ISSUES ’86

26th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

THE DISTRICT: Includes Studio City, Encino, Van Nuys, Sun Valley, Sepulveda, Panorama City, Arleta, Pacoima, Lakeview Terrace, San Fernando, Mission Hills and Sylmar, and portions of Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Burbank, Granada Hills and Northridge. Also, in the Westside, includes areas south of Mulholland Drive to Beverly Hills which are bordered on the east and west by Laurel Canyon and Beverly Glen boulevards. Democrats outnumber Republicans by 56.4% to 34.8%. The district’s largest employers are Lockheed in Burbank and General Motors in Van Nuys.

THE SURVEY: Questionnaires were mailed to legislative and congressional candidates in September. Answers will be published periodically until the Nov. 4 election.

1. SPENDING CUTS: The Supreme Court has thrown out the automatic spending-cut mechanism in the Gramm-Rudman act, which is designed to reduce the budget deficit. Should Congress try to preserve the possibility of across-the-board cuts and not rely on its ability to make cuts on its own?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes 2. THE DEFICIT: Do you believe a tax increase is necessary to reduce the deficit significantly?

Berman: Yes Kerns: No If so, which taxes would you consider raising: Gasoline?

Berman: Yes, with refunds to low-income families Cigarette?

Berman: Yes Liquor?

Berman: Yes Income?

Berman: No 3. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES: Are you in favor of sharply limiting the amount of money congressional candidates may receive from political action committees?

Berman: Yes Kerns: No 4. CONTRA AID: Would you have approved the $100 million appropriation earmarked for military and non-military aid to the Contras, who are fighting against the leftist Nicaraguan government?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes 5. NUCLEAR TESTING MORATORIUM: In August the House voted for a one-year moratorium on nuclear testing which would take effect if the Soviets agreed to on-site verification of their ban. Would you have voted for the bill?

Berman: Yes Kerns: No 6. STAR WARS: Do you think the so-called Star Wars defense program could achieve the president’s stated goal of making the country secure against Soviet missiles?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes In general, are you inclined to give the president about what he thinks is needed for “Star Wars” research?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes 7. CHEMICAL WEAPONS: Do you support the resumption of chemical weapons production, which was discontinued in 1969?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes 8. OIL EXPLORATION: Do you favor opening up large portions of California’s coastline to oil exploration as Interior Secretary Donald P. Hodel has proposed in a five-year plan?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes 9. DRUG TESTING: President Reagan has endorsed mandatory drug testing for federal employees involved in national security or the health and safety of others. Do you favor such a proposal?

Berman: No Kerns: Yes 10. ABORTION FUNDING: Do you support continued federal funding for abortions for the poor through Medi-Cal?

Berman: Yes Kerns: No 11. METRO RAIL: Do you favor continued funding for Metro Rail, the Los Angeles subway system?

Berman: Yes, after route and design issues settled Kerns: No 12. PARKLANDS: Do you support continued funding for the acquisition of parkland for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?

Berman: Yes Kerns: Yes 13. IMMIGRANTS: Should the influx of illegal immigrants from Latin America be attacked with greater law-enforcement activity in this country and a vastly increased patrol of the border?

Berman: Yes Kerns: Yes