Published: October 24, 2008 02:12 pm      

Jim Inhofe

The Duncan Banner emailed some questions to all the candidates running for political office that members of Stephens County will be voting on Nov. 4. What follows is this candidate's responses to these questions.



Questions for Jim Inhofe, Republican candidate, US Senate from Oklahoma:



1) What qualifications do you have for running for U.S. Senator?



I have always considered one of my unique qualifications for office to be the 30 years I spent in the business community being overregulated by the federal bureaucracy. From my time in the private sector working in aviation, real estate, and insurance, I understand firsthand the challenges small business owners face on a daily basis.



Throughout my career in public service, I have been a strong advocate for the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and personal responsibility. I believe, as I think most Oklahomans do, that the federal government works best when it returns dollars, decisions, and freedom to our local communities and families. I support lower taxes and less regulation. I believe in limited government and the importance of protecting freedom, both at home and abroad. I am pro-life and pro-defense.



I believe the combination of my private sector experience, my record of public service, my seniority in the Senate, my work ethic and the values that guide my daily life make me the most qualified candidate to serve Oklahoman in the United State Senate for the next 6 years.



2) Why are you running for U.S. Senator?



Serving the people of Oklahoma in the United States Senate is a distinct honor and a humbling privilege. I strive everyday to honor the trust the people of our great state have placed in me.



Without regard to party, I will continue to fight for Oklahoma’s interests in Washington, as I did in securing bipartisan support for the Tar Creek buyout, protecting Oklahoma’s military installations during the most recent BRAC rounds, as well as passing legislation to bring home much needed federal funding for Oklahoma’s roads, bridges and water needs.



While there is still much to accomplish during this Congress, I look forward to securing reelection and continuing my service for Oklahoma in the US Senate. In the next Congress, I will continue to push for a comprehensive national energy policy that ensures America's energy supply is stable, diverse, and affordable. I will also remain an outspoken advocate for strengthening and modernizing America's national defense so that our men and women in uniform have the training, equipment and resources they need to fight the global threats to our nation's security. This includes protecting and promoting Oklahoma's defense industry, our military communities, and our veterans.



3) What is the most important issue to you and how will you work to alleviate the problem if elected?



Nothing is more important than finding a solution to the economic burdens families across our great state and this country currently face. The $700 billion bailout that I voted against is not the solution that will increase transparency, lower energy prices, or allow Oklahomans to save more of their hard-earned income. What we need is decisive action that promotes small business and restores confidence in the American economy.



My plan to get our economy back on track brings relief to hardworking families during this financial crisis. We must lower taxes, focus on home ownership, incentivize savings and investment, and create American jobs.



My economic plan calls for the following:

Making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent

Allowing credit-worthy home owners who are currently struggling but have a high likelihood of staying in their homes to deduct a portion of their principle in addition to their interest payments

Encourage savings by immediately relaxing limits on Roth IRA contributions

Eliminating the capital gains rate and allowing a repatriation of foreign earnings

Enacting a comprehensive energy plan that will lower the price of gas and create good paying jobs right here in our state



4) With the ever increasing costs for construction materials, road construction/maintenance costs are increasing exponentially, what can be done to alleviate the problem? In other words, can the number of road projects remain steady or will the number of projects need to decrease yearly unless taxes are raised?



Our economy relies on the safety and efficiency of our roads. As a leader on transportation issues, I have been working to address the shortage of the Highway Trust Fund so that we can continue to build safe roads and create jobs.



In 2005, I wrote the Highway Bill which brought over $3 billion to our state. This summer, when the funding shortage threatened to shut down Oklahoma's construction projects, I was able restore $8 billion to the Highway Trust Fund enabling our road projects to continue.



I believe we need to explore several options for funding the next bill, such as making sure our federal transportation dollars are spent wisely and investigate the increased use of Public-Private Partnerships which takes advantage of private capital to fund the next generation of public infrastructure and then paying for that investment over the life of the public asset.



5) Oklahoma has a prison capacity of about 25,000. We stay filled at between 96% and 98% yearly, which is well into overcrowded status. What is the answer for prison overcrowding in Oklahoma and how will you work to alleviate the problem? Do you think taxes need to be raised to solve the (any) problem?



In the United States Senate, I cast votes to fund and expand federal prisons. Even though I do not have oversight over the State of Oklahoma's strategic decisions regarding prison overcrowding, I have supported federal programs that reduce crime and improve law enforcement. Punishment for crimes is needed to provide protection to the public and also deter people from committing further crimes. When we sentence a person to a term of imprisonment, I believe it is best to follow our words with action.



