SYLVIA’S SOAPBOX: 5 QUESTIONS FOR CONGRESSMAN DUNCAN HUNTER AS THE 112TH CONGRESSIONAL SESSION BEGINS

By Sylvia Hampton

January 19, 2012 (San Diego)--The constituents of the 52nd Congressional district are pleased that the majority party in the House has pledged to be open and fair in dealing with the crucial issues facing our nation today. We are also pleased to learn that cutting waste, fraud and abuse in the budget is your top concern. Therefore we ask the following questions to see if you, as our representative, are firmly behind these pledges and will vote to fulfill these promises. We thank you for sharing your answers with us.

1.) According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) if “Obama care” is repealed (thrown out) it will cost $230 billion over the next 10 years, but if we keep “Obama care” we will not only save lives, but money over the long term. Will you vote to keep Obama care?

2.) Defense Secretary Robert Gates has proposed comprehensive cuts in the DOD budget that include dumping a General Dynamics project for a tank/boat/vehicle that has proven to be a complete failure. Will you support the Secretary’s DOD budget cuts?
 

3.) Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the cost effectiveness of President Nixon’s Title X Family Planning Program started in 1970 has shown that funding of this program has saved approximately $3.50 for every $1 spent. It has cut down on the number of abortions, teen pregnancies, and mental and physical health expenses in the states. Do you support this program?
 

4.) The Wall Street bankers are still enjoying big bonuses after bringing the nation to its knees right before the 2008 election. The 2010 Wall Street reform bill creates a consumer financial protection entity, brings serious reform to derivatives trading, gives regulators the authority to break up major banks that are deemed a threat to the system, authorizes a broad audit of the Federal Reserve, largely bars banks from trading taxpayer money for their own profit and bans many of the deceptive mortgage lending practices that fueled the housing bubble. So why did you vote against it?
 

5.) According to the conservative website Fix Congress-----Save America < www.flipcongress2010.com/index.html > you have “…adopted a practice of rewarding donors with taxpayer money. According to his own earmark disclosures, Hunter's FY2010 requests include $26 Million for General Atomic Aeronatical Systems after Duncan received $25,700 in campaign donations (ref: Center for Responsive Politics). He simillarly earmarked $3 Million for TREX Enterprises after recept of $9350 in donations.” Will you oppose all earmarks in the 2012 Congress?

Sylvia Hampton is a community activist inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of fame for 2008 for her work in the fields of healthcare reform, social justice and reproductive health. She is past president of the League of Women Voters of San Diego County and served on President Nixon’s Title X Family Planning Council. Her monthly Community Forum column is published in the Sun Signature Community Newspaper, Diamond Gateway Signature, and her Soapbox in the East County Magazine.
Opinions are Sylvia’s alone and not to be interpreted as the policies of the League of Women Voters or East County Magazine.