LIVE: CD-10 Candidate Forum

UPDATE 8/12: SEE SUMMARY

Video, Audio, Pictures, updated live as best we can. Most current entry at top. Please forgive typos. See Lisa Vorderbrueggen twitters @lvorderbrueggen. She will be twittering while moderating!. Thanks to all St Marys folks for setting up power and Internet connection.400 attendees so far.

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CLOSING STATEMENTS

B: conservative pro life, pro marriage, pro constitution, national and fiscal conservative. yoke of government kills growth and places burden on our children. tax incentives and tort reform. vocuhers. over control of federal government and will fight for energy independence.

L: politicians are dying to spend our money instead of protection of our liberties. you are not an angry mob but congress doesn’t want to hear you

C: Rule of law and transparency. we need a rep to stand up for our liberties. federal and state taxes and regulations aredriving business away. States rights. local control.

T: trying to make world a better place but without socialism and world government. don’t let america go and protect our heritage

H: values: work and save. Each of us owes 37K now but that will double over next ten years. we are living beyond means and it is ruining the nation. wants to restore fiscal discpline.

P: think about fact that democracy ends on election day but your involvement keeps going. go to his web site and learn how to participate.

HEALTH CARE insurance price because of existing conditions
B: accessibility, cost and coverage. 1. tort reform get lawyers out and lower costs. increase write offs and freer associations
L: cost to insure is not feasible for insurance company. system is broken but we don’t need to spend trillions. just a rebate for insurance on taxes
C: we need reform but should not break what is already working for a vast majority of citizens. Feds can help those on sliding scale. some don’t even want insurance.l mandates are not the answer.
T: medicare is the public option and is the cause of the problems. socialism will always cause incfreased spending and bankruptcy.
H. oppose latest health cre bill in house 153 new bureaucracies shall penalty or tax 100 times each; puts government in the way. doctor patient relationship critical
P: we agree many are uninsured. has read latest bill but stopped at the junk that would be bad for health care.

ENERGY NUCLEAR

L: cap and trade: they already know how much damage it will do. already offering kickbacks to poor.
C: atomic energy should be up to states to develop it if they want. cap and trade is dying, not well thought out.
T: cap and trade is based on flawed science. cites manhattan declaration. just another scheme for globalization. as for atomic energy its a no brainer.
H: must be environmentally and economically. cap and trade: already dead in the senate, too m,any subidies to dirtiest energy producers.
P: not for more nuclear power plants. on cap and trade eliminate subsidy of imported oil.
B: cap and trade is most brutal tax ever. we will lose 2.5 million jobs per yr. losing 9.4 trillion by 2030. but no climate payoff (one tenth of a degree)

Why doesn’t Congress deal with Illegal Immigration

C: rule of law. process, must learn language, waiting period. complicated but need a lega process and secure border. congress hasn’t done a lot of things
T: immigration not contorlled because congress doesn’t want to control it but they dont wont it. they want North American Union. And must dumb down economy to do it so break dollar so it can be equal to peso.
H: #1 foreign policy for western hemisphere to be economic dynamo, civil rights, 2. make it easy for immigrants to come here easily, 3 no amnesty.
P: tax payers pick up tab and they are exploited. resource management. give companies that obey law to do the right thing.
B: We must secure border with existing law. Feds is subsidized by illegal aliens but states suffer costs. We created a class of indentured servants who have to hide in shadows without protection of law. It is immoral.
C: U.S. is land of opportunity. we need to enforce laws we have. Congress is scared becuase of possible charges of racism

Israel and Middle East

T: we cannot be policeman of the world. our debt is an example of meddling.
H: Supports alliance with Israel
P: related to native americans except in middle east they are still fighting. we spend way too much money subsidizing them for war and weapons. what we don’t subsidize them with is conflict resolutio.
B: Israel is our best ally in ME. we do them a misservice by not supporting them more. we need to partner with Israel in an unsubsidized manner.
L: U.S. founded on Christian principles. We must help neighbors by pro nation building as part of our fiber.
C: we are meddling in middle east. we dont have money and we don’t understand the cultures. clean up america. build schools in U.S.

how do we energy jobs and security all at once

H: wants to make conservatism and conservation be in sync again. 1. environmentally sustainable 2. economically sustainable
P: simple. cut imported oil subsidy. we pay to reduce imported oil. 98% of petroleum is subsidized and prices would go up and we would need to look at alternatives.
B: national interest and energy intertwined. supports GOP call for 100 new nuckear power plants in next 20 years. also supports expansion of off shore natural gas and oil. jobs security will come with building infrastructure for energy
L: nuclear power plants are cheap alternative and create jobs and sustainable energy, and increases security with less dependence on foreign oil.
T: no constitutional mandate for energy, more jobs by lowering taxes lowering taxes. national security Homeland security
C: private industry must develop clean energy not government except for tax credits.

