{"id":8003,"date":"2022-07-22T12:41:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T12:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trendingsimple.com\/hawaii\/hawaii-news\/candidate-qa-1st-congressional-district-sergio-alcubilla\/"},"modified":"2022-07-22T12:41:48","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T12:41:48","slug":"candidate-qa-1st-congressional-district-sergio-alcubilla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trendingsimple.com\/hawaii\/hawaii-news\/candidate-qa-1st-congressional-district-sergio-alcubilla\/","title":{"rendered":"Candidate Q&A: 1st Congressional District \u2014 Sergio Alcubilla"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Editor\u2019s note<\/b>: For Hawaii\u2019s Aug. 13 Primary Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.<\/i><\/p>\n
The following came from Sergio Alcubilla, Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District, which covers urban Oahu. The other Democratic candidate is Ed Case.<\/em><\/p>\n Go to Civil Beat\u2019s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot.<\/em><\/p>\n 1. What is the biggest issue facing Hawaii<\/a>, and what would you do about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2018, 42% of households struggled to make ends meet and 33% of households fell within the definition of being Asset Limited, Income Constrained, yet Employed (ALICE), earning about the federal poverty level but could barely afford the most basic necessities. Four years and a pandemic later, the outlook for our local families has worsened.<\/p>\n With rising costs and lack of affordable housing, many have joined the mass exodus for the continent. I will continue to champion many of the provisions in the Build Back Better Act that failed to pass in Congress because those provisions directly invested in our most valuable resource \u2014 our people.<\/p>\n From affordable child care, free community college, to finally combating climate change, we lost out on one of the greatest investments in people and the planet because of elected leaders unwilling to stand up for their communities. Instead, working families are again paying the price for politicians being more responsive to corporate greed over community needs. We need more elected leaders who understand what it means to work more than one job and who understands the struggles that everyday people here in Hawaii and across the country are facing every day.<\/p>\n 2. What can the U.S. Congress do about mass shootings in America? Would you support banning military-style assault weapons and establishing universal background checks? What other measures would you propose to reduce gun violence?<\/strong><\/p>\n As a parent, I fear dropping off my children at school in the morning and hearing of another mass shooting at an elementary school. As someone that has been directly impacted by gun violence, we need to do more to make sure our children are not paying the price for our constitutional right to bear arms. The recent mass shootings around the country from Texas to New York should never happen again and it is imperative that Congress finally have the courage to act.<\/p>\n Although Congress took substantial steps in finally passing legislation for enhanced background checks and resources for mental health services, this is simply not enough to end the culture of gun violence in this country.<\/p>\n Yes, I would support the banning of selling military-style assault weapons of war to the public and establishing universal background checks. For responsible gun owners, I would like to see the use of technology in further developing \u201csmart\u201d guns, which can be fired only by registered users along with regular licensing and insurance requirements.<\/p>\n In Congress, I will maintain that the right to bear arms will not outweigh our children\u2019s right to live free from the fear of being shot in school.<\/p>\n 3. The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the questions of whether the 2020 election was stolen have shown how seriously divided the nation is. Some say democracy itself is in trouble. How would you work to end the political polarization that divides both the Congress and the country?<\/strong><\/p>\n With the passing of congressional icons such as Rep. John Lewis and Hawaii\u2019s own Rep. Patsy Mink, I believe Congress has lost its voices of conscience. Money in politics, corporate lobbying and the pay-to-play structure have corrupted our legislative institutions while racism and sexism are tearing our country apart. We must remind Congress of our nation\u2019s conscience, that we can rise beyond the political divisions toward the calling to be the \u201cbeacon of hope\u201d in this world.<\/p>\n As an immigrant to this country, I have not lost sight of what this country can be; that despite our checkered history, we aim to do better and to do right. As a settler to these islands, I hope to bridge these histories.<\/p>\n My leadership style is collaborative in nature, seeing value in the experience and ideas of others in finding common solutions. I will not compromise my own values and principles, but I do want to believe that those we elect as public servants are in it for the right reasons; motivated by the desire to help and serve the people in their communities. If not, we have the civic responsibility to vote them out and hold them accountable.