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By Michael Howard
February 7, 2024 (San Diego, CA) - The 2024 California March Primaries ballot are in the mailboxes of many voters, including the residents of the 48th Congressional District, where the Republican incumbent Darrell Issa is vying for his second term.
Issa has been in San Diego politics since 1998 when he ran for the U.S. Senate and lost to Matt Fong during the primaries. In 2000, he won the District 49 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and has also served in the same capacity for districts 48 and 50 in the ensuing years.
As the incumbent for District 48, Issa votes primarily along conservative lines, achieving a minimum of 82% or higher with most conservative political organizations such as the American Conservative Union, Christian Action Network, and Heritage Action for America. Conversely, his votes received
zero to only 13% ratings with liberal organizations such as Americans for Democratic Action, Freedom Democrats, and Radical Middle.
Issa faces five candidates across the political spectrum this election, including four Democrats and a no-party-preference candidate. Three of the five are candidates he beat in the 2022 election for his current seat, the other two are first-time contenders. The top two in the March 5 primary will advance to a November runoff race.
Stephen Houlahan (D) was the closest contender in 2022, whom Issa beat in the general election by a 20% margin. Matthew Rascon (D) lost to Issa during the primaries with 9.1% of the votes along with the no-party-preference candidate Lucinda KWH Jahn with only 1.6% of the votes. Two new contenders this year are Mike Simon (D) and Whitney Shanahan (D).
Photo: The four candidates who participated in our questionnaire; top left to lower right, Democrats Stephen Houlahan,Mike Simonand Whiney Shanahan, and decline-to-state party candidates Lucinda KWH Jahn.
East County Magazine reached out to all candidates asking them to answer questions about the economy, immigration, healthcare, democracy, the Israel-Hammas and Russia-Ukraine wars, social security, and more. Four of the six candidates submitted their answers, which we have included in this article. Phone calls and emails to Congressman Issa and Matthew Rascon were not successful in obtaining answers to these questions.
Here are the questions and answers from the candidates:
What are your key qualifications and goals, if elected, to benefit your constituents?
Mike Simon
I am a Stanford graduate with degrees in engineering, economics, and political science. I began my career with NASA in Washington DC and relocated to San Diego in 1982 to work for General Dynamics. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, I was a pioneer in advocating commercial space ventures. I left General Dynamics and moved to Escondido in 1993. Since then, I have founded and led three successful startup companies, all focused on developing clean transportation and energy technologies. My companies have accelerated the conversion of large trucks and buses to zero-emission hydrogen and battery-based technologies, and have created hundreds of high-wage jobs in District 48 and nearby communities. Over a career spanning 44 years, mostly as a federal government contractor, I have gained tremendous insights into how the federal government works. I know from first-hand experience what the government does well and what it does poorly, so I can make prudent decisions on how to prioritize government expenditures and eliminate wasteful spending. I have also demonstrated the ability to bring people with different viewpoints together to achieve a consensus, which will help me reduce the polarization in Congress and bring both Democrats and Republicans together to do the people's work. Immediately upon taking office, I will propose balanced solutions to our most pressing problems that will appeal to every rational thinker in Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. Together, we will make smart investments to protect Social Security, develop new energy resources, reform immigration, combat the opioid crisis, defend democracy at home and abroad, and bring our fiscal house in order.
Stephen Houlahan
As a former Santee City Council Member, I have over 25 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse specializing in Critical Care, having graduated from San Diego State Universities School of Nursing in 1998 and the University of San Diego in 2003 with master’s degrees in nursing and business. In 2010 I became the President of the environmental group “Save Mission Trails”. This group’s focus is to protect Mission Trails Regional Park, California’s largest urban park, from encroachment. In 2014, Save Mission Trails successfully led the bipartisan effort to stop the Quail Brush Fossil Fuel Power Plant from being built adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park. Additionally, in 2016, I successfully led the effort to achieve “Scenic Highway” designation for State Route-52 from Mast Blvd to Santo Rd, through beautiful Mission Trails Regional Park.
I was elected to the Santee City Council during the 2016 General Election. In 2018 I thwarted the attempt construction of a fracked liquefied natural gas pipeline through San Diego labeled the “Rainbow to Mission Valley Pipeline Project”, stopping yet another unnecessary climate change inducing fossil fuel infrastructure project. I proudly served as the Vice Mayor of Santee in 2019. During my 4 years on the Santee City Council, I served as a voting member of the San Diego River Conservancy, Mission Trails Taskforce, Goodan Ranch Advisory Committee, and the Santee Fire Fighter/Paramedic County Service Agreement (CSA-69). Additionally, I led the effort and qualified successful ballot measures that brought Term Limits to the Santee Mayor and City Council as well as the Santee General Plan Protection Initiative.
