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Questions For Rep. Eshoo

Enumerated Powers. You took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress in Article I Sec 8. Can you indicate the language in Art I Sec 8 that you think authorizes federal entitlement programs like

Social Security
Americans with Disabilities Act
Violence Against Women Act
Working Lands Stewardship Act
Federal education funding
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act
Community Development Block Grants
National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act
Housing Preservation Matching Grant Act
American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act
Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (hate crimes)
$2.5M for fuel-cell buses in San Mateo & Santa Clara counties

Limits of Art I Sec 8. Can you give an example of an entitlement or regulation that you think Art I Sec 8 denies Congress the authority to enact? (Examples: nationalized auto insurance, or mandatory low-flow shower nozzles.) Do you agree with the Supreme Court (Wickard v. Filburn, 1942) that it is interstate commerce when a farmer grows wheat for consumption on his own farm?
Federalism. You voted for Clinton's federal financing of 100,000 new police officers. Why should my tax dollars make a 6000-mile round-trip to the Treasury building in Washington D.C. just to hire police in my hometown? Is there any function of local or state government that you think should be off-limits for centralized nationwide funding? Libraries? Streets?
Limits to Redistribution. How would you recognize a marginal tax rate or a mandatory minimum wage that was too high? What in your opinion is wrong with a 90% marginal tax rate, or a $20/hr minimum wage?
Explicit Redistribution. Many recipients of Social Security and other federal entitlements are getting back more than what they ever paid in (including inflation and interest). Would you support that Treasury checks to such recipients be printed in a special color, or do you admit that you seek political benefit by allowing people to falsely believe they paid for the benefits you give them?
Markets vs. Regulations. Do you support or oppose the trend in America toward market-based solutions to public policy problems, such as funded parental school choice instead of monopoly public schools, carbon taxes instead of manufacturer mileage rules, and emissions license trading instead of smokestack regulations?