Bert Mizusawa on the Issues
posted by tmpuser on January 1st, 2010“America is the greatest country in the world. Today, we face great challenges, and how we address these challenges will determine if our nation will remain the preeminent global superpower. Our most important challenges is getting the U.S. economy moving again. It is time for real economic reform that fuels the economy with incentives to create real jobs, attract investment, and reduce government spending. People are hurting as they struggle to make ends meet. They’re worried about their future, and that of their children and grandchildren. I am committed to restoring economic prosperity for all Americans, enabling people to achieve the American Dream, paying down our national debt, and becoming an energy independent nation.”
HEALTH CARE
“All Americans deserve access to affordable, high quality health care, but I oppose health care legislation recently passed by Congress that mandates coverage and expands our already oversized government. I would have voted against it. The program proposed by the democrats raises taxes, increases government spending and debt, and lowers the quality of care, especially for elders on Medicare. As your Congressman, I will support strengthening the existing private market system with incentives that reduce costs and make it easier for people to purchase affordable insurance. Controlling healthcare costs is the key to real healthcare reform. I am proud that our nation is home to the best health care in the world.”
Bert Mizusawa believes the private sector is the best source of solutions to reduce the increasing costs of modern medicine. The role of Congress is to create an atmosphere through incentives for business that encourage the purchase of health insurance across state lines, increase access to coverage and care, promotes prevention through healthy lifestyles, and legislation to prevent tort abuse by attorneys without expanding government, increasing the tax burden on the citizens, or passing on more indebtedness to next generations.
ECONOMY
“I believe that lower taxes give Virginians more money to use where we need it most, and they allow small businesses to create jobs. High taxes only stifle real economic growth, create big government, and kill jobs. Our nation’s debt is growing exponentially and is being fertilized by the Democrats’ dream of big government. We must reduce and eliminate our debt to improve the value of the dollar and attract business investment.”
Bert Mizusawa brings unique experience with our national financial system, which is the central nervous system of our national economy. In the early 1990’s, when the markets were performing respectably, Bert Mizusawa was an attorney representing institutional lenders who raised money for development, educational loans, and housing. Because of the vast amounts of money involved –these were the largest deals in the world at the time, there was a lot of risk hedging. Bert Mizusawa noted the emergence on Wall Street of “novel securities” (hedge funds and derivatives) with great concern – these were designed manipulated by unscrupulous financiers in questionable ways. In the private sector, brains follow money, and the government regulators did not keep up, in part because the regulators, such as the SEC and CFTC, and their respective congressional oversight committees, put turf above cooperation and the warning signs were ignored.
Bert Mizusawa will bring credibility to fighting the “regulatory arbitrage” that takes place when Wall Street profits seek the path of least resistance through the taxpayers’ wallets. A healthy financial system, which responsibly and prudently provides capital for investment and jobs for families, is essential to a healthy economy.
The critical distinguishing features of our Second District’s economy is that it is the “Most Military District in the Nation.” Our Congressional District contributes to the Nation’s defense like no other district in America. Bert Mizusawa will ensure that the federal government provides the district with the resources we need to sustain our premier role in the nation’s defense. Bert also recognizes the importance of the maritime and tourism industries to the Hampton Roads area. He has had unique maritime experiences as a marine terminal operations officer, commander of a maritime Transportation Battalion headquartered at Fort Eustis, through his oversight of Panama Canal operations from 1995 to 2000, and through his high-level logistics responsibilities while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Bert Mizusawa recognizes and supports the numerous and unique commercial and tourist attractions our district offers and is committed to their continued role in our economy.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
“We have access to the cleanest and most affordable energy resources in the world. However, special interests have successfully created a bureaucracy that works at the expense of the taxpayer and against common sense. That red tape makes it time consuming and financially exhaustive to access and use these resources. I support the proven success of offshore drilling and nuclear power to bolster energy alternatives and independence, and I will support incentives to accelerate the development of wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal, and other energy sources. I firmly oppose a national cap and trade tax because of the increased costs families and businesses will be forced to pay.“
Under current and foreseeable economic conditions, we must provide inexpensive energy alternatives to support our economic and employment recovery. The responsible use of fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) that currently power our economy and way of life is the first alternative. The access to all feasible sources of fuels, including fossil fuels off-shore, should be increased and diversified in a safe, responsible manner.
Responsible energy and a clean environment go hand-in-hand. Bert Mizusawa supports research and development of alternative energies, particularly clean, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal. He strongly supports a mix of tax incentives to promote research and development of alternative energy sources and solutions as well as tax offsets to businesses and individuals who invest in alternative energy technologies that will free us from dependence on foreign oil and reduce our carbon emissions. While we take care of our citizens and their well-being by providing reasonably-priced, reliable energy, we take care of our future, and the long-term power of America, by taking a long-term approach of reducing our dependence on outside sources to fulfill our energy needs.
EDUCATION
“Education is vital to the future of America. Unfortunately, a blind eye has been turned to education over the last few decades, allowing expansion of the Department of Education and its programs with limited accountability and ineffective spending of taxpayer money. I support education by improving the quality of our public schools, attainment of high standards and resourcing the tools to achieve them. I support school choice through charter schools and I will work closely with Governor McDonnell to ensure what happens in Washington is in the best interests of Virginia and the Second District.”
Bert Mizusawa believes that education is essential to a vibrant economy. Good education makes people happier and better able to enjoy the intellectual and financial rewards that life offers. Consequently, a better educated population equates to reduced crime, an enlightened community, and better employees. Bert Mizusawa believes in school choice through charter schools. He is committed to incentives that encourage our kids to stay in school and excel there. With three children enrolled in public schools, and having himself attended public elementary, middle and high schools in the District, Bert Mizusawa knows firsthand the importance of Virginia’s public primary education system. As our congressman, Bert Mizusawa will fight to maximize federal support for Virginia’s public education programs and work to ensure Virginia’s educators have the tools and resources they need to prepare our children and our adult students for the future.
IMMIGRATION
“We are a nation of immigrants and I welcome legal immigration. However, as a nation of laws, we must enforce the immigration laws that exist and not create new laws that protect or encourage illegal immigration. Enforcing existing laws will create a disincentive for those considering coming to America illegally. We should strengthen border enforcement and implement an employment verification system with strict penalties on businesses that hire illegal immigrants.”
SECOND AMENDMENT
Bert Mizusawa supports the Second Amendment and believes that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual constitutional right that our Founding Fathers gave us to protect our freedoms.
ABORTION
Bert Mizusawa is 100% pro-life and will vote that way in Congress. As a husband and father, Bert knows that we must protect the sanctity of human life.
ISRAEL
Israel lives every day under the threat of terror and is our closest ally in the Middle East. It shares with America a commitment to democratic ideals, a respect for faith, and a commitment to peace in the region. Bert Mizusawa supports US policy to protect Israel and her citizens from terrorist attacks.