In 2022, I was the CADEM Endorsed Democratic Party Nominee running for United States Representative California District 48 receiving over 100,000 votes. Once again, I am the 2024 CADEM Endorsed Democratic Candidate running for United States Representative California District 48. All the while, I have coached baseball at West Hills Little League and soccer for American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). I am a homeowner, happy husband, and proud father.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
My integrity, and principles are not up for sale. I am the “Zero Donate Candidate,” for a reason. Special interest groups and other organizations do not influence my decision-making, since I refuse to accept money from them. I am free to make data driven decisions in the best interests of my constituency. All of them, not just some of them. I know some will not be happy with my decisions and some will disagree with my decisions, however, in the interest of intellectual honesty, you must be open to entertaining more than one point of view. You must balance the needs of the entire group, not just some of them. It is the same balancing act families do every day.
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan is a mother, reproductive rights advocate, and democrat running for Congressional district 48. She lives in Fallbrook with her husband who is from Ramona, her 4 year old son and their cat, dogs and pigs. Her main goals when elected will be getting nationwide freedom to reproductive rights and making it affordable to raise a family. As a mother, she knows how hard it is to budget groceries, gas and childcare - and will work to make sure our families are represented in Congress. It's time we have real representation and not just another out of touch millionaire.
Many voters are concerned that democracy is at stake in this election. Some voice fears over authoritarianism and efforts to subvert vote counting during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, while others raise concerns over voting fraud, for example. What steps if any do you believe are needed to protect our democratic form of government, and will you commit to certify votes cast by legitimate electors in the upcoming presidential election?
Mike Simon
I am extremely concerned about the recent surge of authoritarian forces in our country, and I will absolutely commit to certify votes cast by legitimate electors in every presidential election. I am a champion of assuring voting rights for all law-abiding American citizens, and making the ballot accessible to everyone, regardless of race, religion, age, or income status. I will fight to preserve citizens' rights to early voting and mail-in ballots to make voting easier and to maximize voter turnout. I will fight against laws that seek to restrict voter participation, such as draconian voter ID laws that tend to disenfranchise citizens from under-represented groups. I will speak out vociferously against political and media leaders who spread election lies or who seek to undermine confidence in our elections with unfounded claims. I will seek to protect election workers from reprisals from disgruntled losing candidates and their followers by passing stricter laws against harassing such workers. I will support initiatives to increase voter turnout among young people, such as by advocating improvements in the civics education received by high school students and programs to maximize voter registration and turnout on college campuses.
Stephen Houlahan
Voters should be concerned because free and fair elections are fundamental to our democracy. Our former president refused to accept the results of the 2020 election. Many people came to believe his lies about voter fraud. We seem to have forgotten that we are all Americans, and instead define ourselves by political party. But there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. On the other hand, there is ample evidence of attempted voter suppression. Gerrymandering and restrictions on voting opportunities mean that many people either can’t vote, or they vote in elections that don’t really matter. To end the controversy over voting we need national standards for federal elections ensuring that only Americans can vote, but every American can vote.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
I heard Margaret Thatcher say in a presentation at Arizona State University, democracy must be earned anew by each generation. It is now our responsibility to do the work of maintaining our democracy. I am not overly concerned about voter fraud. Our elections are administered by the states, and county registrars of voters. It is a decentralized system, making it logistically difficult to subvert. A candidate for a national office, such as the presidency, would have to perpetrate this fraud across 50 states and 3,143 counties. My understanding is most cases of voter fraud being successful are in local elections for local offices. There are other issues that need addressed. The electoral college process needs to be re-evaluated. January 6th was an attempt to subvert the electoral college process, not the count of the popular vote. I will work with the system until we can make the necessary changes to make our country, “a more perfect union.” If you would like to learn more about how voting works in our country look at the links posted below.
https://www.usa.gov/voting-and-elections
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections
https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/provisions#:~:text=The%20elec...
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan is a strong supporter of the democratic process. She will hold MAGA extremists and insurrectionists accountable and will carry out and respect the will of the people and our democratic process.
Healthcare is an issue with rising healthcare and prescription drug costs. How will you improve accessibility to healthcare for your constituents?
