Westside Reader June 16

WR June 16_Layout 1 5/29/16 12:25 PM Page 22
22 • THE Reader
U.S. House of Representatives District 25
Incumbent Knight faces three challengers in Caforio, Moffett, Vince
June 2016
Dysfunction in Washington
is hurting real people
and we need a
change. I’m running for Congress
because it’s time to build
an economy that works for
everyone, not just the wealthy
few. It’s time to provide a firstclass
education to our children,
create good middle-class
jobs, and strengthen and secure
Social Security and
Medicare for seniors. We deserve
a progressive leader in
Congress who will fight for
our community instead of giving
handouts to the biggest
Bryan Caforio
banks and the wealthiest corporations.
My parents were school teachers and they
taught me the value of hard work and the opportunities
that come from a great public education.
I worked hard and was able to attend
UCLA, work for a United States judge, and
take on some of the biggest banks in the
world.
But today, it’s tougher to get ahead. Too
many people are struggling to get by because
Washington Republicans have stacked the
deck against them. Public school funding is
getting slashed, and people are working
longer hours for less money. At the same
time, billion-dollar companies take tax
breaks for exporting jobs overseas at the expense
of middle class taxpayers. That’s
wrong, and I won’t stand for it.
I’ve made a career out of taking on big corporations
and winning. I’m proud to have the
support of Nurses, School Employees, and
Planned Parenthood, and I look forward to
standing up for the people in our community
to help families get ahead.
I hope to earn your vote.
[The Reader invited the candidates to answer
questions and submit a statement.]
1. Polls show most voters don't think
government works. What would you do to
FIX the underlying structures and systems
that seem to be broken?
Far to often, career politicians say one
thing, and then vote another way. When Congressman
Steve Knight says he thinks that
“social security was a bad idea” and supports
privatizing the program, but then one day
later says he is a fan of Social
Security, it really upsets people.
You can read my plan on
WWW.BRYANCAFORIO.COM
and see how I plan to address
challenges facing our
community.
2. Do you think eliminating
obsolete laws, regulations
and bureaucracies
would help to reduce the
Federal budget deficit by
cutting waste and saving
time? And if so, how would
you do it?
Yes. It is important that we
remove regulations, which
often harm small businesses, the backbone of
our economy. We need to expand the Small
Business Administration loan program to
allow growing businesses the opportunity to
access capital. We also need to fully staff, fund
and expand the Small Business Development
Centers in our district, which provide essential
services to beginning companies and
small businesses.
3. What do you see at the most important
issue facing the 25th District?
We have to create and keep good paying
middle-class jobs. We have to invest in clean
energy infrastructure, and provide expanded
STEM and Vocational training, so that we can
create and keep 21st century jobs here in the
25th District.
4. What are your 3 main goals?
1. Protect Social Security and Medicare
2. Guarantee Equal Pay for Women
3. Raise the National Minimum Wage
5. As a representative of the 25th District,
what can you do for Santa Clarita?
Throughout my career, seen a system in
which far too many banks and corporations
take advantage of the customers they’re supposed
to serve – either because they know
they won’t get caught, or, even worse, because
career politicians have written the
rules to let the corporate special interests get
richer at the expense of the middle class. In
Congress I will fight against those extreme
special interests and stand up for hardworking
people in our community.
Vote
June 7th
My career has been
characterized by my
dedication to personal
integrity and public
service. Upon graduating
from high school, I served in
the U.S. Army, where I was
stationed overseas — returning
home to embark on a career
with the Los Angeles
Police Department. I proudly
wore a law enforcement uniform
for 18 years, working to
keep local families and neighborhoods
safe, before retiring
honorably to serve in the
State Assembly.
Like my father before me, I
have worked to halt government overreach,
stand up for the taxpayers and small business
owners of my district, and keep our communities
free from crime. As your Assemblyman,
I fought to stop tax increases and job-killing
regulations. As your State Senator, it was my
pleasure to work hard and craft commonsense
policies that rewarded small businesses
for hiring local workers, streamlining
property tax exemptions for disabled veterans,
and providing tax credits for Californiabased
aerospace projects. Today, I have the
honor of serving as your voice in Congress –
speaking for local working families, small
business owners, and residents.
