PDHblog
This is a place for members of Progressive Democrats of Hawai‘i to express their thoughts
and exasperations about political happenings. The opinions and views are not necessarily
those of PDH's steering committee or membership as a whole.

To read Matt Matsunaga’s answers to the questionnaire prepared by Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, please click on “more.”

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF HAWAI‘I QUESTIONAIRE
U.S. HOUSE

Matt Matsunaga

1. REGARDING IRAQ AND IRAN

1a. The United States is now engaged in a very controversial war in Iraq. Please tell us your thoughts regarding the way in which this country entered the war.

The U.S. entered the war under false pretenses. The President and his administration lied about the reasons we went to war as well as the anticipated outcome. There were no weapons of mass destruction and the war was not quick and easy.

1b. How do you assess the current situation in Iraq?

We are still there after nearly 3-1/2 years. More than 2,500 Americans have died with many more wounded. Thousands of innocent Iraqis also have died or were wounded. The stability of the area is probably worse than before the U.S. intervention and the country is close to civil war. The war has wasted, and continues to waste billions of dollars and thousands of lives. The U.S. has become bogged down in an unwinnable war.

1c. What steps do you believe the United States should now take to resolve the situation in Iraq?

We need to train Iraqi security troops to quickly assume full security duties. We need the U.N. (or another multi-national peace force) to get more involved so we can accelerate the speed at which the Iraqis are governing themselves and we can bring our troops home.

1d. The Bush administration is making sounds like it may attack Iran over their nuclear program. Please share your thoughts about this prospect.

Another bad idea by the Bush administration. The U.S. is already stretched thin by being involved in two on-going wars (Iraq and Afghanistan). We don’t have the manpower or the money to fight a third war. This situation needs to be addressed by the U.N. – not the U.S. We cannot continue to be the “lone ranger” or world’s police force. This situation needs to be resolved by multinational diplomacy, not unilateral U.S actions.

2. REGARDING HEALTHCARE – The cost of healthcare in the United States continues to climb. We currently spend more per capita on healthcare than any other industrialized nation, yet 45 million Americans have no health insurance at all, and life expectancy and infant mortality rates are worse than those in other countries with comparable wealth.

The cost of healthcare puts a tremendous burden on both our people and our businesses. Families are sometimes driven to bankruptcy by unanticipated medial emergencies and healthcare costs for employers have become a growing business expense. More and more, we are seeing healthcare as the sticking point in labor disputes.

2a. What do you think can be done to control rising healthcare costs, while expanding coverage for all Americans?

Healthcare costs are rising faster than the rate of inflation and are already beyond the reach of many Americans. And, drug costs are rising at an even faster rate. There are a number of countries that have universal health care plans (to various degrees). The U.S. needs to adopt the best features of these plans.

Many states and city governments have found great success for their constituents in accessing much less expensive prescription drugs from other industrialized countries, such as Canada, with good drug regulation policies. And yet, the Bush administration is trying to stop them in order to placate the big drug companies that stand to lose profits if the Americans they’re overcharging buy their medicines elsewhere. It’s an unfair policy, hurting seniors in particular, and drives up the cost of healthcare for all Americans.

2b. Please share your thoughts regarding proposals for a single-payer healthcare insurance plan, similar to that in Canada.

Canada’s single-payer healthcare insurance plan seems to be working quite well for them. The U.S. should adopt a similar plan. (See answer to 2a) In this country we pay for every federal prisoner to have healthcare, shouldn’t we do the same for our children, seniors and other law-abiding Americans?

3. REGARDING TRADE – The increased integration of the U.S. economy into the world economy has resulted in major disruptions to the lives of many American workers and businesses. Some people believe that the international agreements, like GATT, NAFTA, and CAFTA, have undermined U.S. labor and environmental standards, led to the loss of millions of high paying jobs, and driven many small and medium sized companies out of business.

3a. What is your position in the debate over “Free Trade” versus “Fair Trade?”

There is no “Free Trade” if those countries that export goods to the U.S. block imports from the U.S. Also, many of the countries where these goods are exported from exploit their workers (low wages, long hours, poor working conditions, no benefits, etc.) and their environment (little or no pollution control, toxic wastes, etc.). The U.S. is therefore also guilty of knowingly exploiting foreign workers and their environment by purchasing such goods.

3b. What do you think can be done to ensure high wages and good working conditions in an era of international trade?

The U.S., and other wealthy, consuming nations, need to ensure that any products they buy are made by workers that are not exploited and ensure that manufacture of such products does not pollute the environment where they are made.

4. REGARDING POVERTY – Poverty rates have been rising in the U.S. for several years. Currently, 37 million Americans are living in poverty, according to governmental standards, including 27 million children. Yet social programs providing relief to these people have seen major cuts to their funding.

4a. Please describe what role you think Congress can play in reducing the effects of poverty upon our people and in creating conditions that will increase economic equality, rather than continue the trend toward increased economic disparity?

Funding for social programs needs to be restored, and even increased. Much of this needed funding could come from a reduction in defense spending. The U.S. is wasting billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This money could be better spent at home. In addition, I support an increase in the minimum wage and access to affordable health care.