BAILOUTS
H: my signs say no more bail outs. opposed bush and obama bailouts. we are taxing people who are frugal to bail out those who are reckless.
T: prosperity does not create wealth. some would have us do something like EU and destroy borders.
C: would not support past or future bailouts. this country bought by the banks by borrowing money from other countries. mortgaging future.
L: my campaign would represent constituents. As repub lican would allow voters to tell him how to vote. voters understand more bailouts are a bad idea.
B: would not support. unimaginable debt. hidden tax from devaluation of currency. not good for america. limited constitutional government.
P: Banks so bailouts as windfall they got away with it. no one doing anything about it or try to get money back. who will hold them accountable. cannot rely on media government or reps where money went. Obama is deficit spending in advance.

WIDEN HWY 580 and 4 to extend BART to livermore and brentwood

Bunch (B) supports generally but need to streamline apprioval process so the project can come on line sooner. Costs are energy driven so we need to energy in mind.

Loos (L) As commuter would pay out of own pocket if he could. we need useful transportation. more reach into SJ instead of just into SF. Tracy, Livermore and Hwy 4. Would love to get it done

Clift (C) Bay area dependent on transportaion and supports public transportation and hwys. we are getting less money back than m400 other districts.

Toth (T): Would be lmited by federal funding

Harmer (H): favors in abstract. Tauscher was lone rep from bay area on infrastructure committee and would seek that seat.

Peterson (P): Good idea. Touting his application.

Sitting left to right
Peterson, Harmer, Toth, Clift, Loos, and Bunch

REPUBLICANS NEXT
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CLOSING STATEMENTS

D: proud to have represented the district in vairous offices for past 20 years. Fortunate to have Tauscher, Torlakson and Reps Miller and Hancock. Send me back to DC to Congress.

B: Opportunity to create a new america. create jobs. support small businesses, espceially if we can bail out weall street. make education a priority. make no child left behind a reality. healthcare is personal. son had six surgeries. knows what works and what doesn’t. we have to pass a plan to insure everyone. Tech for sustainable energy resources.

H: I have spirit of community service can bring to DC, Familiar with issues including education, housing, preschool, healthcare. not rich. empower working people, labor rights. everyday people can be represented in washington instead of interest by career politicians.

W: time to send new generation of leaders instead of career politicians and we keep getting same thing. career politicians were talking about healthcare and peace when a kid and they are still talking. change congress one person at a time. APPLAUSE

G: excited that obama has pushed issue onto the agenda, things he’s been working on for decades: healthcare, water, climate, reregulate wall st, knows what it takes to regulate a financil industry, consumer protection in california. looking forward to continue to work on these issues for californians in Congress.

LAST QUESTION: On what issue do you defer and would vote against party caucus

B: SILENCE LAUGHTER. Stalling. Now has train of thought. what you will get from me is someone who will do her home work and look at all sides. Thought being first on this question.
D:Vote against reauthorization of military budget. And will vote against health care if it is not strong. must let states go further so california can do universal healthcare
G healthcare. Obama deal with drug companies no barganing of prices. this is wrong. we must negotiate with Big Phar, will vote against any bill without public option.
W: goals, plan benchmarks required for his vote to keep his support. no endless war and if dems try it he will stand against
H: will stand against dems when they stand against their progressive values. equality peace, and safety net. legalize tax and regulate marijuana

GITMO PRISONERS
H: Try as criminals.Dismantle Gitmo. Send prisoners to supermax facilities.
B: Gitmo is black eye. years of imprisonment without charges. agrees with Obama.
D. Agrees with Obama. Trials preferred. we are ignoring core principles.
G: Bush did much to ruin the U.S. Gitmo, interrogation. not easy but shut down and brought to trial like any criminal.
W: we abandoned values. undermined our leadership. abide by our own laws. right to trial.

