Paul Wellman (file)
Lois Capps
Capps Speaks
Santa Barbara’s Congressmember Talks War, Health Care, and Taxes
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Representative Lois Capps, who plans to run for reelection, sat down with Capitol Letters to discuss what are likely to be some big issues in 2012. Here is a transcript of the interview, edited for space.
Why are we in Afghanistan? You can’t ask that question today without having it framed by [the September 11 attacks].
… Wars are fought for countries, aren’t they? Or for property, for land, or even over issues that have land at its base, like our Civil War was over an idea. But it turned out to be geographic in the way it was carried out. But to fight a war on terrorism, that’s the challenging piece. And yet we all, we had to do something, and that’s what we did, where now it’s carried over into Yemen because that’s where Al Qaeda seems to have a nucleus. And so we’re probably going to be engaged there, too, more and more … but recognizing that we’ve just about crossed the line in whether we can afford it, both in terms of lives and treasure.
Capitol Letters
Are you concerned about . . . why exactly we’re in Libya? Do I think we should be there? Yes, I do. In the limited way. I supported not allowing ground troops. But this is a partnership, and we depend on that same partnership in Afghanistan. And it was NATO who went in, and, as a partner to NATO, I don’t think we have the luxury of picking and choosing.
What do you think of the Republican plan to change Medicare? It really just ends Medicare. … It’s a huge issue. And I believe that’s the distinction on the budget that is very significant between the two parties.
What about means testing? I believe that’s going to have to be discussed, and if we can get ourselves some breathing space, I believe the American people are interested in considering that.
When you’re in the district, what do people say is a bigger problem — the need for stimulating the economy more or bringing down the debt? Hugely in favor of more job stimulus. Very few people in the district — no one’s come up to me and said, “I’m really, really freaked out about the deficit.”
Is there a chance for another stimulus? No, and that’s really a shame. We need anything that can be done by the government now to pump more money into the economy.
Do you think Republicans genuinely believe that austerity at this point will stimulate the economy, or do you think . . . they just want to oppose anything Obama does? It feels to me like a fundamental lack of value in the role of federal government in people’s lives. And to the degree that their actions spring from a sort of philosophy that to spend money is anathema almost, it makes you wonder why they signed up to work in [government].
What do you do when you’re in the district? My staff works … to respond to requests from people who want my presence. … But we also know I need to reach out to listen to folks. … And rather than having just an open-house town-hall meeting — which we have learned has some downsides to it, because two or three very noisy people can really tie up an afternoon or evening — I go to a place … and we’ll have a little discussion, and we’ll make a point to listen to stakeholders throughout the district.
What is the Republican’s motivation (in cutting money for) Planned Parenthood? Reopening of the culture wars. … It’s a religious policy. If abortion is evil, or a sin, according to one’s religious faith, it gives an opportunity to have that played out within the policy. … The attack on women by this new majority is really astounding.
When you hear people say “We pay too many taxes,” do you think that people just are unaware of what the services are? They don’t see. We choose not to. I mean taxes are an onerous word, but … we’re paying for services, aren’t we? We’d be really upset if we went to open the door of the library, and it didn’t open … If we call 9-1-1, and nobody answered — pretty upset. … But do we want to pay for it? … There’s such a discrediting of public service, isn’t there?
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Comments
How about speaking about breaking your promise to run for only 2 terms. Power corrupts, doesn't it?
JohnLocke (anonymous profile)
June 24, 2011 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congresswoman, are you telling the truth? You haven't heard anyone in our district express concern about our deficit? I'm "really really freaked out" by the deficit, and so are my friends and family.
Please explain why we can't put all the money we spend on "anti-terror" wars around the world to secure our ports, our airports, our borders....our country. That would provide jobs and do a much better job keeping us safe here. Let's nation build here at home.
Close the library? Is that what you decide in Congress? Our federal "services" only expand -- supposedly broke universities continue to build, school meal programs and summer programs expand, clinic services expand. When people question expansive and expensive govt programs, the poor old library gets trotted out again.
You're proud of expanding health care and dental care to all the uncovered children in our district, but propose means-testing for Medicare. Make everyone pay something for their healthcare - that's fair. If you can't afford a kid or aren't willing to parent your child, don't have one. Doesn't that just make sense?
greenkat (anonymous profile)
June 24, 2011 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"but recognizing that we’ve just about crossed the line in whether we can afford it, both in terms of lives and treasure."
Lives...how many is too many? One life, 1,000,000 lives? When you go to war, that's what happens, people die and we lose money. So here we are, being told how we're going to make life better for these people halfway around the world when our government can't even deal with the war zones that exist in our own inner-cities. So what's next?...Iran, Saudi Arabia?...(Fill in the blank with any Muslim country) God forbid should I tell the truth but maybe it will occur to some people that there was a genesis to the "war on terror". When I was a kid, we didn't even think about Islamic countries or their representatives attacking us, but now we just accept it. My grandparents figured it out about 110 years ago when they left that part of the world (As Assyrian/Christians they weren't treated very kindly) to come over here and become Americans, and the way I feel is that as politically incorrect as this is for me to say, they have their way of life, we have ours, and let's pull out of there and let them deal with their problems. Let's also get out of the Israeli-Muslim conflict.
We've been at this game way too long and we aren't getting anywhere. As George Washington said in his farewell address: "Beware of foreign entanglments". Oh and yes, what about that campaign promise?
billclausen (anonymous profile)
June 24, 2011 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"And to the degree that their actions spring from a sort of philosophy that to spend money is anathema almost, it makes you wonder why they signed up to work in [government]."
I suppose this sums up Representative Capps' views on the purpose of government and government service. Its all about spending money, nothing more. Great gobs of other people's money in fact. If you have a qualm or a doubt about spending great gobs of other people's money, you just don't belong in government because that's the only thing its about ... spending (other people's) money.
Maldonado just got my vote.
OldDawg (anonymous profile)
June 25, 2011 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)