Avoid the Mistakes of the Past

On election day, voters will have the opportunity to choose sensible leadership for the 21st century--or turn their backs on the future and endorse the failed experimentation of the past: deficit spending, back-alley abortions, environmental assault.

I offer my candidacy as an experienced, sensible leader who has the judgment, maturity and compassion to represent our hard-working families and our retired people in Congress.

I was born in Southern California and graduated with honors from UCLA and Harvard Law School. For 15 years I worked in the private sector as a CPA and tax specialist advising entrepreneurs and small businesses.

I served on the board of California Common Cause from 1984 to 1989, where I helped persuade the state Legislature to triple the child-care credit and helped draft tough conflict-of-interest laws for state officeholders. Along with Common Cause, the American Assn. of Retired Persons and the League of Women Voters, I am proud to support the tough campaign reform initiative--Proposition 208.

As a member and chairman of the State Board of Equalization, I fought successfully to end the “snack tax.” I cut red tape for small businesses and eliminated the requirement that new businesses post a $10,000 tax deposit with the state. I wrote and persuaded the Legislature to adopt tax reforms that encourage high-salary manufacturing and studio jobs in California. My work with the Clinton administration helped California win $2 billion in a Supreme Court case that made multinational corporations pay the taxes they owed. And I took the lead in stopping tobacco companies from selling “single stick” cigarette packages, halting a marketing device aimed at children.

As a member of Congress, I will fight for sensible solutions on the critical issues that challenge our communities:

* Combating and preventing crime: I support the death penalty, “three strikes,” the Brady law and the ban on assault weapons. I support the crime bill to put 100,000 more police officers on America’s streets and will work to prevent crime by supporting effective anti-drug and anti-gang programs. We should ban “Saturday-night special” handguns and adopt tough anti-terrorism laws. My support of tough, sensible anti-crime programs has earned me the endorsement of organizations representing more than 50,000 front-line police officers, including the Assn. of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs and the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs Assn.

* Protecting women’s right to choose: Government should not interfere in a woman’s private decision about abortion. I am 100% pro-choice and am endorsed by a number of nonpartisan pro-choice organizations.

* Stopping illegal immigration: My program to stop illegal immigration is sensible and workable: Double the Border Patrol, create tamper-proof work eligibility cards, increase penalties for alien smugglers, eliminate visa abuse and crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants should not be entitled to welfare, food stamps or Medicare. I am proud to have the endorsement of the Border Patrol Supervisors Assn.

* Protecting our environment: I will oppose congressional efforts to sell off Santa Monica Mountains parkland to developers and will oppose attempts to lower water-quality standards in the Santa Monica Bay. I am proud to have the endorsement of the Sierra Club.

* Preserving Medicare and Social Security: As a CPA I know that we can protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security without gutting essential services for seniors and future generations. I oppose attempts of the Gingrich Congress to cut Medicare to pay for tax cuts for giant corporations. I will be a vigorous advocate for Medicare and Social Security.

* Our schools are our future: I will oppose the drastic cuts the Gingrich Congress proposed for higher education. I will fight to protect the successful student loan program and work for higher education IRAs, which will allow parents to save money for their children’s schooling in tax-free accounts. We should cut bureaucracy and give parents and teachers the freedom to run their local schools. I am proud to have the endorsement of the California Teachers Assn.

* Balance the budget: I support balancing the budget by 2002 and the balanced-budget amendment.

As your member of Congress, I pledge to begin my term with a vote against Newt Gingrich for speaker of the House. We need sensible, moderate leadership in Congress.

I pledge to campaign honestly on the issues. You will know that when I claim to be endorsed by an organization or a public figure, that I have, in fact, received the endorsement.

I will stay in touch with our communities. During weekdays I will be in Washington working for you, and virtually every weekend I will be in the San Fernando and Conejo valleys listening to you. I would appreciate your vote.