One thing we must focus our efforts on is crime prevention. Throughout my career, I have worked to reduce crime by supporting tested programs like the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which provides critical funding to local law enforcement efforts in Oklahoma. I also cosponsored the Combat Meth Act, a bill modeled after the very successful 2004 Oklahoma law which resulted in an 80 percent decrease in the number of methamphetamine labs around the state.



I supported the Second Chance Act, a federally funded initiative which will have the long term effect of reducing the prison population by decreasing recidivism in prisons.



6) Recidivism is measured as the percentage of all prisoners within a given year who return to incarceration within three years. For fiscal year 2005, the recidivism rate is 27.8%. What will you do to lower that percentage?



Recidivism is measured as the percentage of all prisoners within a given year who return to incarceration within three years. For fiscal year 2005, the recidivism rate is 27.8%. What will you do to lower that percentage?



Education is a key to reducing recidivism among prisoners. It provides incarcerated individuals skills and opportunities to get on a different path when they are released from prison so they do not fall into the same destructive patterns that landed them behind bars in the first place.



An example of this is a program that I supported called the Second Chance Act which became law in April 2008. The Second Chance Act expands reentry resources for prisoners, including job training programs, job placement programs, substance abuse programs, mentoring programs and family-based treatment, and aims to improve academic and vocational education for those in prison, jail and juvenile facilities by providing grant programs.



7) What have been some "positives" that have happened during your campaigning?



I love traveling the state and getting to talk to constituents and particularly during the election year it means a lot more constituents will seek me out at events. The very nature of the campaign reminds Oklahomans that I'm available to them, and when they take advantage of that opportunity I truly appreciate it.



This year, we've had a large group of homeschoolers volunteering on my campaign; seeing their enthusiasm for our political process, even though they cannot vote, has been a real treat.



8) How can we make public schools better?



I believe Oklahoma parents and local officials know how to best educate Oklahoma’s children, not Washington bureaucrats. For this reason, I support shifting more of the decision-making power in education to the state and local levels.



Teachers, parents, families, and local communities must work together to create a safe environment where children can develop into honest, hardworking, and productive individual members of society. Increasing state and local control, insisting on teacher and administrator accountability, and strengthening parental and community involvement is good for Oklahoma and our nation. We must spend money wisely on the programs that support quality results, parental involvement, strong local control and high academic expectations.



I have long been a supporter of fully funding Impact Aid, the program that reimburses school districts for tax revenues lost due to the location of federal property in those districts. Impact Aid is the only federal education funding that comes with no strings attached and can be used for a wide array of educational needs. Many schools in Oklahoma rely on funds received from Impact Aid to keep their teachers paid, their resources updated and their doors open.



9) Do you stand with your party affiliation on the issues of abortion and marriage? Why?



Yes. I believe in the sanctity of life and the holy tradition of marriage between one man and one woman. I have consistently been recognized by the National Right to Life Committee, the Christian Coalition, and the Family Research Council for my 100% pro-life record and efforts to protect traditional marriage.



10) Would you ever cross party lines in a voting session? Why?



I am proud to be an independent, conservative voice for Oklahoma in Washington. Like my friend John McCain, I do not always agree with the President or the Republican Party. I vote my conscience and do what I think is best for our state and nation.



I have always fought for Oklahoma’s interests in Washington – without regard to party. From passage of the Transportation Bill, Farm Bill and Water Resource Development Act to leading the opposition to the Senate Amnesty Bill, I have never been afraid to stand up for Oklahoma families – even if some in the Republican Party disagree.



I also opposed President Bush and many in my party when I voted against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout. My vote against the bailout was not a vote against taking extraordinary action to provide necessary confidence to financial markets. Instead, it was a vote to protect Oklahoma taxpayers. Constituents and business leaders continue to tell me they are hesitant to pay for mistakes made by others. I share their concerns and that is why I offered my own economic plan, which focus on lowering taxes, protecting home ownership, incentivizing savings and investment, and creating American jobs.



11) Are you for or against Tort Reform? Why?



I am a firm advocate for tort reform. Frivolous lawsuits and outrageous settlements tie up our courts and are forcing doctors out of practices. I have a long record of voting to limit excessive damages that go way beyond compensation and raise the prices of products and services for everyone.



I believe that class action reform and safeguards against strategically placed lawsuits is also needed. Not only are many inappropriate lawsuits filed each year, often these suits demand amounts far greater than is justified by the circumstances. Doctors are forced to close their doors due to the high cost of malpractice insurance, and this is having a detrimental effect on patients' ability to receive the health care they need.



I have cosponsored bills for medical malpractice reform, specifically for obstetrical or gynecological services and emergency room physicians. With the rising cost of health care in our nation, malpractice insurance is one area where we can lower costs.