Candidates & Issues

Rep. Howard L. Berman, 47, a Panorama City Democrat, was first elected to Congress in 1982. An attorney, Berman had served 10 years in the state Assembly, where he lost a bitter fight for the speakership. He serves on the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees, and has played key roles on immigration and anti-terrorism bills. He is a partner of a potent Westside-Valley political coalition. He and his wife Janice have two children.

G.C. (Brodie) Broderson, 58, a Burbank Republican, announced Oct. 6 that he was conceding the election because he could not raise enough money, but his name is still on the ballot. An actor and Guardian Angel leader, he was student trustee of the Los Angeles Community College District when he returned to college several years ago. A Los Angeles Valley College graduate, he is divorced; he has four children and eight grandchildren.

SUMMARY: Berman stresses his efforts to establish a drug task force in Los Angeles and his anti-terrorism bill as well as his bids to restore Hansen Dam for recreational use and decrease noise from Burbank Airport flights over the district. Broderson had maintained that Berman is too liberal for the district.

THEIR VIEWS

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates in September and were returned in October. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Q. Would you support an income tax increase to reduce the budget deficit?

Berman: Not first preference. If necessary, should be limited to creating a fourth, higher tax bracket for those earning $150,000 or more.

Broderson: No.

Q. Would you support increasing any other tax to cut the deficit? If so, which one?

Berman: Freeze the estate tax at 55% for estate values exceeding $2.5 million rather than allowing it to drop to 50% as scheduled; require heirs to pay capital gains tax on full appreciation of inherited property on a “carry-over basis” and “close other egregious loopholes” in the tax law.

Broderson: No.

Q. Do you support a tax decrease to stimulate growth?

Berman: No, unless the economy went into a severe recession.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you support amending the Constitution to require a balanced budget?

Berman: No.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Briefly but specifically please describe any cuts in spending or increases in revenue that you would support to reduce the federal budget deficit. How much will this save and/or increase revenues?

Berman: A freeze or modest cuts in defense spending, focused on the Strategic Defense Initiative and the MX missile; gradual reduction of agriculture subsidies (saving $10 billion in fiscal 1989 year and $35 billion over next three years); reforms in delivery of government-sponsored health services and more

efficient tax collection.

Broderson: Supports the proposals of President Reagan’s Grace Commission to cut government waste.

Q. In your opinion, was too much of the federal budget spent on the military buildup during the past eight years?

Berman: Yes.

Broderson: No. Too much was wasted.

Q. Do you believe that there is a realistic likelihood that President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly known as “Star Wars,” can accomplish its goal of providing a space-based shield against incoming missiles?

Berman: No.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. With regard to SDI, do you believe that we should: Discontinue all funding? Fund research but not development and testing? Fund deployment?

Berman: Fund research, but at lower levels than at present.

Broderson: Fund deployment.

Q. Do you think that the United States should assist guerrillas who oppose left-wing governments in Central America, as we have done in Nicaragua?

Berman: No.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you believe that the changes occurring in the Soviet Union will lead to significant improvements in U.S.-Soviet relations?

Berman: “There are already signs of improvement, but the Soviets need to do much more in protecting fundamental human rights, including the right of emigration, and they must work for diplomatic solutions in trouble spots around the world.”

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Should the United States try to influence Israel to exchange Palestinian autonomy on the West Bank for the PLO recognizing Israel’s right to exist?

Berman: Favors the Camp David formula: autonomy for the Palestinians, followed by negotiations. Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, not the PLO, must take the lead.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you favor opening up additional parts of the California coastline to oil exploration under any circumstances other than a national emergency?

Berman: No.

Broderson: No.

Q. Given the proliferation of drug use, do you believe that Congress should consider the legalization of marijuana? Cocaine?

Berman: No.

Broderson: No.

Q. Do you support the routine seizing of boats, cars and other vehicles in which illegal drugs are found?

Berman: Supports seizure when there is “some relationship between the illegal drugs and the owner of the vehicle.”

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you favor more control over the availability of handguns to the general public? If yes, what sort of control?

Berman: Yes. Waiting period prior to gun purchase. Registration of all handguns. Ban on “Saturday night specials.”

Broderson: No.

Q. Has the United States done enough to influence the South African government to abandon its policy of racial separation?

Berman: No.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you support the unrestricted right of a woman to have an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy?

Berman: Yes.

Broderson: No.

Q. Do you favor additional limits on the amount of money that congressional candidates may accept from political action committees?

Berman: Would have to see specific proposal.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you support federal financing for child day care for working parents?

Berman: Yes.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you support a significant increase in federal spending for research into AIDS?

Berman: Yes.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Should public health officials trace the sexual contacts of anyone with AIDS or the AIDS virus?

Berman: “Yes, if it can be done with strict confidentiality and on a voluntary basis.”

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you support a significantly greater role of the federal government in paying for health care for the elderly and chronically ill?

Berman: Yes.

Broderson: Yes.

Q. Do you believe the immigration reform laws that offered amnesty to some illegal immigrants while cracking down on employment of those illegally in this country have been successful? Briefly, what, if any, changes do you support?

Berman: Too soon to tell. “Since millions of people still reside in the U.S. illegally and will never be deported, I support including those people within the legalization program, assuming they have not engaged in any criminal activity.”

Broderson: No. “Close the borders.”

Q. Do you believe that the government should acquire a significant amount of new land for national parks?

Berman: Yes.

Broderson: No.