Politics & Government

Huey Doesn't Live in District But Calls it His

A series of Patch profiles on candidates in the 36th Congressional District race continues with a look at Craig Huey's campaign.

Craig Huey, a South Bay businessman, is making a run for former Rep. Jane Harman's seat in the 36th Congressional District.

Though he doesn't live in it, the Rolling Hills Estates resident calls the district his "home area."

"This is my district," said Huey, who attended elementary school in Hawthorne and lived in the district before moving to Rolling Hills Estates.

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Huey, who has a marketing business in Torrance, is president of websites JudgeVoterGuide.comLAVoterGuide.com and ElectionForum.org.

Republican candidate Huey  with contributions and loans of $515,905, and reported having $198,822 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. Huey's campaign war chest has been filled primarily with borrowed money—from himself. He lent his campaign $250,000 in this reporting period and another $250,000 in the prior period.

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To visit Huey's campaign website, click here.

Here is how the candidate responded to a Patch questionnaire about issues facing the country and the district:

Patch: What do you think is the biggest issue facing our district?

Craig Huey: The biggest issues are the government created unemployment, rising prices and anemic economic growth.

Patch: What do you think is the biggest challenge to our nation's economy and what do you think the federal government should do to facilitate economic recovery? How will you specifically encourage job growth in Southern California?

Huey: The biggest challenge to our economy is to cut excessive spending, stop the $1.6 trillion deficit, dramatically reduce the $13.4 trillion national debt and stop the reckless fiscal policies of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department.

Besides the above, to encourage job growth:

First, you do not raise taxes in a recession.

Second, I'm the only candidate that has signed the No New Tax Pledge.

Third, Obama's $1.2 trillion tax hike—suggested by the Democrats behind me—will plunge our nation into greater job loss and destroy new opportunities for economic growth and new innovations.

President Kennedy and President Reagan both proved that when you lower taxes, two things happen: Economic growth and rising government revenue.

And just the opposite is true. The higher the taxes: The lower economic growth and less government revenue.

A one percent hike in the corporate tax rate leads to a .014 percent change in real wages or roughly a $2.50 loss in wages for each $1 rise in corporate tax collections.  And when corporate taxes fall, real wages go up.

Taxes and fees are out of control.

In California, 66 cents in taxes is added to the cost of every gallon of gas—that’s over $13 for every fill-up.

For two years as a business owner I made decisions that slowed hiring and expansion because of the threat of the Bush tax cuts ending. Now, I’m faced with that same uncertainty in a couple of years.

We need to restore confidence in business. And we need to break the chains the liberal politicians have imposed on us with high taxation and regulation.

Some behind me join with the President asking working families and small business owners to pay even more. It will kill jobs. It will kill business. It will destroy economic growth.

We have the highest corporate tax rate in the industrial world. Let’s slash it— money will pour in from overseas.

  • If we had a two-year 50-percent reduction in the Social Security and Medicare tax for both the employee and the employer, we would have an extraordinary explosion of small business.
  • If we want to compete with China for jobs, we should match the Chinese on capital gains. Their rate is zero.
  • If we want to compete for profitable businesses creating good jobs, we should adopt the Irish tax rate of 12.5 percent for corporations.
  • If we want to build up capital for investments permanently, we should abolish the death tax.

Patch: Standard and Poor's recently predicted the U.S. credit rating would be downgraded if the federal government could not work together to balance the budget. What budget items do you think should be cut, and what needs to have continued or even increased funding?

Huey: The S&P is a direct result of the Federal Reserve QE2 policies and the historic national debt caused by overspending. The S&P will need to downgrade our rating again if this economic crisis is not stopped.

There should be no increase in spending, only cuts from every level of the wasteful bureaucracy. There is $125 billion in improper payments. There is $200 billion in duplicity agencies. And there are billions in regulatory boards and departments that can be eliminated.

Patch: Where do you stand on No Child Left Behind? What would you do to improve the state of education in this country and in California?

Huey: No Child Left Behind has been as harmful to education as helpful and a waste of federal money. The Education Department has stifled innovation and must be abolished. Education is best at the local level.

Patch: Where do you stand on federal environmental policy? The Supreme Court is now considering the merit of a nuisance lawsuit against electric companies over their greenhouse gas emissions. Do you think the courts should get involved in climate change policy or is this a role better suited for Congress?

Huey: The courts should not be involved in legislation or regulatory decision making. The EPA policies are out of control and must be cut back and funding slashed.

Patch: Federal energy regulators have approved the test phase of a wave farm off the coast of San Onofre. Do you approve of that project, specifically, and what are your thoughts on the development of wave energy in Southern California, generally?

Huey: I support the development of wave energy, wave energy that uses the natural forces of oceans waves to produce energy that can help make us energy independent. The waves off of San Onofre are some of the most consistent in Southern California, making it a good place to test this clean technology.

Patch: Do you think that the nuclear energy plants in California need additional safety regulation? Do you think we should move away from nuclear energy? What would you say to people who are worried that what happened in Japan will happen here?

Huey: The newer technology in nuclear energy does not have the safety issue of the old plants. With proper oversight, this should be a viable option for our energy needs.

Patch: Which healthcare legislation do you support or oppose?

Huey: I will work to repeal "Obamacare."

Patch: Do you think same-sex marriage should be legalized? Do you think it is a federal or state issue? Why?

Huey: I believe marriage is between a man and woman only.

Patch: What is your position on America's involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya?

Huey: The U.S. must not become entangled in foreign conflicts without Congressional approval. I favor returning U.S. troops as quickly as possible; implement the "Regan Doctrine" of helping those seeking freedom.

Patch: Do you intend to continue Jane Harman's endeavors to ease traffic congestion in the district? If so, how?

Huey: Traffic congestion is frustrating to everyone. It adds to pollution and costs drivers' money. I will work to make sure our roads and highways are well maintained and adequate to keep the flow of traffic moving.

I'm a business leader, not a career politician. I know how to create jobs and make hard decisions. I’m not beholden to special interest groups.

Editor's Note: This is one of a series of profiles of candidates running for the 36th Congressional District seat. Published profiles include those on Kit Bobko and Marcy WinogradCome back to Patch for more profiles and campaign coverage.


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