QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS : Congress: 22nd District

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates this month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Mideast Crisis

Q. Do you generally support President Bush’s handling of the Mideast crisis precipitated by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait? Briefly explain any differences you have with Bush’s actions.

Moorhead: Yes.

Bayer: Yes, as long as it stays within the framework of the UN.

Tucker: No. I support unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the Persian Gulf region.

Wilson: No. Over the last 10 years the rate of our use of military might has increased, starting with smaller actions, such as in Libya and Grenada, and increasing to Panama and now Saudi Arabia. Continuation of the policy will lead to disaster.

Ultimate Goal

Q. Should the ultimate goal of the United States be to force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait? Or should it be to remove Saddam Hussein from power or at least greatly reduce his military capacity, either through war or negotiations? Moorhead: Yes. If Hussein forces military action, it should also be our goal to remove him from office. The main thing is to restore Kuwait with as little loss of life as possible.

Bayer: The ultimate goal is to keep the peace so that innocent people on both sides are protected. Hussein’s withdrawal from Kuwait is essential, but this may be achieved through the economic boycott and negotiations.

Tucker: The ultimate goal should be to seek the disarmament of all nations in the region.

Wilson: Our goal should be withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait by negotiation.

Weapons Sale

Q. Do you support the Bush Administration’s proposal to sell billions of dollars of additional weapons, including F-15 fighters, TOW missiles and Apache helicopters, to Saudi Arabia?

Moorhead: The best program at this time would be a lease program where they would have the use of the weapons during this crisis but still would not build up a powerful military force.

Bayer: No. The more we militarize the Mideast with weapons, the more unstable it becomes. Saddam Hussein is an example.

Tucker: No. I oppose any escalation of the regional arms race there.

Wilson: Yes. While the selling of arms should be avoided where possible, every country should be able to defend its territory.

B-2 Bomber Production

Q. Do you favor continued production of the B-2 Stealth bomber beyond the 15 already in production?

Moorhead: Yes. Since we have no other bomber with the capability of the B-2 and since we have already invested the research and development costs, it would be wise to build up at least 30 or 40 of them so we would have an effective operating unit.

Bayer: No. This is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Tucker: No. Period.

Wilson: No. It’s time to reduce military spending.

Deficit Reduction

Q. President Bush and congressional leaders recently agreed to a compromise package of tax increases and spending cuts designed to reduce the federal budget deficit by $40 billion this fiscal year and $500 billion over the next five years. This deal, if it gains final congressional approval, would increase taxes on gasoline, cigarettes and alcohol; raise Medicare premiums; impose a new tax on luxury goods, and reduce itemized deductions that can be taken by taxpayers with incomes over $100,000. Do you support his plan? If no, why not? What specific actions would you support to cut the deficit?

Moorhead: No. I believe that a 4% freeze on spending would be much easier on the American people, would do less damage to the economy and would be less harmful to seniors.

Bayer: No. I am against any plan which tried to balance the budget off the backs of senior citizens. We must raise the tax rates on the super rich from 28% to 33% and cut Pentagon spending by 25%.

Tucker: No. According to figures of the Congressional Budget Office, the poorest one-fifth of households will pay 16% more taxes in 1990 than in 1980, middle-income households will pay 1% more, while the wealthiest 1% will pay less and have income gains of 87% for the decade. The wealthiest 1% should pay 115% of everything over $200,000.

Wilson: No. The budget agreement unfairly treated the poor and middle class. Reductions in military spending and not tax increases are the best ways to balance the budget.

Campaign Spending

Q. Do you support efforts to restrict campaign spending and reduce the amount of contributions that can be made by special interest groups?

Moorhead: Yes. PAC contributions could be greatly reduced without inhibiting candidates from running an effective campaign.

Bayer: Yes. Campaigns should be financed publicly with free radio and television time to allow candidates to debate.

Tucker: Yes and no. I am not in favor of restricting free speech by restricting what individuals can spend on behalf of candidates independently. However, I am opposed to the concept of funding campaigns, privately or publicly, as it now exists.

