FAIRFIELD -- U.S. Rep. John Garamendi and his Democratic challenger Nicolas Carjuzaa each believe that amending the current tax code is a critical step in reducing the national debt.
They are running in the newly crafted 8th District, which includes all of Solano County. Prior to Proposition 50, approved for the voters in November, Solano County was divided among three Congressional districts.
Republican Rudy Recile did not respond to the questions sent out by the Daily Republic. The deadline was Friday.
The first of those questions:
A recent report states that public debt is on track to surpass its World War II peak of 106% of GDP in another few years. By 2036, it will exceed that by a margin of 30 percentage points, and after that will keep rising. Within a decade, so long as interest rates are no higher than now, debt service is set to absorb 30% of what the government collects in taxes. What is your solution for this problem? Where are you willing to make cuts, and by how much?
"Let's be clear that deficits grow when revenues do not exceed spending, and we have been cutting spending for the American people for decades. Context is important. We've bailed out Wall Street, cut taxes for billionaires and subsidized the largest corporations while disregarding the needs of people," said Carjuzaa, 35, who lives in Martinez.
"It's past time to close tax loopholes and restore a more progressive tax structure to help pay for the needs of our country and reduce the deficit. I do advocate for making cuts to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Department of Defense until independent audits prove their wasteful spending is eliminated. We can do this without sacrificing public safety, combat readiness, and commitments to our allies. We can stabilize the debt crisis without cutting investments that strengthen and build the economy, such as housing, healthcare, social welfare, and infrastructure, because long-term economic growth and fiscal responsibility require them."
Garamendi, 81, of Walnut Grove, has served in Congress for 16 years. He concedes the national debt is a "serious problem," only made worse, he added, by "the Republican 'Big Ugly Bill.'"
"My solution starts with a fairer tax code. Large corporations and the wealthiest Americans must pay their fair share. We should close loopholes, crack down on tax avoidance and stop using the deficit as an excuse to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP or education," he stated.
"We also need to cut wasteful spending, including at the Department of Defense. As the senior Democrat on the Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, I believe a strong national defense requires accountability. We should invest in service members, readiness, housing, maintenance and logistics, but we must also stop wasteful programs that do not meet the test of national security."
He pointed to the Sentinel nuclear missile program as a prime example.
"The program has suffered extraordinary cost overruns and delays. I have pressed the Department of Defense and the Air Force for a full, honest review of whether this program is necessary, affordable, and effective. The Pentagon cannot be given a blank check, especially for nuclear weapons programs that are billions over budget," Garamendi said.
The second question was:
What is your position on the proposed California Forever expansion plan for Suisun City? Would you support a separate shipbuilding project near Collinsville?
"My position depends entirely on the details, and those details have not yet been provided in a way that allows anyone to make a final judgment. Large-scale development in Solano County must be evaluated carefully, transparently and through the proper local process," Garamendi stated.
"There are three basic tests any proposal must meet: First, it must help Travis Air Force Base and never harm its mission. Travis is critical to our national security and to Solano County's economy. Nothing should move forward if it creates encroachment, traffic, housing, airspace, security, or infrastructure problems that undermine Travis.
"Second, the city and county cannot be left on the hook for infrastructure costs. Any project must benefit the broader county, not shift roads, utilities, water, sewer, public safety, or other infrastructure costs onto local taxpayers. Promises of economic development are not enough. The financing and public benefit must be clear.
"Third, the proposal must go through rigorous environmental and planning review by the county. That means serious review of water supply, traffic, farmland, habitat, greenhouse gas impacts, and long-term sustainability. Solano County residents deserve facts, not slogans."
He said the same standards apply to the shipbuilding project near Collinsville.
"I believe rebuilding American shipbuilding is a national security priority and an economic opportunity. That is why I introduced the SHIPS for America Act. But any Collinsville proposal must meet the same standards: it must protect Travis, avoid burdening local taxpayers, and undergo full environmental and planning review," Garamendi said.
Carjuzaa said, "I do not support California Forever's plans for expansion and development in Solano County. The investors behind the project have repeatedly tried to bypass voters and local governments, and their approach raises many concerns regarding trust, transparency, private interests, and the long-term impacts on our communities and public finances.
"They may have certain legal rights to develop what they can privately, but they will not be entitled to Federal funding. In fact, I will work to ensure that Congressional oversight is used to help hold California Forever accountable to our residents and communities regardless. The bottom line is that we should be investing in the cities we already have by creating good paying jobs and commercial infrastructure locally rather than enabling more speculative financing and development driven by a few private interests."
As for the shipbuilding, Carjuzaa added, "Expanding American shipbuilding is a geopolitical necessity and a regional opportunity to help meet our national security requirements. However, a project of this proposed scale near Collinsville would require incredible sums of funding and public buy-in to succeed. Instead, I argue that cities like Vallejo and Richmond, which have talented workforces and some existing industrial capacity, should be prioritized for these kinds of investments."