Decision ’92 : SPECIAL VOTERS’ GUIDE TO STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS : THE ISSUES

Two U.S. Senate seats on the ballot, four major party candidates, a host of issues: That combination is historic in California, which has not selected two U.S. senators at the same time since statehood in 1850, when they were chosen by the Legislature.

Voters will decide between Democrat Barbara Boxer and Republican Bruce Herschensohn for the six-year Senate term on the ballot. The seat is held by Democrat Alan Cranston, who decided not to seek reelection at the end of his fourth six-year Senate term.

Second on the ballot will be the contest between Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Republican John Seymour for the two-year Senate seat. The need for the election was created when then-Sen. Pete Wilson, a Republican, won the governorship in 1990. In January, 1991, Wilson resigned from the Senate and then, as governor, appointed Seymour to fill the vacancy. State election law provides for the appointment to last until the next general election. The winner will serve the final two years of the six-year Senate term Wilson won in 1988. The seat will come up again in 1994 for election to a six-year term.

Where do the candidates stand on the issues? Their capsule positions are presented here.

Barbara Boxer

ECONOMY

Proposes that the federal government take aggressive action to create jobs and ease the transition from defense spending by rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, promoting education and cleaning up the environment, including hazardous waste found on U.S. military bases. Proposes tax credits for job creation and research and development and reduced capital gains tax rates for entrepreneurial investments. Wants to create a $1-billion transition fund offering loan guarantees to companies in critical industries so they can compete with foreign firms and to firms that are losing jobs because of the end of defense contracts.

FEDERAL DEFICIT

Proposes to devote 20% to 50% of defense savings toward reducing the federal deficit. Opposes the line-item veto, arguing that President Bush supports it but never has submitted a balanced budget to Congress. She supports the balanced budget amendment “to ensure future economic growth.”

TAXES

Has supported middle-class tax relief financed by a surtax on millionaires. Calls for tax credits and capital gains tax reduction to stimulate job creation, research and development and business investment.

DEFENSE

Would cut $150 billion from military budget over five years, primarily by calling on European and Asian allies to reimburse the United States for the cost of defending those areas.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Believes United States should support emerging democracies and defend human rights but can no longer afford to be “the 911 of the world.” Would work with the United Nations on most international crises, and co-sponsored a successful House resolution calling for unlimited Red Cross and U.N. access to prisoner camps in Bosnia-Herzegovina using “any means necessary.” Voted against entering the Gulf War, opposed favored nation trade status for China and voted against an aid package to Russia, saying she would rather see help for American cities first.

IMMIGRATION

Believes in enforcing immigration laws and beefing up the U.S. Border Patrol.

FREE TRADE PACT

Opposes the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiated by the Bush Administration because it will cost too many American jobs and fails to adequately protect the environment. Would support a pact that includes those protections.

ABORTION

Supports full abortion rights, passage of legislation that would codify Roe vs. Wade decision. Will not vote to confirm an anti-abortion justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. Supports availability of abortion-inducing drug RU 486. Opposes so-called gag rule used to deny women abortion information at federally funded clinics.

HEALTH CARE

Favors enacting legislation that would make health care available to everyone, but is not yet committed to a particular proposal. Believes any national plan should emphasize cost containment, preventive care and freedom to choose physicians.

ENVIRONMENT

Has one of the strongest environmental voting records in Congress. Favors retiring Sen. Alan Cranston’s proposed Desert Protection Act. Supports recently passed western water legislation favored by environmentalists and urban water districts. Supports energy policy that would require tougher automobile fuel efficiency standards. Favors Endangered Species Act as written. Has authored legislation protecting California coast from oil drilling.

TERM LIMITS

Opposes legislated term limits but says she would serve no longer than two terms if elected to the Senate.

Bruce Herschensohn

ECONOMY

Opposes cuts in Defense Department and spending on national defense that he contends are threatening 500,000 California defense and aerospace jobs. Supports elimination of capital gains tax to spur the economy. Supports flat income tax rate, which he believes would spark the economy.

FEDERAL DEFICIT

Would balance federal budget through spending cuts. Would eliminate U.S. Department of Education and other agencies. Supports balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

TAXES

Supports simplified single-rate flat tax that would phase out home interest mortgage write-off and other deductions and at the same time end taxes on capital gains, interest income, dividends and inheritances. Opposes tax increases on local level, including efforts to amend Proposition 13. Opposes any increase in income tax rates, or elimination of home interest rate deduction until flat tax is in place.