Wilson: No. Restrictions on campaign spending and financing usually favor incumbents.

Campaign Financing

Q. Do you support full or partial taxpayer financing of campaigns?

Moorhead: No.

Bayer: Yes.

Tucker: I would give all bona fide candidates space in ballot pamphlets and require broadcast licensees to grant time to all candidates.

Wilson: No. Such financing would benefit incumbents and they already have enough financing.

Unpaid Leave

Q. President Bush in July vetoed legislation that would have required businesses employing at least 50 people to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for childbirth, adoption or serious illness to employees or immediate family members. Do you favor this?

Moorhead: No. These questions should be left to negotiations between management and labor.

Bayer: Yes. We must maintain and build strong families. Compromise legislation promoted by me would guarantee the employee’s right to unpaid leave, but allow the time period to be negotiated by the employer.

Tucker: Yes, except that the bill did not cover enough employers and the threshold should have been lowered.

Wilson: No. Conditions vary among companies and in our competitive environment decisions like this should be left to those who run the business.

Oil Exploration

Q. Do you think the present Mideast crisis justifies opening up additional parts of the California coastline to oil exploration?

Moorhead: Yes. I believe any kind of exploration along the California coast should very carefully protect the ecology and should be done with utmost care.

Bayer: No. We must invest in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal. We must give tax credits for producers and users of renewable energy and institute strict conservation measures.

Tucker: No. It gives us an incentive to develop solar power on a massive scale, as well as other non-polluting energy sources.

Wilson: No. Our coastline is worth more than all the world’s oil.

Capital Punishment

Q. Do you support capital punishment? If so, do you think it should be imposed on those convicted of importing or selling drugs?

Moorhead: Yes to both.

Bayer: No capital punishment, but permanent imprisonment without parole for convicted murderers.

Tucker: Yes.

Wilson: No. Capital punishment does not reduce crime and tends to be used on minorities at a higher rate.

Abortion

Q. Do you support a woman’s unrestricted right to an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy?

Moorhead: While I am personally opposed to abortion, the Supreme Court ruling that a woman has a right to an abortion at least during the early stages of pregnancy, is the law.

Bayer: Yes.

Tucker: Yes.

Wilson: Yes.

Abortion Funding

Q. Do you support federal funding of abortions for women who cannot afford them?

Moorhead: If the life of a woman is in danger or if she reports rape or incest to the police in a timely fashion, I believe that the appropriate medical treatment should be paid for women who cannot afford it.

Bayer: Yes.

Tucker: Yes.

Wilson: No.

Assault Rifle Ban

Q. Do you favor extending President Bush’s ban on the import of semiautomatic assault rifles to the domestic production of such weapons?

Moorhead: No.

Bayer: No, until police data indicates that it reduces serious, fatal crimes.

Tucker: No.

Wilson: No.

Waiting Period

Q. Do you favor a seven-day waiting period on the purchase of handguns to permit background checks?

Moorhead: No. California has a 15-day waiting period and that is ineffective.

Bayer: Yes.

Tucker: No.

Wilson: Yes.

Immigration Reform

Q. Do you support immigration reform to increase the number of visas allowed for family members of those who are already in the United States as well as skilled workers?

Moorhead: No.

Bayer: Yes.

Tucker: Yes.

Wilson: Yes.

Civil Rights Legislation

Q. Do you support civil rights legislation passed last month by the House that would give women and blacks who are victims of sexual or racial harassment in the workplace the right to sue their employer in federal court?

Moorhead: If this were a true description of this legislation, the answer would be yes. But the bill requires the employer to prove his innocence if the accuser was not employed or not given a promotion and virtually requires a quota system. Since in America we are innocent until proven guilty, the answer has to be no.

Bayer: Yes. A just society has no room for sexual or racial harassment and penalties must be severe.

Tucker: Yes. I also favor amending the federal civil rights criminal statutes to overturn the DeLaurentiis decision, so that employers who violate workplace protection statutes can be arrested and criminally prosecuted.

Wilson: Probably, yes. But I need to review the legislation and I haven’t had the opportunity.

