League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Phat Nguyen Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 19

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. In this time of high unemployment, what are the most important steps that should be taken to improve our nation’s economy?

First of all, the fraud and abuse in the visa programs (H-1B, L-1, B-1) for foreign guest workers must be eliminated. These programs allow companies to replace American citizens with foreign guest workers. Secondly, corporate tax loop holes that allow companies to send American jobs overseas must be eliminated. Third, new federal investments to improve American dilapidated infrastructure such as high speed rail, education, new technologies should be made.

2. How should the federal budget deficit be addressed, now and into the future? How should budget priorities for defense and domestic programs be adjusted?

I like Dr. Paul Krugma's (Nobel Prized Winner in Economics) approach in regard to our federal deficit. A huge federal spending program in short term to address the economic crisis is recommended despite the federal budget deficit. Longer term, we need to consider addressing it by making significant reduction in our defense budget. I would also favor eliminating corporate tax loop holes that allow companies to pay little tax. I do not favor cutting social security and medicare programs. Instead I think we should raise the ceiling of the maximum taxable earnings amount.

3. What are your priorities with respect to our nation’s energy policy? Should there be an emphasis on clean energy and reducing carbon emissions, and/or on reducing our dependence on foreign sources?

Having lived in Europe and visited Japan many times, I think the U.S. can learn a great deal from these countries regarding energy policy. They do it through a combination of new technologies and regulations, particularly making the tax codes favorable to those companies that use clean energy and reduce carbon emissions. I also think the U.S. also urgently needs to reduce our dependence on foreign sources. It's a national security issue.

4. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs?

I actually favor a single payer system similar to the programs in many European countries. The U.S. spends twice as much as these countries but get much worse results. For example, healthcare takes 16% of the U.S.'s GDP vs 8% for France but the healthcare outcomes for France is much better. A single payer system eliminates a lot of waste that currently exists in the American system. Having lived in both systems, I think the European system is much better than our current system of healthcare.

5. What, if any, changes should be made to federal rules on campaign financing?

In the public interest, federal campaigns should be funded by taxpayers. Right now, corporations have too much influence over the campaign. Politicians are literally bought by corporate interests. I favor changing federal rules to make it much more difficult for corporations to buy our politicians.

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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.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 18, 2012 12:32
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