Mike Simon
I am a strong advocate of reducing healthcare and prescription drug costs, and will use my formal training in economics to address the root causes of these escalating costs, while also preserving individual choice when it comes to selecting healthcare options and providers. I will address the shortage of trained physicians and nurses by providing federal incentives for more young people to enter the medical profession. In exchange, I will ask doctors and nurses who complete their education with federal aid to serve in clinics for 2-4 years where low-cost medical services can be provided. I will advocate reducing barriers to approval of new prescription drugs so it takes less time and money to bring new drugs to market, thereby reducing the need for "Big Pharma" to jack up drug prices to recover development and approval costs. I advocate simplifying government insurance regulations to reduce "red tape" and the costs of all the administrative people who jack up medical costs while providing little value-added. I support federal negotiation of drug costs to bring costs down to the levels paid in other countries. I believe expansion of Medicare should be studied but that the overall cost of delivering health care to the federal government should be reduced by pursuing the strategies I've outlined above.
Stephen Houlahan
I support increasing accessibility to affordable health care in principle, but I find it problematic that simply subsidizing health insurance won’t reduce the cost of health care. It will just shift the burden of high costs from patients to taxpayers. The real problem is that health insurance is expensive because we have, by far, the world’s most expensive health care system. A well-thought-out public option, however, would increase transparency in pricing medical care, allow negotiation with medical and pharmaceutical providers, and reduce administrative costs. A public option could be a carrot, enticing people to move from their current insurance to the public option because it provides as good, or better, care at lower cost. But a public option won’t solve all the problems. One estimate noted that cutting all pharmaceutical prices in half and eliminating all profits on health insurance would cut the gap between our spending and other comparable countries by less than 25 percent. The problem is greater than just Big Pharma and greedy insurance companies. As a nurse with a master’s degree in business administration, I am committed to working in Congress to explore every feasible method of improving health care for all Americans.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
Firstly, a distinction must be made between healthcare, the services provided by your doctor, surgeon, nurse, or any other practitioner, and health insurance. Insurance is a financial product. Your health insurance policy does not actually make your doctor a more skilled practitioner. What we have in this country is not a discussion about improving the quality and availability of care. We are arguing over who is going to pay for it. Our system for paying for healthcare in this country is a complicated tapestry of insurance contracts, that is what your policy is, marketing middlemen (PPO’s, etc.) and, governmental payors (Medicare and Medicaid). How many of us have had to argue with our insurance company over coverage? The whole health insurance industry lacks transparency and our legislators in the House and Senate are not holding them accountable to the American people. The first step to improving accessibility to healthcare for my constituents is to take a hard look at what the barriers really are. Here are some links for more information.
https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mph-modules/hpm/americanhealthcare_payin...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5394555/
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan knows first hand how hard it can be to cover medical costs, especially those related to pregnancy. She believes healthcare is a human right and should be affordable and accessible to all families.
Women's health has risen to the forefront by virtue of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, causing a significant cadre of women to believe reproductive health, maternal health and sexually transmitted disease health are at risk due to the impact of this case. What would you say to this group of women?
Mike Simon
I would say to these women that I was opposed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and that I support national legislation supporting women's reproductive rights. I also support expansion of federal assistance to states to provide preventive care and birth control to minimize unwanted pregnancies, complications from pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. I do not believe it is a contradiction to be both "pro choice" and "pro life." We can work together as a society to make sure abortion is a last resort and to curtail late-term abortions, while also preserving every woman's fundamental right to choose.
Stephen Houlahan
Women’s reproductive choices and the moral beliefs that inform them are theirs to make and theirs alone. Allowing individual state governments to legislate women’s reproductive choices and religious beliefs is an assault on women’s freedom to make personal decisions about their own bodies. Aside from its blatant unconstitutionality, applying differing state laws to women’s reproductive health causes confusion for health care providers, especially in emergencies. State restrictions on women’s reproductive choices or complete elimination of abortion has caused a reversion to pre-Roe conditions. During that era, many women and girls paid the price with their lives. These life-or-death decisions should be made by doctor and patient, not state legislatures.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
Fundamentally, I am pro-choice. It is a difficult decision to make, and I am quite sure, most women take it very seriously. However, the word, “abortion,” is not in the Constitution. The right to an abortion argument is inferred, or rather an interpretation of constitutional amendments, not explicitly stated. The Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision of the Supreme Court states, “Held: The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.” The Supreme Court returned the authority to make laws about abortion to the states. The work to ensure the right to reproductive care is now at the state level. If we want to be successful in the struggle to establish our reproductive rights, start with your state representatives. We now have better information about human biology and reproduction than ever before in human history. It is time we used that information to make better and more compassionate decisions about abortion. We are going to have to accept responsibility for making educated and informed decisions about a very emotional issue. The link below will take you to the Supreme Court opinion in the Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/597us1r58_gebh.pdf
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan is a nationwide reproductive rights advocate that has spent the last 5 years advocating for women's rights and access to healthcare. As a mother, she knows that there is no one best to make decisions than the women of this country when it comes to healthcare decisions about their bodies. She firmly believes that there is no room for politicians in the doctors office and women should be trusted to make their own medical decisions and have the freedom to do so. She will make ensuring women in all 50 states get back the rights we had under Roe v Wade her top priority and block all efforts of Republicans to put in a nationwide ban.