Anti-Crime Legislation

Q. Do you support anti-crime legislation passed by the Senate in July that would re-establish the federal death penalty, limit Death-Row inmates’ appeals and relax the exclusionary rule that prohibits the use of illegally seized evidence in criminal trials?

Moorhead: I support the anti-crime legislation that passed the House last week which I believe fully protects the convicted felon, but does speed up somewhat the final conclusion on appeals. It is too early to make a decision on the eventual agreement between the House and Senate.

Bayer: No.

Tucker: No.

Wilson: No.

Reducing Drug Use

Q. Do you believe our present strategy of criminal prosecution, interdiction of supplies, and imprisonment of users and dealers is significantly reducing drug use in the United States? If no, what should be done?

Moorhead: No. Drug use is being substantially reduced by our present strategy, but the result is not yet satisfactory. Much additional involvement is required as well as stronger efforts to keep narcotics from coming into our country through a strengthened Border Patrol and cooperation of neighboring countries.

Bayer: No. More money, smaller classes, better trained teachers to educate people so they can change their communities and build meaningful lives not tied to the profit motive.

Tucker: Yes and no. The drug cartels have finally started acting as cartels and have begun restricting the flow of cocaine because the street price was down. Wilson: No. The war on drugs helps support the high-price structure of illegal crimes and encourages the entry of criminal elements into the market.

Drug Decriminalization

Q. Would you consider supporting the decriminalization of drug use?

Moorhead: No. At least 30% of the traffic deaths are caused by people under the influence of narcotics, as well as more than half the criminal activity.

Bayer: No. We must build strong character and leadership in our communities through investment in quality education.

Tucker: Yes, on a case-by-case basis.

Wilson: Yes. Controlled decriminalization of specific drugs should be used to undermine the illegal drug market price structure and remove the incentives for criminals to sell drugs.

Limiting Terms

Q. Do you support limiting the number of terms members of Congress can serve? If yes, what should the limits be for the House and Senate?

Moorhead: No. I believe you would get a much fairer result and permit the people to keep the best of their public servants by having a fair reapportionment system and prohibiting the gerrymandering that has taken place in recent years.

Bayer: Yes. Three terms each.

Tucker: Yes, Two for the House and one for the Senate.

Wilson: Yes. Two for the Senate, three for the House.

China Trade Status

Q. Should the United States revoke China’s most-favored-nation trading status until the president certifies that China has made specific human rights progress?

Moorhead: Most-favored-nation status should be given only to those friendly nations who are making satisfactory progress in protecting human rights.

Bayer: No. Trade generally breaks down ideological rigidities and opens the way for greater democracy.

Tucker: Yes, but China is not the only offender and we should re-examine this status for lots of dictatorships that we count as our friends.

Wilson: Yes.

Land Exchange

Q. Should the National Park Service exchange 59 acres in Ventura County for about 1,100 acres of the neighboring Jordan Ranch owned by entertainer Bob Hope, permitting park agencies to buy another 4,600 acres of Hope’s land in the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountains for $10 million? Moorhead: If the National Park Service needs the land and qualified appraisers say it is a good deal for the government, yes. Otherwise, no.

Bayer: Yes, as long as we can preserve our environment and parks for the benefit of society as a whole.

Tucker: No. The National Park Service should take this land under the power of eminent domain.

Wilson: Yes.

Mandatory Ride-Sharing

Q. Do you favor mandatory ride-sharing as a way of meeting federal air pollution standards?

Moorhead: No.

Bayer: No.

Tucker: Not at this time.

Wilson: No.

CONTENDERSCarlos Moorhead, 68, a Republican, is an 18-year incumbent and a staunch conservative. He is from Glendale and represented that city in the State Assembly for six years before his election to Congress.

David Bayer, 48, a Democrat from Burbank, is making his first try at public office. An educator, Bayer is former head of adult education for Burbank schools and has taught at the National Agricultural University in Lima, Peru.

Jan B. Tucker, the Peace and Freedom Party candidate, is a private investigator. He lives in Toluca Lake.

William H. Wilson, the Libertarian candidate, is a compensation analyst. He lives in Pasadena.