 |
|
|
|
| Dan McDonald, Republican |
| |
| Candidate: U.S. Representative, District 1 |
| |
| Age: 56 |
| |
| Residence: Bellevue |
| |
| Occupation: Engineer |
| |
| Education: |
| |
B.S. in mechanical engineering, M.A. in economics, University of Washington |
| |
| Political history: |
| |
State representative, 1979-83; state senator, 1984-present; chairman, Ways and Means Committee, 1988-92; minority leader, 1995-96, 1999; majority leader, 1997-98 |
| |
| Endorsements: |
| |
National Federation of Independent Businesses, The 60 Plus Association (senior), Seattle-King County Association of Realtors |
| |
| Campaign Web site: www.mcdonaldforcongress.com |
| |
| Campaign theme: No response. |
| |
|
| |
| 1. |
Should Congress act to lower the cost of prescription drugs? If so, should Congress create a Medicare drug benefit? |
|
| |
I will fight for a balanced budget that strengthens the current Medicare system while adding a prescription-drug benefit. I support efforts to protect consumers from unfair HMO regulations and believe Washington's seniors, not the federal government, should make critical health-care decisions. |
| |
| 2. |
Should the Snake River dams be torn down and timber harvests limited to protect endangered species? |
|
| |
I do not consider removing dams as the solution to restoring salmon runs on the Snake River. Dam removal would cost more than $300 million, eliminate 3.6 million acres of irrigated agriculture, add over 700,000 trucks per year to area highways and eliminate a major source of clean energy -- with no guarantee of salmon recovery. |
| |
| 3. |
Should new laws be enacted to prevent businesses from sharing consumers' personal information? |
|
| |
I strongly support efforts to protect the privacy rights of individual citizens. |
| |
| 4. |
Are the nation's gun laws too restrictive, too lenient or appropriate as they are? |
|
| |
I support the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while recognizing the need for tougher, more effective laws to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children. I support instant background checks at gun shows, tougher enforcement of existing laws, aggressive prosecutions of gun crimes and the ban on automatic weapons. |
| |
| 5. |
Should America be trading with China and/or Cuba? Why? |
|
| |
I support free-trade and international-trade agreements including NAFTA, GATT, granting permanent normal trade relations with China and lifting the sanctions for food and medicine against Cuba. In Congress I'll work with state and local business and agriculture interests to promote Washington products and technology around the world. |
| |
| 6. |
Do you favor or oppose access to abortion? Should the president appoint justices who oppose abortion rights? |
|
| |
I oppose abortion except in the cases of rape, incest and to protect the mother's life. While I strongly support a ban on partial-birth abortion, I oppose a constitutional amendment banning all abortion and believe that America should focus its efforts on promoting adoption and creating a culture that honors life. |
| |
| 7. |
Should the government pay to give school vouchers to parents who choose to send their children to private schools? |
|
| |
I believe in reforming education to give every child the opportunity to learn and succeed. I support initiatives enabling low-income parents of students trapped in consistently failing schools the opportunity to transfer their children to another public school, or use a portion of federal funding to choose a charter school or tutoring program. |
| |
| 8. |
Is there any project in Washington that deserves more federal support? How would you secure that funding? |
|
| |
I will fight for a balanced budget that strengthens Social Security, reforms Medicare and provides tax relief for working families. Whether it's funding for Puget Sound's transportation needs or salmon-restoration efforts, I will work to ensure that wise investments are made in local priorities like higher education, transportation and conservation programs. |
| |
| 9. |
What should Congress do to shore up Social Security? |
|
| |
I believe the Social Security Trust Fund should be used only for Social Security and should not be used to fund other government programs. In Congress, I will oppose changes or cuts in benefits for current retirees and those nearing retirement to help honor the promise for this generation and the next. |
| |
| 10. |
How would you extend healthcare coverage to more Americans? |
|
| |
I believe we must create tax incentives for small business and the self-employed to purchase health insurance, expand Medical Savings Accounts and continue to support and promote the federal children's health insurance. As a state senator, I supported a bipartisan "Patients Bill of Rights" protecting consumers from unfair HMO regulations. |
|