DEFENSE

During the primary, Herschensohn advocated an increase in defense spending. Now, he generally favors maintaining the defense budget at about where it was before the end of the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet Union. He says it is crucial to avoid creating an impression that the United States is disarming. Every time in history that a superpower has disarmed, he says, another superpower has risen to take its place. He favors the Stealth bomber and the full Strategic Defense Initiative program. Strongly supported war with Iraq.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Many threats loom on the world scene, he says, and the United States must remain prepared to be a beacon of freedom and democracy. While encouraged by the role of the United Nations during the Gulf War, Herschensohn believes there are circumstances under which the United States will have to use force unilaterally to “preserve justice and freedom.” One case is Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he favors the use of American ground troops and air strikes if necessary to open up the prisoner of war camps to international inspection.

IMMIGRATION

Believes $2.5 billion in more funding, a sixfold increase, should be allocated to the Border Patrol to keep illegal immigrants out of the country. Pressure should be exerted on Mexico to close the border. Does not believe in wall, or ditch or use of armed forces.

FREE TRADE PACT

Supports free trade pact, is opposed to protectionism of U.S. industries. Sees the North American Free Trade Agreement as a way to help stem illegal immigration.

ABORTION

Opposes abortion, except in cases of incest or rape. Favors U.S. constitutional amendment that would have the effect of overturning Roe vs. Wade. Believes states should have sole right to draft laws dealing with abortion. Favors gag rule that prohibits health care workers from advising clients in federally funded agencies on abortion. Opposes distribution of RU 486.

HEALTH CARE

Opposes congressional efforts to establish a federal program to provide universal health care, favoring private efforts instead. Believes health care costs could be reduced by $20 billion a year through elimination of paperwork and regulations.

ENVIRONMENT

Considers many environmental regulations unnecessary and favors eliminating them. Opposes retiring Sen. Alan Cranston’s proposed Desert Protection Act. Opposes Endangered Species Act. Opposes recently passed western water legislation. Opposes policy that would require tougher automobile fuel efficiency standards. Favors oil drilling off California coast. Would abolish Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

TERM LIMITS

Opposes mandatory term limits, saying terms can be limited through the ballot box.

Dianne Feinstein

ECONOMY

Proposes to jump-start the economy by taking money spent overseas on defense of European and Asian allies and investing it in American economic development programs, public transportation, repair of deteriorating bridges and highways, improved technology, schools, environmental cleanup and retraining defense industry workers. Would push for early release of billions of approved transportation dollars by federal and state agencies for transportation projects.

FEDERAL DEFICIT

Wants Congress to exert more discipline in enforcing approved spending caps. Supports a balanced budget resolution that would require the President to submit a balanced budget, and believes President should be given authority to make line-item vetoes. Supports efforts to eliminate or consolidate federal agencies.

TAXES

Generally supports cuts for low- and middle-income taxpayers with increases for the wealthiest taxpayers. Is open to reduction in capital gains tax rate and other actions that would provide new capital for small- and medium-size businesses, including restoration of the investment tax credit and making permanent the research and development tax credit.

DEFENSE

Supports a plan for $135 billion in Department of Defense budget cuts over a five-year period, primarily by requiring major allies such as Germany and Japan to pay for their own defense. Additional trims could be made by improving efficiency and eliminating redundant systems, such as some intelligence-gathering ones. Would retrain defense workers and provide tax incentives for defense industries to convert military technology into commercial technology. Likely to oppose the Strategic Defense Initiative but favors the supercollider.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Wants the United States to act in conjunction with the United Nations and other allies in maintaining world peace. The United States should take the lead but form multilateral alliances where possible. Wants a new tribunal formed within the United Nations to prosecute crimes such as those believed to be taking place in the Bosnian war camps. Did not initially favor going to war in the Persian Gulf but supported the mission once launched. Favors aid to the former Soviet Union as a way to foster democracy. On China, would condition granting favored nation trade status on improvements in human rights and use of prison labor.

IMMIGRATION

Says illegal immigration should be halted because California cannot afford to take care of everyone’s problems. Immigration levels should be based on U.S. economic needs and the ability of communities to handle the added population. Supports beefing up the Border Patrol and deporting illegal immigrants who commit felonies.