Immigration is not only a national issue, it is a local issue for San Diegans. What is your position on immigration, and what are your plans to address immigration issues?
Mike Simon
I propose a three-pronged approach to dealing with the immigration crisis. Step 1 would be to strengthen border security to dramatically reduce the number of people entering this country illegally. I would achieve this by hiring more border security personnel, increasing video surveillance in border regions, and erecting better physical barriers where this is practical. I would also communicate unequivocally that anyone entering the U.S. illegally will be deported. Step 2 would be to expand pathways for deserving individuals and families to gain legal resident status in the U.S. This would involve providing amnesty for all "Dreamers" who were born in the U.S. and who have obeyed the law and made positive contributions to our society. I would also increase legal immigration quotas from selected countries and in selected fields to attract more skilled workers to the U.S., especially in critical fields such as science and engineering. Step 3 would be to undertake a long-term program to assist other nations in addressing the internal issues within their countries that motivate their citizens to come to the U.S. illegally. One creative solution I would explore is nationally decriminalizing certain drug laws and regulating manufacturing and distribution of drugs in the U.S., which could reduce demand for illegal street drugs and make it less profitable to smuggle drugs into the U.S. illegally.
Stephen Houlahan
We are a nation of immigrants, but our system is overwhelmed by the number of people seeking to come here. Congress needs to stop treating immigration as a political issue and begin crafting a solution that works for people who want to come here, for people who are already here, and for businesses that need people to come here. In the short term the federal government must fund the cost of caring for people while their immigration status is resolved and expand the system so immigration status can be resolved quickly. In the long term, we need to work with our neighbors to address the root causes of immigration –political instability, lack of economic opportunity, and violence in their home countries.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
Our border should be regulated. I am not against legal immigration. Our asylum laws are being exploited. People are fleeing oppression, violence, and poverty. I do not think all of them are being persecuted for their social, political, or religious beliefs. Words matter and definitions matter. Why are the countries these people are fleeing from not able to build functional civil societies? The social problems of humanity are not going to be solved by a change of address. It’s ugly, brutal, and sad, I know. There is no easy fix. The American people cannot economically support migration at the current scale. The links below will take you to the Customs and Border Control website, where you can learn more about what is going on.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/accountability-and-transparency
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan supports simplifying pathways to citizenship. She believes that all humans deserve dignity and safety. She will work to ensure families are no longer separated and that women and children entering this country are safe.
Do you believe we should continue to support Ukraine with weapons, money, and aide? What is your position on the Russia's war on Ukraine and the U.S. involvement in it?
Mike Simon
I believe we should continue to actively support Ukraine with weapons, money, and aid -- with the caveat that I would require Ukraine to cooperate with the U.S. to control and monitor the flow of U.S. financial aid to make sure it is used as intended. I believe history has shown that when aggression such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine goes unchallenged, it only encourages the aggressor to expand its violation of other nations' sovereignty. In the years leading up to World War II, isolationists in the U.S. and appeasers in Europe made the mistake of failing to fight Nazi Germany's initial incursions into neighboring countries, and the results were catastrophic. The lesson of history is that it is less costly, in the long run, to counter aggression early on than to sit by passively and allow it to fester. Russia's current leadership has made no secret of its expansionist ambitions and its desire to restore vestiges of the old Soviet Union. This behavior must be strongly discouraged. At the same time, I would offer Russia incentives to adopt a more peaceful stance, such as offering to expand trade and cultural ties. We are not natural enemies of the Russian people, and if we put enough pressure on their leadership to cooperate with the U.S. and Europe, a lasting peace is possible.
