9th Congressional District Election – Questions to the 9th Candidates

The Braintree Area League of Women Voters joined with the 8 other local Leagues in the 9th Congressional District in sending three questions to each of the candidates, giving them a limit of 100 words per question. Below you will find their responses. The LWV encourages each of you to visit the websites of the candidates in order to make your vote on September 19th an informed one.

The LWV is a non-partisan, political organization that never supports or opposes a candidate or political party and encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government.

The questions posed to the candidates:
What do you see as the next step in our country’s involvement in Iraq and what would be your role as our Congressperson?
What is your position on U.S. Immigration policies and undocumented workers?
What steps would you take as a Congressperson to improve job and economic development in our district?

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Philip Dunkelbarger - Democrat
125 Sunrise Rd
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone: 781 278 9494
Fax: 781 278 8866
Email: dunkelbargerdemocrat@comcast.net
Website: www.DunkDem.org

Question #1:
The Congress should enact the Murtha and McGovern Bills, the existing legislation to govern disengaging militarily from Iraq. The Congress should pass a resolution, calling on the Administration to bring the matter of additional assistance to the people of Iraq (security, physical and economic reconstruction, etc.) to the U.N. with a pledge of specific financial support. Congress should review the sufficiency of compensation to soldiers and military families, with the intention to increase both compensation and benefits. Hopefully the disengagement is achieved prior to my taking office. As for assisting Iraq through the U.N. and improved treatment of veterans, I would introduce such initiatives.

Question #2:
Congress should increase funding to the INS for enforcement of existing laws and enact stiffer penalties for employers of undocumented workers. To address the resultant social problems, I would favor the current Senate Bill.

Question #3:
Military spending on new weapons systems should be cut significantly, redirecting those resources to domestic spending, particularly improvements to public infrastructure. This investment (in roads, bridges, mass transit, schools, etc.), which should be distributed proportionally to congressional districts, would provide jobs for construction trades in the 9th District. Making taxation more progressive, working to narrow the gap between those who have more and those who have less, would increase the amount of money in circulation, increasing economic activity, increasing jobs. Transferring, on an orderly basis, our commitment to “Free” trade to a commitment to “Fair” trade, and enacting Universal Health Care.

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Congressman Stephen Lynch - Democrat
Email: Stephen.lynch@mail.house.gov
Website: www.house.gov/lynch

Washington, DC Office
319 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(phone) 202-225-8273
(fax) 202-225-3984

Boston Office
88 Black Falcon Avenue
Suite 340
Boston, MA 02210
(phone) 617-428-2000
(fax) 617-428-2011

Brockton Office
Brockton Federal Building
166 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(phone) 508-586-5555
(fax) 508-580-4692

Question #1:
Since President Bush now refuses to consider withdrawing troops during his Presidency, it is more important that Democrats gain control of Congress. Like most democrats I oppose his "stay the course" strategy. I believe our next step should be to transfer control of Iraq to the Iraqi government. It is a necessary precondition to an orderly withdrawal of troops. Separately, I have introduced the Iraq Transition Act, establishing a national commission to hold the Bush Administration accountable for shifting government operations from our military to the Iraqi government. This would help create conditions for U.S. withdrawal.

Question #2:
Our immigration system is completely broken. The U.S. has operated with "open borders" for many years. After 9/11 our policy necessarily changed. We now have to secure our borders. But we must reform immigration policy in a way that strengthens our security while offering a path to citizenship to law-abiding, hardworking immigrants who want to become U.S. Citizens. It is unrealistic to believe that we can deport all 12 million illegal immigrants. Instead, we should create a reliable process that gradually allows them to come forward and earn the opportunity to become citizens.

Question #3:
As a member of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, I spent a lot of time on this issue. The short answer is that I’ve focused on educating our citizens for the new economy. Many "new economy" jobs require math/science backgrounds. These are jobs in healthcare, finance, high tech, medical research and biotech industries. That is why I co-founded the Boston Collegiate Charter School (gr. 5-12) to give enhanced math and science instruction to inner-city students. I also sponsor the "Year-Up" program which trains minorities and non-traditional students for financial services industry jobs.

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Jack E. Robinson - Republican
P.O. Box 190
Brockton, MA 02303
Phone: (508) 583-2297
Fax: (508) 583-2988
Email: jack@jackforcongress.us
Website: www.jackforcongress.us

Question #1:
Iraq has emerged as the only genuine democracy in the Arab world and an ally, rather than an adversary, in the Global War on Terror. Despite violent opposition, a growing number of the 15 million eligible voters have chosen to participate in the political process. While we won the war, we now risk losing the peace. As your Congressman, I will push for ultimate victory in Iraq by taking actions that enhance security, strengthen civil society, eliminate sectarian violence, and lay the foundation for economic growth and conditions that facilitate the speedy return of U.S. forces.

Question #2:
America’s immigration policy should be coherent and orderly while securing the nation’s borders and ports of entry. I support immigration reform that combines increased border and workplace enforcement with a guest-worker system for newcomers and a multiyear path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here – provided that they meet certain requirements like living crime free, learning English and paying fines and taxes. This will allow market forces, rather than the prevailing political winds, to determine how many economic migrants can enter the country. It will also reduce pressure on the border.

Question #3:
I am the only candidate who has signed the no-tax pledge while Mr. Lynch received an “F” from the National Taxpayer Union. We need a targeted economic stimulus package for the District which will provide regulatory relief and tax incentives to stimulate job growth and promote economic development and community revitalization. Mr. Lynch has been an absentee representative and has done nothing for the District, while at the same time accepting over half a million dollars in political contributions from Big Dig contractors and labor unions as the Big Dig crumbles.