In my first year in Congress, I authored H.R.
1390, the Small Business Joint Venturing Act,
which gives American small businesses a fair
shot at competing for federal contracts. This
bill garnered overwhelming bipartisan support
and was signed into law by the President
last year. Additionally, I have been vocal in my
support for federal drought relief for California’s
struggling farmers and ranchers, and
have stood by my support for the aerospace
companies across the Antelope Valley.
I am proud to represent the 25th Congressional
District, and the communities that
make up the Antelope, Santa Clarita, and Simi
Valleys. We’ve accomplished a lot, and I want
to continue working for you in Washington,
D.C. I ask for your support, so we can continue
to improve our quality of life.
[The Reader invited the candidates to answer
questions and submit a statement.]
1. Polls show most voters don't think government
works. What would you do to FIX
the underlying structures and systems that
seem to be broken?
It’s critical that residents feel that their
government exists to serve them – not the
other way around. Increasing voter efficacy
starts with their elected leaders. Too many of
our representatives fail to put their constituents’
priorities first; voters must feel that
their voices are heard in Congress. I’m proud
to fight for my constituents every day – crafting
policies that help keep our local communities
safe, create local jobs, and rebuild our
middle class in California.
2. Do you think eliminating obsolete
laws, regulations and bureaucracies would
help to reduce the Federal budget deficit
by cutting waste and saving time? And if so,
how would you do it?
There is no doubt that our country, and
state, are bogged down by the weight of over-
Rep. Steve Knight
regulation. Arbitrary, restrictive
laws choke employers as
well as new jobs in red tape —
and this affects small businesses
the most. Small businesses
provide job
opportunities for over half of
all American workers, and yet
these businesses continue to
be subjected to endless fees,
tax increases, and an un-navigable
regulatory system. If
California doesn’t start supporting
its small businesses,
the backbone of its community,
California’s economy will
crumble.
3. What do you see at the most important
issue facing the 25th District?
Increasing job opportunities and economic
growth for the residents of the 25th
District is one of the most important things I
can fight for in Washington. California mires
local employers in regulations, and Sacramento
continually levies new taxes on job
creators every year. We need to ensure that
there are new jobs available for residents and
new companies to create new jobs; let’s
make our region competitive for years to
come. This, in turn, will ensure the local tax
base is broadened each year and critical
services — including fire, police, and medical
services — receive the proper funding to
keep us safe.
4. What are your 3 main goals?
1. National Security: The primary responsibility
of our federal government is national
defense. We must ensure our leadership in
the global community by showing our allies
that we are with them and our enemies that
we our capable.
2. Debt & Deficit: If allowed to grow at its
current rate, our budget shortfall will soon
cripple our economy and jeopardize our nation’s
future. Congress must embrace fiscal
responsibility and discipline by eliminating
the deficit and starting to pay down our debt
within this decade.
3. Jobs & the Economy: Overregulation,
ever-increasing taxes, and government overreach
have stifled job creation over the last 8
years, causing our middle class to suffer. I engaged
with the businesses in our community,
large and small, to create an environment in
which they can create jobs and restore our
economy.
5. As a representative of the 25th District,
what can you do for Santa Clarita?
I have represented the residents of Santa
Clarita as a State Senator, and I continue to
do so as their Congressman. My dedication
to the region and its families has not, and will
not change. I am the most qualified and dedicated
person for the job and will never stop
providing a voice for our communities.
Over the last two years in Washington, I’ve
made our local issues a priority. I have introduced
legislation to create a monument for
St. Francis Dam, helped to advance longstanding
efforts to clean the Eastern Santa
Clara River Basin and provide fresh water to
the Santa Clarita Valley, and worked extensively
to ensure that Cemex's mining contracts
were cancelled.