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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Economy and Jobs,
Health Care,
Energy Policy,
National Security,
Immigration Reform
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. In this time of high unemployment and budget deficits, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy and sustain job creation?
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(No candidates submitted answers to this question)
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2. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs?
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Answer from Jim Costa:
The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, and we ought to work in a bipartisan manner to improve the law. However, I do not support the full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, because repealing the law means allowing insurance companies to charge women more for health insurance and deny coverage to Valley residents due to preexisting conditions. As a result of this law, more than 9,000 young adults in our district are now covered under their parent's health insurance policy, and 80,000 seniors in our district are now eligible for Medicare preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductible. Up to 54,000 children with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage by health insurers, and hundreds of small businesses can take advantage of tax credits to help maintain or expand coverage for their employees. Repealing the Affordable Care Act means repealing these benefits that Valley residents are already enjoying.
Further improvements to the law and our health care system can and should be made. Since passage of the health care law, I have voted several times to repeal and rework certain provisions that don't address the unique challenges of the Valley's small businesses, farmers, and agriculture workers. We must do more to ensure every Valley resident has access to quality and affordable health care. I will continue to support commonsense reforms to the law that reflect the Valley's needs.
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3. What are your priorities with respect to our nation’s energy policy?
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(No candidates submitted answers to this question)
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4. What, if any, changes should be made with respect to our nation’s security, including our national defense or anti-terrorism measures?
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Answer from Jim Costa:
One of my top duties in Congress is to keep our country safe. This means strengthening our national security, supporting our troops at home and abroad, and completing our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno is vital for our national security and our Valley's economic security. The location of the 144th Fighter Wing on the West Coast helps our nation maintain air superiority in the Southwest region of the United States and around the world, and with more than 1000 guardsmen and women stationed at the wing, the 144th is a central part of our local economy.
That's why I fought so hard to stop proposals by other states to end the 144th fighter wing and halt the transfer of new F-15s to the wing. On a bipartisan basis, I rallied more than half the California Congressional delegation in support of the wing, and we were successful. The new F-15s are at the 144th, and the base is safe from any proposed elimination.
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5. What is your position on the issue of immigration reform? What, if any, changes to legislation or policy would you support?
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Answer from Jim Costa:
Immigration reform has long been a priority of mine, and we must work in a bipartisan fashion to achieve true Comprehensive Immigration Reform that includes a pathway to citizenship. That is why I am a proud co-sponsor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (H.R. 15). This bill will modernize our broken immigration system for the 21st Century by securing our borders, uniting families, and providing an earned pathway to citizenship. The legislation will also decrease the nation's deficit by nearly $1 trillion. Continuing the status quo is not acceptable for the sake of our economy, the future of the San Joaquin Valley, and the 11 million people living in the shadows. We need reform now.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as
submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
