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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
United States Representative; District 29


The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Federal Resources, Foreign Policy, Federal Budget

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. What can be done to ensure that California gets its fair share of federal resources?

Answer from Ted Brown:

The only fair solution is to let Californians keep their own money right here and not send it to Washington bureaucrats in the first place. Most of what the federal government is doing these days is in direct violation of the Constitution. Congressmen are fighting for "pork"-style projects for their districts, when they should be trying to stop them for all districts. That would be my priority.


2. What are your foreign policy priorities for the United States?

Answer from Ted Brown:

I support a non-interventionist foreign policy. I believe in a strong national defense, but what we have now is a strong international offense. The U. S. is acting like an imperial power around the globe, with troops in at least 109 countries, not just obvious ones like Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea. I would withdraw U. S. troops from overseas and bring them home to defend our country. While I support tracking down an international terrorists who mean us harm, I oppose invading other countries who have not threatened us. I opposed the Iraq war, and want our troops out as soon as possible. The U. S. should be a beacon of freedom and liberty around the globe, like we once were, not a hated empire.

Answer from Philip Koebel:

From the Burbank Leader Coverage of Philip Koebel for US Congress, 10/13/2004

Koebel argued the country spends too much on the military. He also expressed concern about recruiting teenagers.

"I'm concerned that these students aren't adequately informed about their options, what it really means to be in the military or what it means to fire a gun at another human being," Koebel said. "I'm chagrined that we recruit 16 and 17-year-olds to fight wars where we have no stated purpose or mission."

Koebel believes that many poor families are essentially being forced into choosing military options "These children here tonight are being offered the opportunity to be trained as officers and lead other children into battle, and that's a beautiful thing if we're defending our country," Koebel said. "But we're not out there to defend ourselves -- we're out there to rule the world."


3. What are your priorities for the federal budget?

Answer from Philip Koebel:

Recending the tax-cuts to the rich and reducing military spending and invest in education, housing and health care.

Answer from Ted Brown:

It's obvious that neither the Democrats nor Republicans have any desire to cut the size of government. President Bush and the Republican congress are spending our tax dollars and increasing the budget much faster than Bill Clinton and the Democrats did. I want to eliminate any department or agency not provided for in the Constitution. This would eliminate the Depts. of Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Education, Energy, Housing & Urban Development, Health & Human Services, Transportation, the FDA, FEC, EPA, DEA, BATF, and hundreds of others. I would cut the defense budget by closing foreign bases and bringing our troops home from 109 different countries. I would eliminate corporate welfare and subsidies. The Constitution only gives the federal government specific functions, such as national defense, coining money and patents & copyrights. Anything else can be done by the states or by individuals on their own.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.


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Created: December 15, 2004 13:39 PST
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