5. REGARDING VOTER’S RIGHTS – The federal elections in both 2000 and 2004 were marred by voting irregularities and by the widespread disenfranchisement of voters. Voters have not had equal access to reliable voting systems; voters have been purged from the voting rolls in ways that appear to have been designed to suppress turnout of poor and minority voters, and there is widespread concern that new, paperless voting systems are being forced upon voters that lack adequate safeguards against votes being lots due to system failures or even deliberate fraud.

5a. What can be done to ensure that all voters have an equal chance of casting their votes, that the votes shall be counted on secure systems, and that the results can be verified in a manner that gives voters confidence?

There have been six years to fix these problems and they are still not fixed. Fixes have been identified, but have yet to be implemented. Let’s get on with it now! I’m pleased with the recent renewal of the Voting Rights Act, but that’s only the start. Voters need to have confidence in the votes they cast; otherwise, we’ll never increase voter participation in this country, which is a key right we have as a democracy. It’s sad more people don’t take advantage of it.

5b. Do you have concerns about the current method of funding election campaigns and the influence of special interests on elections?

There needs to be some sort of meaningful campaign funding reform. Every time a good policy is developed, it is filled with loopholes that special interests can exploit. More limitations on campaign contributions, better disclosure and increased public funding of campaigns will decrease the influence of special interests and increase opportunities for non-incumbents.

5c. Do you support legislation for public funding of elections, such as were enacted in Maine and Arizona, and proposed locally by the “Voter Owned Elections” initiative?

Yes.

6. REGARDING EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY

6a. What are your views regarding claims that President Bush, pursuing the doctrine of the “unitary executive,” has over-stepped his Executive Authority, as granted in the U.S. Constitution, by such actions as warrantless wiretapping, indefinitely holding detainees, disregarding legislation, and presenting false information to Congress?

President Bush has absolutely over-stepped his executive authority in the name of security. Thankfully, a number of courts have recognized this fact. President Bush has been exploiting American’s concerns over national security and terrorism. The Democrats need to develop some backbone and address this issue head on.

6b. Rep. John Conyers has introduced HR 635 to create a Select Committee empowered to investigate various allegations against President Bush and Vice President Cheney and to determine if the alleged abuses might constitute grounds for impeachment. What are your views on such a resolution? What actions, if any, do you think should be taken by Congress?

With a Republican controlled House and Senate, this seems like a long shot. Under current political conditions, it may be necessary for some entity other than the Congress to conduct such an investigation. Whoever does the investigating, I believe firmly that it is needed. There are definitely concerns I have over the way this Administration has done business, and I believe strongly that our elected leaders must be held accountable for their actions.

9. REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT – U.S. economic development is currently based upon the highest per capita consumption of resources in the world. The citizens of many other countries, such as those in Western Europe or Japan, have managed to have comparable prosperity while consuming substantially fewer resources. Countries such as China and India are industrializing at a rapid rate and their consumption of resources and production of pollutants is also rising at an alarming pace. This is having a destructive impact on the environment, both locally and globally and is clearly not sustainable.

The Bush administration and the Congressional Republicans, resist even the mildest regulations designed to reduce pollution, increase recycling, and preserve wilderness areas.

7a. What role do you believe Congress can play in reducing the destruction of environment and moving us towards sustainable economic development?

Congress can have a major role in moving the U.S. towards sustainable development. At $75/barrel, there should be sufficient public demand and therefore urgency on the part of Congress to make some bold moves.

The U.S.’s (and world’s) increasing use of fossil fuels have created serious environmental problems. At the same time, these resources are being rapidly depleted. There is simply not that much more oil to find. The U.S. should be doing more to reduce its energy use and to use more renewable energy resources. Not only will this help the environment, it will make the remaining supplies of fossil fuels last that much longer and will put downward pressure on oil prices.

Development of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency technologies will also decrease our dependence on imported fossil fuels and create new, high-tech industries and jobs inside the U.S.

8. OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

8a. In your opinion, what are other major important issues facing the country?

One major concern of mine is the growing gap between rich and poor in this country. Whether it be access to affordable housing, well-paying jobs, health insurance, or good schools, it’s getting harder and harder for working families to make end’s meet. In a country as prosperous at the U.S., that is unacceptable. I would keep this philosophy firmly planted in my mind, each time I take a vote in Congress.

8b. What are your personal legislative priorities and why should Hawaii’s voters choose to vote for you?

Hawaii’s economy, particularly it’s small businesses and the working families it supports, would be paramount in my legislative agenda. That includes a key focus of mine: renewable energy development. It’s the responsible and necessary route to go. I also believe it’s high-time we do something—finally—to address the skyrocketing cost of health care. And at the same time, I would work to make sure we keep our promise to America’s veterans, who are seeing their benefits whittled away. I have a background in both Washington, DC, and Hawaii, and will bring that knowledge and energy to the people of Hawaii. I would consider it a great honor and privilege to represent them in Congress.