Congressmember Sanchez Speaks on the Budget, Iraq, FEMA, Immigration, and Education

I had an opportunity to have an interview with Congressmember Loretta Sanchez.
The following was a synopsis of the interview.
This article was published on page 4 in the Fullerton Observer, 10/2005.


Congressmember Loretta Sanchez (D-CA 47th) spoke to the Fullerton Observer regarding the diverse arena of topics highlighting with the US economy, the Iraq occupation, the response of FEMA with respect to Orange County.


Sanchez, who is an economist, stated that the the most important national issue of concern was the deficit and debt . The national debt is near $7.5 trillion. It has been compounded with three rounds of tax cuts that have severely restricted revenue income. Concurrently, the military occupation in Iraq is costing $6 billion a month added with Katrina hurricane disaster reconstruction predicted to be near $300 billion. (At the time of the interview, hurricane Rita was a still a week away).


Using a personal credit card analogy, she explained that, eventually one has to pay the bill. If that total is too high and delinquent, finance charges and interest fees continue to be added to the total. Although monthly minimum payments are paid towards the interest, the money owed keeps increasing even though payments are made. Sanchez added, "Someone will have to eventually have to pay this total and that someone is us, our children, our grandchildren and their children. Paying for this burden will be seen in lack of investment in education, transportation, telecommunication, water, sewer infrastructures and environmental protections. This will impact our quality of life." She felt that in order to have a standard of living above the rest of the world, an alternate economic direction was needed.


Even though Sanchez stressed the $1.5 billion price tag per week in Iraq, she did not support pulling the troops out. Fearing the potential of a geo-political three-way civil war involving the Shiites, the Sunnis and the Kurds while creating alliances with neighboring countries could potentially escalate to a third world war. She felt the Bush administration needed to be truthful with the American people in terms of all costs and allow the U.S. citizens to decide the direction. Sanchez wanted to know from President Bush to define what an Iraq "win" would look like.


Sanchez is a member of the Homeland Security Department committee. She assured that the slow Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response and miscues of Katrina would not be replicated in the Orange County. This would be due to its existing proactive local and state prepared emergency programs. She was quite confident with the well-rehearsed practices and "none better prepared" local emergency first responders. She explained, that nationally, only Orange County shares a common communication band that all law enforcement, military and medical can communicate to one another. In case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack, a strict chain of command would be implemented making OC Sheriff Mike Corona in charge reporting to LA Sheriff Lee Baca. In addition, the Los Alamitos airport is able to accommodate the landing of large troops and cargo. Although OC is well prepared, Sanchez could not stress the importance of self preparation, focusing stocking supplies (such as food, water, gas, radio and money on hand) because it might take FEMA five to ten days to reach some people.


Acknowledging that California's economy relies on low paid illegal immigrants, Sanchez stressed that a legislative solution is needed to be developed to keep the law abiding undocumented established laborers an opportunity to work unpopular jobs through incentives. There would need to be a legal and fair solution to have accountability to use these workers without compromising the safety of the borders and ports. If these incentives were not taken advantage during this period, a undocumented person would be seen as a potential miscreant and would be subject to further escalated scrutiny with potential legal consequences. She felt unfairness and family values were not being promoted, in the example where a family's undocumented mother was to be exported although her employed husband and children were US citizens, thus creating a family void. She believed a good immigration reform is needed to protect all interests between homeland security, the commercial viability of U.S and California, and strong family values.


Sanchez commented on the importance of education on future generations. She criticized the controversial "No Child Left Behind Bill" which 6% of the educational budget is federal money that funds progressive educational programs. Stating that for the first time ever, this federal funding is directly linked by involving the U.S. government in the curriculum, emphasizing schools meeting required measurements. Although she agrees in concept, she is quick to mention that the program was underfunded by $9 billion by president George W. Bush. She felt the execution of the underfunded program did not offer an option to empower a failing child that could not reach the measurements. Finally, Sanchez believed that the "No Child Left Behind bill" will be revisited since many states are starting to opt-out of the program and decline the federal 6% economic input rather than dealing with bureaucracy of the federal laws and its disconnect in assisting the student to reach the required measurements.