VERBATIM
Former Congressman takes a firm stand on a balanced budget and
environment
Pete McCloskey is running for the 11th Congressional district
against incumbent Richard Pombo. Republican McCloskey has served 15
years in congress, starting in 1967, and worked with George H. W.
Bush and Bob Dole on their presidential campaigns. He threw his hat
in the race against Pombo for what he saw as a breach of ethics by
the current Congress.
VERBATIM
Former Congressman takes a firm stand on a balanced budget and environment
Pete McCloskey is running for the 11th Congressional district against incumbent Richard Pombo. Republican McCloskey has served 15 years in congress, starting in 1967, and worked with George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole on their presidential campaigns. He threw his hat in the race against Pombo for what he saw as a breach of ethics by the current Congress.
McCloskey takes a strong stance on balancing the federal budget, even if it means salary cuts for congress. He has a strong opinion on how to combat local pollution. As the Republican co-chair of the first Earth Day in 1970, McCloskey takes environmental issues seriously. He sees the need to increase public transportation, slow urban sprawl and reduce vehicle emissions to stop pollution in the 11th district.
The candidate for the 11th district agreed to answer questions for the Sunday Pinnacle about his past experience and his take on the issues facing the region he hopes to serve.
Q: Our region has some of the worst air quality in the Bay Area. Is there anything Congress should be doing to address the issue of pollution?
A: Because the primary cause of air pollution comes from automobile emissions, we need to increase BART and ACE Train availability, increase the incentives for car pooling, and above all else, require automobile manufacturers to meet severely reduced emission standards. Further, we need to encourage job creation in the areas where the population is growing and take strong steps to curb urban sprawl.
Q: You served in Congress for 15 years, starting in 1967 for the 11th district, though the boundaries were different at that time. What made you decide to run for Congress again now?
A: My run began when a whole group of us who served in prior Congresses and Administrations were appalled, and ultimately enraged over the House Republican Leadership’s actions in early 2005 to emasculate the House ethics rules to prevent further prosecution of men like Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay, Richard Pombo, Bob Ney and John Doolittle for obvious ethics violations. When the time came to replace Mr. Pombo, I could not sit by and watch him not face a Republican challenger. Thus I decided to run. My entire statement of candidacy is available at www.petemccloskey.com.
Q: You’ve stated that congressional salaries should be tied to the state of the budget, meaning Congress will take pay cuts or raises based on the Federal budgets. Why have you taken that stance and how would it help local constituents?
A: The Federal budget has created an enormous burden on this and future generations. Even now, however, Congress seems wholly unable to accept the goal of a balanced budget, even in times of economic prosperity. Congress, including Mr. Pombo, has voted three times in the past three years to increase its own salaries, despite budget deficits. I believe if deficits reach 5% it is appropriate to cut Congressional salaries 5% for that year.
Q: How has your experience as a lawyer and politician prepared you to serve in Congress?
A: 53 years of law practice and 15 years in Congress have given me some ability to cross-examine and elicit the truth from reluctant witnesses. Congressional oversight has been set-aside for the past five years; the return should be a major goal in restoring a true set of checks and balances within the political system.
Q: Agriculture is a big part of the economy in California and in parts of the region you hope to represent. What are some of the issues facing agriculture that you hope to address if you become a Congress member?
A: The balance between water for Northern California agriculture and preservation of historic fisheries has become unduly unbalanced towards sending water to the Westlands and Southern California rather than preserving the water quality in the Delta and San Joaquin Rivers. Agricultural land has been brought into production by huger subsidies and water prices calculated to encourage agriculture on previously unproductive land. I hope to restore a balance to this system.
Q: The issue of affordable housing is one that is of concern for many residents in this district. Is this an issue for Congress to address and what solutions do you see to increase affordable housing in your district?
A: Affordable housing is an issue for Congress to address, with the resuscitation of inner cities a natural goal. Developers should seek to furnish a reasonable percentage of low-cost housing, but key to this is encouraging job creation close to high-density housing areas. This will have the subsequent beneficial effect of reducing air pollution as well.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing local education and what are you plans to address them?
A: The biggest problem facing local education is the loss of property tax base resulting from the proposition 13, some years ago. I believe we should rescind Proposition 13 for this reason alone. This is of course a state, not a federal problem, but I believe increased federal funding for No Child Left Behind deserves a far higher priority.
Q: What are your plans to help local citizens who do not have health insurance?
A: I believe National Health Insurance is as important today as Social Security has been. Corporations traditionally providing the best coverage for their employees, particularly automobile manufactures and airlines are being faced with bankruptcy or losses to foreign competitors. Health coverage should be considered the right of every American, no matter how impoverished.
Q: How do you plan to stay connected to the district if you are elected and how will you keep in touch with the needs of residents?
A: If elected, I will come home for a series of public meetings open to all constituents for two weekends each month. That would mean a meeting in each of the 11th district’s population centers once a month. I did this for 15 years when serving the former 11th district between 1967 and 1983.
Q: What do you see as the top three issues facing the 11th district?
A: I see the three top issues facing the 11th district as the following, all of which have been exacerbated by Richard Pombo during the past five years:
1.The trillion dollar federal deficits caused by the enormous increase in federal spending and the size of the federal government.
2.The continuing urban sprawl which has caused traffic to substantially cut into the enjoyment of the life of a great many of the 11th district residents.
3.The health problems caused by the excessive vehicle emissions.
