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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
State of California June 5, 2012 Election
Smart Voter

David Alex Levitt
Answers Questions

Candidate for
United States Senator

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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?

Instead of wasting trillions on war and giving $7 trillion for too-big-to-fail banks to gamble, with as we have the past 4 years, we need to invest in education, infrastructure, and 21st century energy jobs.

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?

This will be straightforward once we have leadership and can stop pretending we're broke or that austerity is a good way to end a recession. It's the opposite. Americans need jobs and education. See the Contract for the American Dream for details.

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?

In California I have neighbors with small houses and solar panels on their roofs which produce more energy than they use -- and the electric company pays THEM. Installing panels, building wind energy farms, innovation with tidal energy - all of these are the 21st century variants of the thinking that let Tesla harness Niagara falls to provide electricity for NYC over a century ago. We can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and tax its wealthy beneficiaries enough to help fund its replacement.

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

59% of Americans want Medicare for All -- a single-payer, not-for-profit system of universal insurance with an even larger, healthier client base at a lower rate. 35 countries have proven it. If our politicians weren't captive to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and listened to the people instead, we would have adopted this years ago.

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

Campaigns should be publicly and inexpensively financed using broadband technology -- there is no excuse to outspend opponents when everyone has access to free video distribution through technologies similar to YouTube.

And in case it's not obvious: corporations aren't people and money isn't speech. The effects of the ineptly argued and wrongly decided Citizens United case must not stand.


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: June 1, 2012 17:57
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