Stephen Houlahan
Stopping Putin’s aggression against a peaceful neighbor is vital to our national security. We learned from World War II that appeasing dictators never works, it just makes them bolder and more aggressive. We also learned that the oceans bordering our country are no barrier to modern warfare. If Putin’s aggression is not checked now, it will inevitably draw us into more wars and more spending in the future. We should always be open to negotiating a peaceful end to this war, but for now, supporting Ukraine is a necessary investment in our future.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
The United States and NATO missed the opportunity to demonstrate cohesion and strength when Vladamir Putin amassed 150,000 troops along the border of Belarus and Ukraine. NATO, the United States, and European countries not signatories to NATO, did nothing to deter Russia and now we must bear an even greater cost, both in the lives of Ukrainians and in economic and military assistance. Continued support of Ukraine in this fight is a shared responsibility of the free world, and we should do our part.
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan will support our allies and believes we should work to end all conflicts with proportional response. She strongly supports our service members and veterans.
Please share with us your position on the Israel-Hamas war and what you believe should be done to resolve it.
Mike Simon
I believe that the Hamas actions that precipitated the current conflict on October 7, 2023 were absolutely horrific and that these terrorist crimes left Israel no choice but to act forcefully to prevent similar actions in the future. Had Israel responded with a purely peaceful initiative and any kinds of concessions in an effort to prevent future hostilities, this would only have rewarded Hamas and its Palestinian and Iranian supporters for a blatantly genocidal rampage. That said, my broader position on the Israel-Hamas war is that both sides in the conflict bear some responsibility for the current situation and that the Israelis and Palestinians both need to make fundamental changes in their attitudes and policies if there is ever to be a lasting peace in the region. Israelis and Palestinians both have a shared right to live peacefully in the region and the only ways to achieve this are via either a two-state solution or formation of a single, pluralistic state that protects the rights of all citizens, regardless of race or religious views. Unfortunately, I believe there are nationalist and religious extremists on both sides that are making this kind of progress impossible. I would use U.S. military and financial aid to strengthen the positions of moderate voices in the region and would offer to moderate comprehensive peace negotiations, thereby marginalizing terrorist organizations like Hamas and extremists in Israel who want to continue expanding illegal Israeli settlements, both of which I believe are out of step with the desires of the vast majority of the population in that region.
Stephen Houlahan
Real security for Israel will only come when it is at peace with its’ neighbors. In the long term there must be a two-state solution so both Israelis and Palestinians are secure. In the short term we should support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself. Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel, so Hamas cannot be a partner for peace. We should encourage other Palestinian organizations in Gaza. We must also recognize that indiscriminately killing civilians doesn’t defend Israel, it just leads to more enemies. Providing food, water, medical aid, and safe spaces to civilians in the Gaza strip must be a priority.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
The people of Israel have the right to defend themselves. The Hamas Covenant of 1988 states, “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it" (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory).” Any religious or political entity should be judged by their words and actions. It is not possible to negotiate with irrational actors. This is a religious doctrine being used to justify a political movement. The Hamas Covenant of 1988 is an affront to religious freedom and basic human rights. The people of Palestine are paying the price of supporting Hamas, while the leaders of the movement are living billionaire lifestyles in Quatar according to several media reports. Check out the links below for more information.
https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-road-to-october-7-hamas-long-game-clarified/
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan is strongly against antisemitism and Islamaphobia, which have both surged after recent conflicts. She will always work for peace and to end the needless killing of innocent civilians on both sides.
Where do you stand on climate change? Is it a priority? What is government's role? What do you plan to do to address it, if anything?
Mike Simon
I believe climate change is real and that it is a critical issue facing our planet. I have devoted most of my career to developing clean energy and transportation technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I believe the federal government has a vital role in continuing to fund R&D to provide as many options as possible to combat climate change. I would utilize my expertise in this field to make sure the government makes the smartest possible energy and transportation investments. I support continuation of funding for new battery technologies, along with federal support for extraction of the large amounts of lithium recently discovered in the area surrounding the Salton Sea. I support continued funding for electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, along with continuation of tax incentives for purchases of zero-emission vehicles. I also support increased funding for nuclear technology, including advanced reactors that can use Thorium as a fuel. Thorium has the potential to generate tremendous amounts of energy without many of the dangers presented by continued use of Uranium and Plutonium. I also support continued development of nuclear fusion technology. I support investments in novel transportation technologies such as use of magnetic levitation ("maglev") and other linear motor-based technologies for high-speed rail transport. I also believe it is important to continue making the most of our existing fossil fuel reserves while to maintain energy independence and to keep energy prices low during this transition, but that we must eventually wean ourselves away from fossil fuels because it is a finite resource, as well as one that contributes to climate change. I support government funding to retrain workers in the fossil fuel industry who are displaced by our energy transition. Finally, I would work closely with China, India, and other nations that are large producers of greenhouse gases, to make sure the U.S. isn't the only major country investing heavily to address climate change.
