JIM DEBELLO
Q:
Why should voters choose you over your opponents in this election?
A:
Congress is not listening to your voice. I am a lifelong San Diegan who has achieved real results for millions of people, not a career politician like Scott Peters who has passed a handful of bills in eight years while voting for the harmful Pelosi agenda 95% of the time. As an entrepreneur who co-invented mobile check deposit used by 80 million Americans, I have created jobs for hundreds of San Diegans through innovation and common sense. The 52nd represents a major part of San Diego’s economy. I have the technology experience to represent our technology district. We need innovative, focused action to solve urgent problems including illegal immigration, homelessness and border sewage destroying our beaches. Our safety is being violated every day by cyber-criminals and predators hacking into homes and hospitals. Yet Peters votes partisan. When elected, I will listen and act to benefit every family throughout the 52nd District.
Q:
What will be your top domestic and international priority in Congress?
A:
It’s inexcusable that we tolerate human waste, needles and encampments on our streets. It’s inexcusable that Tijuana River sewage closed our beaches for 500 days over the past three years. Our Congress needs to act, and act now. Ironically, Peters began his career at the EPA
— but has failed to lead in Congress as sewage flows and hepatitis killed 20 people. I call it the Peters Principle. He’s invisible, especially on public health and safety. It’s time for change. I strongly support our military, Border Patrol and public safety officers. We must equip our men and women in service with the necessary tools to ensure their safety, our nation’s defense and enforce our borders. China remains our biggest threat and opportunity. Having lived and worked in China, I understand its policy and business agendas. We must stop them from stealing our technology and level the playing field with fair trade.
Q:
What California issue deserves more attention?
A: California has 25% of the nation’s homeless; it’s a public health and safety crisis. Law enforcement is handcuffed by laws that fail to mandate treatment. San Diego is losing its battle and it’s not fair to force taxpaying citizens to deal with the health risks and filth that result. This is a national problem requiring federal support. San Diego is not getting its fair share. Yet again, Peters and Congress have failed to act and are invisible on this issue. Our district and region lead the world in medical innovation. Congress should leverage this and rebuild our mental health infrastructure and drug treatment programs, rather than passing the buck to a patchwork of local efforts. Homelessness and food insecurity are especially troubling for veterans. My solutions for homelessness would include housing and food allowances for our active military and veterans that help offset the extraordinary cost of living here.
Q:
What should the federal government do about climate change?
A:
I strongly support a clean environment and climate action with accelerated investment to sequester carbon. We can achieve the goal to ultimately meet 100% of our power demand through clean, renewable and zero-emission energy resources. Unfortunately, many proposals like the Green New Deal are unrealistic and economically impractical. Rather than playing the politics of climate, I’m focused on common-sense solutions for reversing human impact by investing in carbon capture technologies, new bluetech biofuels and other market-driven incentives. The 52nd District is home to the world’s leading research, desalination, energy and scientific minds. Yet our district is invisible nationally and we lack an effective voice in Congress regarding technical innovation. I’ve driven successful innovation throughout my career. To have meaningful impact, we must commit to public-private partnerships that develop an interstate energy grid and accelerate transition to alternative forms of sustainable energy that are proven, scalable and affordable.
Q:
What changes would you make to health care?
A: We can cure cancer in the 52nd District. Amazing and groundbreaking work in genomics, AI and robotics will transform health care, reduce costs and help us lead healthier lives. Congress must surmount politics to reduce harmful regulations and encourage innovation.we need to attack high drug costs now by fostering competition and market incentives rather than legislating harmful government price controls that don’t work. Peters recently voted for price controls that BIOCOM predicts will reduce the number of drugs available to patients and cost 80,000 jobs. As a result, undeveloped treatments might result in higher health care costs and reduced life expectancy. This measure will cede drug discovery leadership to China and its questionable practices. America wins through competition and streamlined government oversight. This is also true for health insurance. Government-run health care will skyrocket costs and reduce services. We must foster interstate competition to lower costs, rather than limiting insurance options.
Q:
How big a threat is the national debt to America’s future?
A:
Our outrageous federal deficit spending must end. When Peters was elected, the national debt was $16 trillion. Today, it is $24 trillion. He’s voted for trillions in new debt while raising the debt ceiling nine times. Debt repayment exceeds $400 billion a year, money that could be used to repair our national infrastructure. America’s crushing debt mortgages our children’s future by threatening our economy and global trade. I will fight to make sure Congress balances its budget and doesn’t waste our money. Shutdowns and deficits cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. Yet Congress members keep their perks. It’s not right. I will eliminate congressional pay and perks until a balanced budget is approved. I will prevent shutdowns by ensuring the federal budget reverts to the prior year until a new balanced budget is passed.