental, rail and securities laws. Firing, laying off, blacklisting, demoting, denying overtime or promotion, disciplining, denial of benefits, failure to hire or rehire, intimidation, reassignment affecting prospects for promotion, reducing pay or hours---all should remain prohibited behaviors of employers aimed at whistleblowers.
I support the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 by Rep. Henry Waxman which seeks to nullify President Bush's attempt to use executive privilege to delay indefinitely the release of presidential records. Reports concerning health, safety, and the environment need to be ongoing to reduce on-the-job injuries, increase physical fitness, reduce smoking, stop alcohol and other drug use, improve air, water and soil quality, decrease waste and increase recycling. These reports should continue to handle harassment and age/gender/race/disability discrimination.

Candidate Steve Scalise Answers

(Question 1) What are your expectations as a new House member? Qualifying for the November election is in July followed by the party primaries in September and October. What are your goals for the few short months remaining in this term?
The first thing I plan to do is get my District Offices open so that I can serve the everyday needs of the citizens. I will also bide for committee assignments that I will best be able to make an immediate impact for SE Louisiana. I plan to open and staff Congressional offices in the district as well as in Washington, D.C. I also plan to introduce legislation that will make sure Louisiana gets full funding of 100-year flood protection and our fair share of offshore oil revenues.

(Question 2) What is the federal government's role in providing solutions and money to help rebuild Louisiana's coast? What role should industry have in the rebuilding process? Is there a specific bill that has already been introduced by another member of the Louisiana delegation that you support?
The money that is authorized for Louisiana in the Water Resources Development Act that passed last fall has not yet been appropriated. The appropriations request will only be made in the normal 2009 budget cycle. Waiting until then will make it nearly impossible for Louisiana to meet construction deadlines. The only way to get the money immediately would have been through an emergency supplemental package and the White House has been reluctant to do this.
The first bill I plan to file as a member of Congress will allow Louisiana to receive immediate OCS revenue sharing of new finds in existing leases. This money will allow us to begin restoring our coast, which will provide stronger flood protection.

(Question 3) Many important issues have surfaced during the Presidential campaign. Please rank, in order of most important to least important, the following issues: (Please describe your position on your top three priorities.)

Economy + Most of these other things are lead-in's to a strong and stable economy. The first thing we need to strengthen our economy is to make the federal tax cuts permanent and to permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax. Congress currently has a spending problem and we need to fix that in order to get our economy out of an approaching recession.
Iraq War + A strong national security is crucial to keeping the families and citizens of Louisiana safe. We are in a war against terrorism and we are fighting it on their turf. If we were to cut and run, we would leave Iraq very vulnerable to a terrorist regime take-over.
Immigration + Our country is founded on immigrants, but these immigrants came here the right way, legally. Illegal aliens are reaping the benefits of our economy and every day more and more cross over our borders. To eliminate this problem of illegal immigration and the drain they have created on our economy we must first take amnesty off the table and then move quickly to secure our boarders. We also need to deny taxpayer funded benefits to illegal aliens.
FEMA-Emergency Preparedness
Health care coverage
Afghanistan War
Education, including No Child Left Behind
Mortgage Crisis
FISA bill
Environment
Global Warming
Pay equity

(Question 4) Many questions have been raised during this Administration related to open government. Concerns have been raised about the manipulation and delay of information produced by government agencies and the influence of the White House over agency decisions. What is your position concerning Executive Privilege, Whistleblower Protection, the release of Presidential Records, and reports concerning the health, safety, and the environment?
There is entirely too much red tape to cut through when working with federal agencies not to mention waste, fraud and abuse. Whistleblowers have always been an important part in opening the closed doors of the federal agencies. The False Claims Act is set in place to empower ordinary Americans to act as the eyes and ears inside the federal bureaucracy and it is important that the people who take the risk to blow the whistle have protection. In Congress I will fight to make sure that government works for you and that they keep an open door policy especially when it has to do with our health and well-being.
On another note, legislation that has recently been in the forefront called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, has upset some of the liberals in Congress. They want to take away the President's power to keep a watchful eye on terrorists and potential threats to our National Security and we need to remain vigilant against the threats posed by radical Islamic terrorists.

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