Stephen Houlahan
Climate change is real and is costing us billions of dollars every year. We cannot ignore it. President Biden passed the most comprehensive act addressing climate change ever, but we can do more. Scientists agree the primary cause of climate change is burning fossil fuels for energy. But even if this wasn’t the case, it would not negate the effects of climate change, nor our responsibility as Americans to rise to the challenge. It affects all of us, causing massive wildfires, unprecedented heat waves, storms and destructive floods. No country can address this problem alone, so we must lead an international effort accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to energy sources that don’t emit greenhouse gasses. Congress must invest in researching new technologies, so electric vehicles and energy-saving appliances become more affordable. Subsidies or tax credits may be necessary for consumers to rapidly adopt this new technology. There is a tremendous opportunity for job creation in the energy sector by investing in renewable wind, solar, biofuel and hydrogen energy production, implementing carbon capture technology and modernizing the electric grid so energy can move from where it is sustainably generated to where it is consumed. Tomorrow’s costs of ignoring climate change will vastly exceed today’s costs of reducing greenhouse gases. Spending money to mitigate climate change today is not a cost. It is an investment in our future.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
The Earth’s climate has always changed. The question is, how much of it is due to human activity and how much influence can we have over the causes of climate change. Understanding integrated, adaptive systems is extremely difficult. The scientific method I was taught in school is not up to the task. Climate models are only as good as the data used to create them. There are things we should do just for the sake of the health of our planet and the life that inhabits it. We should continue to work on cleaner energy production, solar, wind, nuclear, and geothermal to name a few. A rigorous evaluation of the trade-offs needs to be done. We cannot live on this planet without using its resources, but we can learn to be better stewards of those resources. There is more than one solution. There is no one size fits all solution to this either. As much as we want it done right now, we are going to have to make incremental changes and give people time to adapt to them. Not all of us have the resources to buy an electric car. Public dialogue without hyperbolic claims of immediate annihilation is a good start. My hope is, as a public official, I can bring some sanity to the conversation.
Whitney Shanahan
As a millennial and mother Whitney Shanahan wants her son and all of our children to have clean and safe air, water and environment. Climate change needs to be addressed within the government while keeping in mind working families. The burden of our environmental issues should be put on big corporations who caused these issues and not our families.
For an aging population, Social Security is a concern with reports the money to fund this benefit will soon run out. How will you address this issue?
Mike Simon
Protecting Social Security will be one of my highest priorities after taking office. To achieve this, I support raising the wage limit subject to Social Security payroll taxes, which is presently set at $168,600. My proposal would create a "donut hole" that would continue to exempt wages slightly above this limit from the Social Security payroll tax, but that would have the payroll tax kick back in on wages above $400,000. I would also increase the Social Security payroll tax rate from 6.2% to 7% on wages above $1 million, 8% on wages above $5 million, and 10% on wages above $10 million. I would also consider imposing a smaller Social Security tax (3-5%) on investment and dividend income above $10 million. My goals would be to assure that there are no reductions in Social Security benefits to individuals with adjusted gross incomes of less than $250,000/year or to married couples with AGIs under $500,000/year. I would consider small reductions in Social Security benefits to retirees with higher incomes, but only if absolutely necessary to maintain the solvency of the system.
Stephen Houlahan
Social security won’t run out of money. When the trust fund is exhausted, forecast to occur in 2037, continuing taxes will fund about 75% of current benefits for the foreseeable future. The claim that some of today’s workers will receive nothing from Social Security is just a lie. But losing 25% of their benefits will be devastating to many retirees. Congress must act by making modest changes to the program, along with small tax increases on the wealthiest Americans, to ensure a dignified old age for all of us.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
I’ll share a personal story with you. I had the rare opportunity to speak with the then Director of Budget Issues of the Government Accounting Office, Paul Posner in 1997. Paul spoke with me for over an hour about the state of the national checkbook. I asked him at one point if the press ever talked to him, he told me they show up, ask a few questions, then say they don't know how to explain the issue in 60 seconds and leave. Granted, it is not a subject to be handled in a 60 second soundbite. He asked me if I had children. I said yes. He asked me if I wanted them to be able to afford to leave home before they were 40 years old. He told me my children could be facing an 84% tax rate if we continued down the fiscal path we were on. I see news stories about how adult children are staying home or returning home in their 30's. I asked him about Social Security, he confirmed my suspicion it was a socialistic mechanism for taking money from young people and giving it to old people. Word on the hill was, it was another case of FDR pulling the wool over congress' eyes. We are leaving our children with an enormous debt and a monetary system based on debt. There is no painless way out of this mess. We will need leadership that has the courage to tell us the truth about our resources and our fiscal situation. Sadly, Paul is no longer with us. I, however, am still trying to keep the light on.