<\/p>\n 4. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while currently financially sound, risk future funding concerns because of changing demographics. What would you propose to shore up the country\u2019s major safety net programs?<\/strong><\/p>\n First, I would support H.R. 5723, Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust introduced by Rep. Larson of Connecticut, which will provide a boost in benefits to all Social Security recipients for the first time since 1972 and targeted increases for the most vulnerable. This is funded by adjusting the wage cap, currently at $147,000 so that income over $400,000 is also subject to Social Security payroll taxes.<\/p>\n Second, it\u2019s time we transition to providing universal health care for all by passing the Medicare for All Act, which would guarantee health care to everyone as a human right by providing comprehensive benefits including primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, long-term services, and reproductive health care with no more copays, private insurance premiums or deductibles.<\/p>\n As the pandemic has shown us, health care connected to employment puts us all in a precarious situation and it\u2019s clear that our current system of Medicare and Medicaid needs an overhaul. It\u2019s time Congress stands up to the insurance lobbyists and the pharmaceutical industry and instead listens to the doctors, nurses and medical professionals asking to put the health of people first.<\/p>\n 5. What is your position on the Senate filibuster?<\/strong><\/p>\n I support retiring the Senate filibuster. I understand the deliberative nature of the Senate but when a rule is exploited by either party simply for their own benefit and not to advance the best interests of the country, the rule needs to be re-examined.<\/p>\n When passage of common sense legislation such as voting rights or campaign finance reform dies simply because of partisan politics, the public needs to apply the \u201cnuclear option\u201d to the Senate itself and return to a simple majority away from its complicated and archaic rules.<\/p>\n 6. Is the U.S. on the right path when it comes to mitigating climate change and growing renewable energy production? What specific things should Congress be considering?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Green New Deal Resolution is simply a starting point but it gives a roadmap for the United States to be on the right path when it comes to mitigating climate change and growing renewable energy production. The United States must accept the responsibility of leadership when it comes to environmental and climate justice. For Hawaii and for nations across the Pacific, it\u2019s imperative that the United States take this threat seriously.<\/p>\n With Sen. Manchin recently sinking any substantial action toward addressing climate change, it\u2019s even more imperative that our congressional delegation is united in supporting President Biden\u2019s efforts to now take executive action on climate change.<\/p>\n Specifically for Hawaii, investments in the emerging environmental technology industry will help diversify our economy while creating local, green, sustainable jobs. Instead of relying on expertise and workers on the continent, local companies hiring local workers can provide expertise in addressing environmental damage to island nations across the Pacific.<\/p>\n Finally, Congress should continue to provide federal incentives for the public to participate such as federal tax rebates on solar or avenues for the public to benefit by contributing to the state\u2019s power grid.<\/p>\n 7. The Jones Act requires that domestic freight transport on U.S. waterways be conducted by crews that are at least three-fourths American, and on vessels built in U.S. shipyards, and that are American-owned.<\/strong> What is your position on this law and its effects on Hawaii? Does it need to be amended or repealed?<\/strong><\/p>\n It is concerning that the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii backed by the libertarian Cato Institute continues to spread misinformation about the Jones Act with support from within our own congressional delegation. The Grassroots Institute attempts to weaken public support for the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) by wrongly claiming it\u2019s the reason for the high cost of living in Hawaii. In reality, the Jones Act supports the creation of nearly 13,000 jobs for Hawaii residents, delivering an estimated $787 million in annual workforce income, and $3.3 billion economic impact to the local economy.<\/p>\n A recent economic study also shows goods purchased from major retailers such as Costco, Home Depot, and Target found no significant difference in the price of consumer goods in Hawaii and California.<\/p>\n Now is not the time to believe that other countries will have our best interests in mind if given free rein on our domestic waterways. Multinational corporations and corporate greed have more to gain by not having to adhere to U.S. standards when it comes to worker safety and environmental impact. It is the public that loses if we sell out our own domestic shipping industry to foreign and corporate interests.<\/p>\n