Candidate Questionnaire - CD 02 -Gary Binderim
National Candidate Questionnaire - CD 02 -Gary Binderim, Democrat
1. Would you support requiring all electronic voting machines to print on paper for each voter a summary of their voting choices, which will become, after their inspection, the authoritative record of their vote?
Response: Yes, I believe this should be a top priority in order to preserve and protect our democracy.
2. Would you support a repeal of the PATRIOT ACT?
Response: Yes. If we are to truly develop a plan to protect our Nation from terrorism, then we should develop a plan that also protects individual and group rights, while targeting terrorists, foreign and domestic.
3. Would you support cutting off all funding for all military operations and the American military occupation of Iraq other than what is necessary to implement withdrawal as soon as possible?
Response: Yes. If elected, I take office January, 2007. I intend to be a part of Democratic, and hopefully bipartisan, team that will immediately implement a completion strategy so we can bring our soldiers home as soon as possible, much like Congressman Murtha’s proposal.
4. Would you support the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney?
Response: I believe there should be a full investigation as to the practices of the Bush/Cheney administration and all of its key members (internal and external). If, as we would all expect, that Bush, Cheney and their key followers are found to be guilty of criminal practices, then I would definitely be among those calling for an impeachment.
5. Would you support reversing the tax cuts for the wealthy and apply the money toward social programs and the deficit?
Response: Yes. For too long, the Republican Congress and the Bush/Cheney administration have starved opportunity programs, while irresponsibly increasing the national debt through high-dollar contracts for Halliburton and other contractors. It is time to stop this good-ol’-boy-led hemorrhaging of our tax dollars and re-prioritize those dollars toward decreasing poverty in America, educating our workforce, and insuring the uninsured. As the workforce is trained, it becomes viable and employable, thus increasing investment in the tax base that will decrease the deficit.
6. Would you support single payer universal healthcare?
Response: Yes, I would. The simpler the process to assure that struggling families, working and middle income Americans and small business owners have access to insurance, the better.
7. Would you support enactment of legislation providing for public financing of general election campaigns for elective office at the local, state and federal levels?
Response: Yes. Only then will the people be in charge of their democracy.
8. Would you be in favor of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting?
Response: Yes. Honest, balanced and factual broadcasting of information is of the essence.
9. Would you support the repeal of No Child Left Behind and the banning of military recruiters on school campuses?
Response: We must make certain that “No Child Left Behind” is no longer a phrase that is simply placed on a banner for political purposes. We must fully support public education by funding it; reforming it by stopping the culture of “teaching to the test” and by supporting our educators. Schools, ultimately, are for education and workforce development; not for military recruitment.
10. Would you support a windfall profit tax on oil and gas companies and the use of those funds for the development of sustainable, renewable sources of energy?
Response: I would support a windfall profit tax on oil and gas; however, its use must not only be used to develop new sources of energy, but to help those that cannot afford to heat their homes at this moment.
11. Would you support a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College?
Response: Yes. Elections must be decided by the voters, and not “electors”.
12. To make our country safer, would you support the establishment of a Cabinet level Department of Peace to coordinate and promote non-violent conflict resolution in order to reduce violence both inside the U.S. and with other countries?
Response: I believe the Department of State is well-equipped to assure that peace if promoted if the right administration is in office. I am not so sure a “Department of Peace” would be effective in the hands of a Republican administration. Peace is not about bureaucracy, it’s about policy.
13. Would you support a resolution repudiating the policy of preemptive war?
Response: Yes, I would support such a policy.
14. Would you support a ban on the death penalty?
Response: Yes.
15. Do you support a woman’s right to choose including restoring federal funding for all family planning including abortions?
Response: I fully support and will fight for a woman’s right to choose. I also believe that the option should be available for the uninsured, which would be achieved through federal funding of family planning facilities.
16. Because U.S. corporations have the rights, but not the responsibilities of persons, would you support legislation that would deny corporations the rights of personhood? If not, explain.
Response: Corporations must be held accountable for their actions—fiscal, environmental, etc. They must be held to a higher standard because of their impact on the economy and society. So, I would support such legislation.
17. Do you believe affirmative action should be preserved and continued? If not, explain.
Response: Almost forty years after the Civil Rights Act provided for a policy of affirmative action, things are not yet equal; if anything, Republicans continue to attack policies that support equity. Affirmative action should not only be preserved, it should be strengthened to assure women and members of underrepresented groups are assured equality of opportunity.
18. What legislation would you propose that safeguards clean air and clean water, regulations designed to reduce the threat of oil spills in our waterways and harmful pollution in our ozone layer?
Response: I would propose legislation that increases the enforcement of penalties on companies that are an environmental threat to our country and that continually violate environmental law. Further, the legislation must strengthen the current “limits” that the government allows to be billowed into our atmosphere. A clean and healthy environment is good for our economy, it is good for our neighborhoods, and it assures a safe America.
19. What would you do to change the current predatory practices of banks and credit card companies?
Response: In regards to mortgage customers, cap fees and points, limit prepayment penalties, and outlaw loan flipping on mortgage refinancing. Payday lending customers would receive protections, including a minimum loan term of 60 days and a right to repay the loan in installments and not the current way in which a person’s paycheck and bank account is preyed upon. There would also be a limit on the number of loans an individual could receive in one year. I would also support protections for credit card customers that would curb astronomical “late payment” fees and end the predatory practice of automatic finance rate increases upon late payment.