Howard Shanker, Democratic candidate in AZ-01, would be a perfect addition to "Orange to Blue." Please see his answers below to the Orange to Blue Survey questions.
This will be a Democratic district in the next Congress. Duncan Hunter protege Sydney Hay is too far right for the district which includes the university city of Flagstaff and large populations of Native Americans. (Open seat, incumbent Rick Renzi goes on trial in October for looting the trust funds of his own insurance agency among other frauds.)
So, the only question is whether we get Howard, a good progressive Democrat, or the DCCC's anointed DINO.
Visit Howard's Act Blue page.
The Orange to Blue Survey Questions and Howard Shanker's answers:
- What is your position on leaving residual forces in Iraq? If you support maintaining residual forces, please outline the size and duration of such forces.
I don’t support residual forces in Iraq. I am a signatory of the Responsible Plan for a safe and rapid withdrawal from Iraq.
2. How would you have voted on the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (roll call no. 108 in the House/no. 44 in the Senate)?
I would have voted no. I don’t support creating additional barriers for families overcome with debt. It is important to note that this bill would have created new hardships for the many American families dealing with debt accumulated from medical expenses.
3. How would you have voted on the Protect America Act of 2007 (roll call no. 836 in the House/no. 309 in the Senate) and the FISA Amendments of 2008 (roll call no. 437 in the House)?
I would have voted against the suspension of basic American freedoms and against immunity for telecommunications companies. It was Ben Franklin who said, "any man who is willing to sacrifice essential liberties for the sake of security deserves neither." As a free country, founded on the values of justice and liberty, the de-evolution of our free society should not be tolerated by any people of conscience.
4. Do you agree that any immigration reform bill should:
· Contain a meaningful path to citizenship - one that does not include overly-punitive fines or a poison-pill touchback requirement - for law-abiding undocumented immigrants currently in the United States;
Yes.
· Ensure that expanded legal permanent immigration, rather than expansion of temporary worker programs, serves as the United States' primary external answer to workforce shortages; and
Yes. I do also believe that the temporary worker programs are important, as many undocumented immigrants don’t want permanent residence, but prefer to work here seasonally and then return to their nation of origin. I have spoken with many organizations and advocates of undocumented aliens who have expressed the need for a viable guest worker program. Our immigration reform, therefore, must accommodate these seasonal workers as well as those who want to live here permanently.
• Ensure that any non-agricultural temporary worker programs maintain current caps on the total number of non-agricultural temporary worker visas issued, and also include a meaningful prevailing wage requirement keyed to the Service Contract Act and Davis-Bacon Act?
Yes.
www.Shanker2008.com