I shared the story with you to give you context for how I am thinking about Social Security. The current system is flawed in design. The demographics of our nation changed. The logic behind the inception of the program was based on the assumption that the odds were, you would not live long enough to collect. Life expectancy in the 1930’s was 58 for men and 62 for women. We can’t just abandon those who paid into the system for the entirety of their working lives, but it cannot continue as it is. It’s going to implode. Our current birthrate does not support this. I am 62 and believe me I do not take this lightly. We are going to have to phase out this program and create a system that is sustainable.
Whitney Shanahan
Increasing the retirement age for millennials is not a solution to the Social Security concerns. Shanahan will never vote to increase the retirement age. Social Security is a broken system and it needs new leaders like Shanahan, with real world experience to come up with innovative way that we can move forward that involve protecting families and making sure the top 1% and large corporations pay their fair share.
Current reports indicate the economy is improving with lower inflation rates and prices for many goods and services coming back down. Yet, some prices remain high and many folk still struggle to remain afloat financially. What will you do to improve the economy?
Mike Simon
To improve the economy, I would use all available means to stimulate growth without creating new inflationary pressures. At the same time, I would work to reduce federal budget deficits and to begin paying down the federal debt. To achieve these goals, I would expand government programs that support small businesses, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, while reducing government funding for large corporations that waste money by paying their executives excessive salaries. To reduce federal spending, I would streamline government regulations and encourage non-essential government personnel to retire early, the same way large corporations down-size when they become unprofitable. Eliminating unnecessary regulations will not only enable reductions in the number of people on the government payroll, but will reduce the number of employees government contractors in the private sector need to retain to comply with these regulations. I would also expand government support for education in multiple ways, which will result in a better educated, more efficient work force.
Stephen Houlahan
People may not feel it yet, but the national economy is in very good shape. Unemployment is at a historic low, wages and GDP are rising, the stock market set a record, and inflation has returned to relatively low levels. The economy does better under Democratic leadership than under Republicans. I will continue that tradition, while recognizing there are still problem areas. Inflation has moderated, but prices remain high, interest rates have not yet come down, and we have a massive housing shortage. These issues hit working people the hardest, so Congress must work to ensure our economic success is shared across our entire population.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
A lower rate of inflation is still inflation. The government can improve the economy by removing barriers to competition. However, capitalism needs guardrails. We need to re-visit our anti-trust laws, update them, and enforce them. The government can revise the tax laws and learn to live on a budget. The government should take on the role of moderator between producers and consumers, but not the owner or controller of the means of production. By this, I mean, step in to protect public safety, to prevent exploitation of workers, and in cases of corporate fraud. The honest answer is I can propose changes to our laws, and in doing so hopefully reduce unnecessary and cumbersome regulation.
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan believes that big corporations and billionaires should pay their fair share. Right now working families bear the burden of taxes and cost of living that is untenable. Whitney Shanahan has worked multiple jobs to make ends meet for most of her life, as have many millennials. In Congress she will fight to raise the minimum wage to proportionally reflect the cost of living so that we don't have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
What are some ways you plan to improve the lives of your constituents?
Mike Simon
Educational initiatives I will support include expanded funding for pre-school and after-school programs for older children and adolescents, along with funding for vocational training. These initiatives will provide young people with constructive alternatives that will help reduce drug addition and crime, and that will help fill our nation's need for electricians, plumbers, welders, and other skilled workers. This will be a logical and fair expansion of existing federal grant and loan programs that help students afford to go to college. To further strengthen our educational system, I support giving parents the choice of sending their children to regular public schools, charter schools, or private schools. Offering these choices and fostering this kind of competition is important to giving families the best possible educational outcomes while also improving the quality of our public school system. When was the last time you heard of a parent switching a child from private school to public school to get a better education? I would also seek to improve the lives of my constituents by pursuing initiatives to reduce medical costs and to protect Social Security, as described above. In a nation as wealthy as the U.S., I don't believe anybody should suffer because they can't afford basic medical care. Finally, I would seek to improve the quality of life of my constituents by reducing the amount of political polarization in Congress and in our public discourse, inspiring people instead to work together to solve our nation's problems. This will eventually help restore faith in our government and pride in our nation.