WATER
W: critical. federal state partnership. at brink of crisis.
H: delta is important. could be next new orleans. must be quick and aggressive to move delta policy forward. 80% to AG. plus environment or water sucked down to souther california.
B: Delta is largest estuary. no peripheral canal. must conserve water now.
D. co author number of bills to take delta. no peripheral canal. too many things can be implemented first.
G: lives on Sac River. worked with Sunne McPeak against first peripheral canal. have to have serious urban and ag conservation, recycling like in Southern CA. nothing happens without feds.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WHAT ACTIONS

G: all programs must be efficient and effective. spend money wisely. stop bush tax cuts.
W: deficit spending chokes economic growth. must be accountable
H: transparency. supports. audit of fed. opposed bush bail outs.
B: you cant spend money you don’t have.
D: paygo is way to go. performance based budgeting, giv e value. do better job

ENERGY CAP AND TRADE COST-BENEFIT

D: exp on CARB. cap an trade is one part to deal with climate change. AB 32 support form DC
G: correct mistakes. pollution. cap and trade lefislation form house picked up all mistajkes from original EU model. have to control green house gases, can do this and grow economy at same time.
W: climate change #1 strategic threat to U.S. time is now supports cap and trade
H: make sure C&T does not harm small business and consumers. need comprehesive solution. rehab houses with insulation. improve tansmission grid to make it more efficient.
B: a global warming is real. need to do all we can for energy not dependent on oil.

What is unique issue to CD-10?

B: lawrence livermore and sandia and travis air force base in north. critical economic importance. will make sure both are funded
D: 4th largest are in country. plan for growth heathcare education, transportation. protect hi payin jobs and that they stay here.
G: CD-10 has same issue of all california. education, research, military. Stresses renewal energy. wind, solar. fusion at LLivermore. greatest research in the world HERE.
W: transportartion. work hard for national science funding.
H: foreclosures, moratorium; feds push california to protect and repair delta; transportation in east bay

HEALTHCARE

H: has not read bill. too long. not a good size to be well vetted. Supports single payer bill.
B: health care crisis read exec summary has not read entire bill
D: cites support for single payer. stresses public option and cost controls to drive down percentage of GDP
G: cites universal healothcare proposal for california. we know how to do this. singlepayer is effiecient like medicare. the bills in congress are more insurance reform. will be hard to enforce.
W: if it is effiecient he’ll support. is it good for people who like their current insurance. keep it simple.

TOPIC IRAQ WAR
W: two tours in Iraq. send person to congress with first hand knowledge. Military can not solve all problems overseas. Did not support supplemental did not include goals timetable benchmarks.

H: also did not support supp. supports exit strategy legislation. Get out of Afghanistan and Iraq

B: oppoesed iraw war from beginning. no threat. no reason to go to war. if no iraq we would not be in AFghanistan wants limited goals in afghanistan

D: cites anti war. against supp, get out of iraq get out of afghan. No premption. follow core ideals

G. Obama on right path. would support Obama efforts. Afghanistan will plague us for long time We have to cover those who have no insurance.

DeSaulnier (D) supports Kennedy-Mcain. Pathway goo. Enforce laws at border with labor and employees
Buchanan (B): we are all here from immigration. control border, elect surveillance, path to citizenship, and work
Hampton (H) supports path to citizenship; plus look at trade policies to reduce migration
Woods (W) says secure border, fine exploiting busines and path to citizenship
Garamendi(G) Obama on the right track. likes comprehensive approach of Kennnedy-McCain. Stresses comprehensive.

7:12 first question to Garamendi. Does he support Obama for path to citizenship for illegal aliens.

Some guy just stood up to interrupt but was aksed to sit.

7:07: Ashley Coates introduces LWV and Lisa Vorderbrueggen (LV). LV invites candidates to stage. LV says Chris Del Beccaro lost his credit card.

Democrats first. cards for audience to fill out questions.

Order of candidates left to right: Garamendi, Woods, Hampton, Buchanan, DeSaunlier

7:04 introductions

The hosts and moderator are discussing security issues.

6:30 p.m.

Woods supporters dominate entrance to Soda Center