FREE TRADE PACT

Will support a free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada only if it includes strong protection for American jobs. Advocates steps be taken to raise the Mexican minimum wage, which is a fraction of the U.S. minimum wage.

ABORTION

Favors absolute right of women to choose abortion. Wants to encourage the distribution of RU 486 and expedite research into the drug. Opposes the gag rule that denies dispensing of abortion information at federally funded clinics.

HEALTH CARE

Supports federally financed national health care system as a basic human right. Reform must afford basic coverage for all Americans, contain health care costs and move toward a goal of wellness through preventive medicine. She also emphasizes that more must be done to combat AIDS and breast cancer.

ENVIRONMENT

Supports retiring Sen. Alan Cranston’s proposed Desert Protection Act. Favors recently passed western water legislation that sets aside Central Valley water for fish and wildlife preservation. Favors amending the Endangered Species Act to consider job losses and other economic effects before further species are protected. Supports energy policy that would require tougher automobile fuel efficiency standards. Opposes oil drilling off California coast.

TERM LIMITS

Opposes the setting of term limits as an arbitrary process that limits influence of elected officials while enhancing the clout of the permanent corps of lobbyists and bureaucrats. Proposes instead a reform of bureaucratic institutions.

John Seymour

ECONOMY

Generally supports President Bush’s economic program, including 1% across-the-board tax cut and other tax reductions to improve business climate. Also opposes any defense cuts that go deeper than those proposed by the President, saying to do so would cost California jobs. He opposes strict environmental programs on the grounds that they cost jobs.

FEDERAL DEFICIT

Sponsored a balanced budget amendment in the Senate this summer as “the first step in putting our country’s fiscal house in order.” Also backs line-item veto for the President. Would limit the overall growth of the federal budget to 4% annually.

TAXES

Proposes cut in capital gains tax as “a jump-starter” of the economy. Also endorses investment tax credit and other incentives to business.

DEFENSE

Supports what he calls a “gradual build-down” of the military apparatus, trimming $50 billion from the Department of Defense over five years. More drastic cuts, he says, would cost California jobs. Wants to set up programs for retraining defense workers, and would offer tax incentives for industries to convert military technology into commercial technology. He supports the Strategic Defense Initiative and lobbied heavily for the B-2 Stealth bomber.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Believes the United States should continue to be the “cop on the block” but should work with the United Nations and allies. Supports military action to stop atrocities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and voted in favor of the Gulf War. Opposes aid to the former Soviet Union until true reforms are enacted; supports favored nation trade status for China.

IMMIGRATION

Sponsors legislation to deport illegal immigrants who commit felonies. Would more strongly enforce illegal immigrant prisoner treaty with Mexico. Short of that, would like to see the federal government take custody of criminal illegal immigrants and house them in military bases. Does not support building a wall along the border but would increase number of Border Patrol agents and immigration judges.

FREE TRADE PACT

Enthusiastic supporter of North American Free Trade Agreement, which he believes will help California’s big agricultural producers, among others. Also sees treaty as way to help stem illegal immigration.

ABORTION

Since 1989, has favored abortion rights and this year bucked President Bush and party leaders on the issue at the Republican National Convention. A co-sponsor of Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe vs. Wade. Voted to override Bush’s veto of so-called gag rule on dispensing abortion information at federally funded clinics. Supports importation of drug RU 486 for testing and research, saying science, not politics, should be the determinant, but adopts American Medical Assn. view that RU 486 should be denied for personal use until tests prove it can be administered safely. Before 1989 opposed abortion.

HEALTH CARE

Opposes so-called pay-or-play plans, which would require businesses to provide health care benefits to employees or contribute to a federal program that does. Instead favors reforming existing system by containing costs, standardizing medical forms, limiting malpractice suits and allowing small businesses to pool benefits.

ENVIRONMENT

Helped block retiring Sen. Alan Cranston’s proposed Desert Protection Act. Attempted to block recent passage of western water legislation favored by environmentalists and urban water districts but opposed by farmers in the Central Valley. Favors amending the Endangered Species Act to consider job losses and other economic effects before any further species are protected. Opposes energy policy that would require tougher automobile fuel efficiency standards. Since 1989, has opposed drilling off California coast.

TERM LIMITS

Favors term limits, including current ballot proposal on congressional offices and successful ballot measure in 1990 that limits terms of state legislators. Co-sponsor of federal legislation that would restrict members of Congress to 12 years in office.