QUESTIONS & ANSWERS : Congress: 20th 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.

B. Thomas: Yes.

M. Thomas: No. I do not support Bush’s action of war. I feel that it was done for three reasons--to raise oil prices, cover up the savings and loan scandal and to cover up the budget deficit.

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 Hussein from power or at least greatly reduce his military capacity, either through war or negotiations? B. Thomas: The goal of the United States should be to force Hussein’s withdrawal from Kuwait and make sure Hussein is not a military threat to the peace and security of the region.

M. Thomas: The United States should remove Hussein from power or reduce his military capacity only through negotiations, not by use of war. I will not see more of our people come home in body bags because a few want to kill each other.

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?

B. Thomas: This depends on the specifics of the proposal and conditions in the area.

M. Thomas: Yes, only because it will help reduce the deficit and put a lot of people to work.

B-2 Bomber Production

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

B. Thomas: Yes. The B-2 is not only a premier weapons platform for conventional weapons, it is a critical component of our strategic nuclear triad.

M. Thomas: Yes. There was a contract to build 30 or so. Let’s finish building them, or find jobs now for those who build them.

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 federal budget deficit?

B. Thomas: First of all, the “deal” does not contain “spending cuts.” The Defense Department has been cut, but the other spending programs grow even larger than they are now--from $12 billion to $15 billion a year for five years. The first thing we should do is freeze spending except for defense, and not increase taxes. But the Democratic leadership never allowed a vote on a Republican bill that would have cut $410 billion from the budget and not increased taxes.

M. Thomas: No. Gas is too high. Cigarettes and alcohol are taxed too much and should not be taxed. Furthermore, foreign aid should be cut down.

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?

B. Thomas: Yes. I believe that fundamental campaign finance reform should be to transfer control of elections from Washington special interests to the people who actually vote in these elections. I have long advocated a campaign reform system whereby a candidate must raise a majority of his campaign funds from inside the district the candidate seeks to represent.

M. Thomas: Yes. Contributions should be limited to only $500 per PAC (political action committee) and matching funds should be given to new people who wish to run for Congress.

Campaign Financing

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

B. Thomas: No.

M. Thomas: No.

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?

B. Thomas: Yes on both.

M. Thomas: Yes, I do support capital punishment, but only when the court straightens out and is no longer corrupt. Then and only then, would I.

Abortion

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

B. Thomas: I have consistently held throughout my career that the federal government should not encourage abortions by funding them, except in the humanitarian cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is endangered.

M. Thomas: Yes.

Abortion Funding

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

B. Thomas: Same as above.

M. Thomas: Yes.

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 or similar legislation?

B. Thomas: While I support the idea of parental and medical leave and would support the adoption of such benefits by American business, I have strong reservations about this particular legislation. My primary concern is that it will set a federal precedent for mandatory employer benefits. I do not believe the government should be in the business of negotiating employer-employee benefit packages. Another major concern is the effect mandatory parental and medical leave would have on smaller businesses.

M. Thomas: Yes, but the business owner or corporation should have the right to hire temporary help during this personal leave.

Endowment Restrictions

Q. Should Congress impose any content restrictions on obscene or indecent materials in reauthorizing the National Endowment for the Arts?

B. Thomas: Yes. I supported the amendment--offered by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher--to the bill authorizing the National Endowment for the Arts, an amendment which set tough, strict guidelines on the content of art funded by the federal government.

M. Thomas: No.

Arts Support

Q. Do you think the federal government should continue to support the arts through the NEA?

B. Thomas: Only if the content restrictions are adhered to should the federal government continue to support the arts through the NEA.

M. Thomas: No.

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?

B. Thomas: No. While the goal of eliminating discrimination is important, we must ensure that the legislative requirements are not so demanding as to infringe on the rights of others. Requiring employers to prove their innocence or else be found guilty is truly onerous and against every principle of American judicial process. That’s exactly what the legislation does and why I voted against it.

M. Thomas: They already have that right. Furthermore, I do not know what this bill says. But if it helps blacks and women, then that’s good.

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?

B. Thomas: Yes.

M. Thomas: Not at this time, as the courts are corrupt and need to be fairer for this to be done the right way.

Immigration Reform

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

B. Thomas: Yes.

M. Thomas: No, not when this country can’t take care of the people who live here now.

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 the level of drug use in the United States? If no, what should be done?

B. Thomas: President Bush’s drug strategy includes monies to enhance penalties, expand drug treatment, increase education in the schools, homes and communities, disrupt drug production in South America and intensify law enforcement efforts in the United States. Many of these proposals I believe will result in a more effective anti-drug program.

M. Thomas: No, not at all. The federal and state court systems should do their jobs as required by law. Also, all borders should be closed except to those with visas. All boats, planes and autos coming into the United States should be checked.

Limiting Terms

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

B. Thomas: If the public wants this type of legislation, we will certainly see evidence of that in California next week.

M. Thomas: Yes, but not by constitutional amendment. One six-year term for senators and two two-year terms for House members.

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? B. Thomas: We are awaiting the Department of Interior’s analysis.

M. Thomas: No.

Income Tax Returns

Q. Are you willing to publicly release your income tax returns and those of your spouse prior to the November election?

B. Thomas: I adhere to all federal Election Commission and Internal Revenue Service rules on financial disclosure.

M. Thomas: Only if Bill Thomas and all other members of Congress will do the same, and the federal judiciary.

CONTENDERSBill Thomas, 48, a Republican from Bakersfield, was elected to Congress in 1978. He serves on the House Administration, Budget, and Ways and Means committees. His sprawling district covers three counties and part of a fourth.

Michael Thomas, the Democratic challenger, is a businessman from Grover City in San Luis Obispo County.

William H. Dilbeck, a Libertarian, also is on the ballot. He is an electrician who lives in Atascadero in San Luis Obispo County. He did not respond to The Times’ questionnaire.