Stephen Houlahan
I support women and federal protections for safe access to reproductive health care and contraception. I support providing medical coverage to our Iraq and Afghanistan military veterans for conditions caused by toxic exposure to burn pits. I support making insulin affordable by capping its price. I support giving our law enforcement officers the ability to send emergency active shooter alerts. I support the proposals in the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, aimed at protecting communities in California and elsewhere from the devastating effects of climate, wildfire and drought. I support the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at lowering health care costs and reducing carbon emissions.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
I plan to tell them the truth and educate them about our system of governance. A co-worker asked me recently, “why can’t my government treat me like an adult?” If you are old enough to vote, you are an adult, and it is incumbent upon me to treat you as one.
Whitney Shanahan
As your Congresswoman Shanahan will keep an open door policy for her constituents because she doesn't think she knows it all and is running for office to serve the people, not ego. She will listen to concerns and will work to put families before corporations. Her campaign is refusing corporate PAC money so that she can remain committed to the people of her district and be trusted to do the right thing.
Open question: what message would you like to share?
Mike Simon
I would like to share the message that I am a different kind of political candidate and that my experience and temperament are desperately needed to address the problems our nation faces today. I am not a career politician and I am not beholden to any political party or special interest. I am running as a moderate Democrat, but my focus is on issues that are of concern to both Democrats and Republicans, such as protecting individual liberty, securing our borders, protecting Social Security, improving education, managing our energy transition, and fostering economic prosperity. Of all the candidates running for Congress in District 48, I feel I am best qualified to achieve these goals, based on my educational and professional experience, combined with my demonstrated ability to bring people together to solve complex problems.
Stephen Houlahan
My top priority is to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. My grandfather fought in three wars to protect our American values, and I will follow in his footsteps at the congressional level through my oath to uphold the Constitution. Unlike some on Capitol Hill, I intend to remain true to that commitment at every step of my representation of all residents of District 48, not just some of them. I will protect freedom of speech by supporting the Equality Act to protect citizens’ self-expression from constant attack. And as a gun owner, I will ensure the right to bear arms without being so extreme that I can’t enforce smart restrictions to keep military-grade weaponry out of the hands of unstable people. Additionally, I will bring federal funding back to our district to protect our homes from wildfires, address veterans’ welfare, fund Social Security and enhance Medicare while promoting responsible fiscal policy and reducing governmental waste. Internationally, whether it’s the aggressive actions of Russia invading Ukraine or China threatening war over our alliance with Taiwan, I will ensure we are well-prepared to handle any threat. I will support a strong national defense, including research and development of advanced technologies to deter nations that threaten our international stability and economy. Diplomatic leadership works, but it must work in tandem with a strong deterrence.
Lucinda KWH Jahn
One of my co-workers paid me a great compliment recently upon finding out I am running for Congress. He said, “Lucinda, you’re different. You actually care.” I do care, and I take the responsibilities of leadership seriously. The decisions you make in Congress affect people’s lives. I will never forget that.
Whitney Shanahan
Whitney Shanahan is the only Democrat in the race who has a path to victory against MAGA extremist and incumbent Rep. Issa. Send her to Congress where she will put our families and freedoms first!
Where can people go to learn more about your campaign and get a hold of you?
Mike Simon
Please visit my website, www.mikesimonforcongress.com , send an e-mail to team@simonsays.vote, or call (760) 888-8683.
Stephen Houlahan
Lucinda KWH Jahn
https://lucindakwhjahn.com/index.html
Whitney Shanahan
SOURCES
Ballotpedia. (n.d.-a). Darrell Issa. Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ballotpedia.org/Darrell_Issa
Ballotpedia. (n.d.-b). Lucinda Jahn. Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ballotpedia.org/Lucinda_Jahn
Ballotpedia. (n.d.-c). Matthew Rascon. Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Rascon
Ballotpedia. (n.d.-d). Mike Simon (California). Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Simon_(California)
Ballotpedia. (n.d.-e). Stephen Houlahan. Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ballotpedia.org/Stephen_Houlahan
Ballotpedia. (n.d.-f). Whitney Shanahan. Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from https://ballotpedia.org/Whitney_Shanahan
Houlahan, S. (2024, January 18). Stephen Houlahan [Personal communication].
Jahn, L. K. (2024, January 18). Lucinda KWH Jahn [Personal communication].
Shanahan, W. (2024, January 18). Whitney Shanahan [Personal communication].
Simon, M. (2024, January 18). Mike Simon [Personal communication].
Vote Smart. (n.d.). Vote Smart | Facts For All. Vote Smart. Retrieved February 2, 2024, from http://votesmart.org
Wikipedia. (2024). 1998 United States Senate election in California. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1998_United_States_Senate_election_in_California&oldid=1198512023
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