Steve Rothman

1. DEFICIT:  The U.S. is now running a large budget deficit?  Do you think that's a problem? How can we fix it?

Running deficits is always of concern and generally unacceptable. I believe that most would agree, however, that even this concern must be secondary to our national security and homeland protection. These are extraordinary times. Our economy was already in a recession before September 11th, 2001. This preexisting recession, combined with the economic burden from the terrorist attacks and the need to defend ourselves have all contributed to the current deficit. I believe that most, if not all, of the deficit will be reduced through the increased economic growth, expansion and job creation that is underway as a result of the President’s tax cuts, as long as our leaders exercise the necessary fiscal restraint and do not spend excessively or unwisely. 

2. TAXES: There has been some talk about rolling back the tax cuts for the top income Americans.  Is that a good idea?  If yes, at what income do you think that rollback should apply to?

Let me first say that I fully support cutting taxes for those who really need the help. That's why I have supported eliminating the marriage tax penalty and reducing taxes for middle class Americans. I know that here in New Jersey we pay very high state and local taxes which means that people are especially needful of tax relief. The problem with the President's tax cuts is that they disproportionately benefited those with annual incomes over $300,000. In fact, 1/3 of this year's tax cuts will go to households earning over $1,000,000 a year in income! I am also very concerned that during a time of war, borrowing money to fund tax cuts for the very wealthiest threatens our national security and our children's future and is just plain wrong. Therefore I think it makes sense to rollback the tax cuts for those earning over $300,000 per year.

I do not think it is a good idea to roll back the tax cuts for anyone. Contrary to misleading assertions, the Bush tax cuts have helped all Americans. An historical review of tax increases since the Internal Revenue Code was first implemented just after the turn of the century to current day discloses that increasing taxes on Americans has the effect of decreasing investment and economic activity. I realize that it is politically expedient to say that one favors tax increases for the top income Americans but the reality is that the increased tax revenue that results is more than offset by the loss of additional economic activity which, in and of itself, generates the additional necessary tax revenues as long as spending is held in check.

3. ENVIRONMENT: Have the policies of the Congress and President helped or hurt the quality of the air and water in Fair Lawn?

Hurt it. All you have to do is look at the cancer and asthma rates in our state or the number of toxic waste sites still waiting to be cleaned up to know what the environmental legacy of this Administration and Congress is all about. It is disgraceful. They have slashed environmental enforcement resulting in 5,000 fewer inspections this year to enforce existing laws such as the Clean Air Act than were conducted in 2000. Even worse they have created incentives for the coal-fired power plants and factories in the Midwest to continue spewing out their mercury and sulfur poisons to drift across the Appalachians and settle on our homes, workplaces and in the lungs of our children and ourselves. The most important job of the federal government is to protect the people. And that includes protecting them from pollution in our air, water and soil.

I do not believe that the policies of the Congress and President have hurt the quality of the air and water in Fair Lawn. One only need look at the United States Environmental Protection Agency Website and examine the monthly reports to ascertain that the policies of the Congress and President have actually improved the quality of the air and water throughout New Jersey. Of course protecting the environment is a constant struggle between development, business and environment to provide the right balance that preserves and protects the environment while allowing business to create jobs and developments to provide the places for Americans to live and work.

4. MONEY BACK TO AREA:  Does our area send a disproportionate amount of taxes to Washington compared to the benefits we receive?    If yes, how will you try to reduce that disparity?

It is so important for New Jerseyans, who pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, to get every possible dollar back from Washington. But because of the high average wealth of its households, New Jersey will likely always be a donor state, contributing more in federal taxes than it gets back. So then the question is how to best secure as much federal funding as possible? Fortunately, I worked hard to get a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which makes the decisions about where federal dollars get spent. I secured that seat in 2001 and am now the first Member of Congress from this district on that committee since 1911. I've helped our area get over $640 million in federal funding and as my seniority on that committee increases, so will that number - thereby eliminating the amount local property taxpayers would pay for these projects.

I believe that New Jersey is ranked 3rd in the amount of tax dollars it sends to Washington. I also believe that New Jersey is ranked 47th in the amount of money that is returned to New Jersey from Washington. One of the roles of a Congressman is to be an advocate for not only his or her congressional district but also for the State and region in which the congressional district is located. Thus, I would work to try to reduce that disparity by working in a non-partisan manner with all the other members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation first and then with other Congressmen to make sure that NJ receives its fair share back from Washington. It is my understanding that New Jersey and New York, while receiving a significant amount of funds from Washington for Homeland Security, receive proportionately less than many other areas of the nation. This does not make sense given the fact that it is generally acknowledged by the experts that New Jersey and New York are clearly the number one terrorist targets. I will work to correct this inequity.

5. MIDDLE EAST:  What do you think the Congress and President have done right and done wrong in the Middle East, in the past few years?

I think our policy towards Israel - supporting our number one strategic military ally in the Middle East, our dear friend of 55 years and the sole democracy in the region - has been very good. Whether or not the Palestinians come forward with legitimate leaders who can be genuine and trustworthy negotiating parties with Israel, the United States must continue to stand by Israel - in her decisions on how to best protect her people and to maintain her military edge over all her enemies. I also think we must do much more to encourage the active participation of moderate Arab states including Egypt and Jordan in the peace process. Finally, we should have a zero tolerance for nations like Iran and Syria who enable, fund and harbor terrorists and who possibly possess weapons of mass destruction which could threaten U.S. interests, Israel and the safety and security of the entire world.

I believe that the President and certain members of the Congress have been right in refusing to recognize Yassar Arafat as a “leader” of the Palestinians. I believe that certain members of the Congress and the President have been right in continuing to recognize that Israel is one of our closest allies and deserves our wholehearted and substantial support. I believe that they have gone wrong in trying to involve the United Nations in resolving the issues in the Middle East.

6. ENERGY: What do you think America should do to reduce our dependence on foreign oil?

It is a tragedy that more has not been done about this in the past. We now find ourselves addicted to Middle East oil and at the mercy of foreign oil barons who, at least in part, have the power to make or break our economy. We need to immediately start increasing the federal standards f ileage in new vehicles. So much progress has been made recently in ethanol, fuel cells and hybrid engines that the time has come for us to put those technologies to work by gradually increasing those mileage requirements. Geologists tell us that, at best, we have several decades left of extraction of fossil fuels before those resources begin to dwindle. In some ways this reality poses the greatest threat to the quality of life we now enjoy. And answering that threat will require an unprecedented commitment to worldwide planning and energy research.

I believe that the Congress must adopt a comprehensive policy on energy. This would include such items as continuing to develop non-gasoline powered vehicles;  finding new areas of domestic gas and crude oil; providing programs and incentives for energy savings not only on motor vehicles,  but also on appliances and other energy consuming devices; and continuing to work to develop alternate environmentally friendlier and renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar and water.

7.  PREVIOUS ANSWERS:  What do you think of the answers your opponent gave in our last edition of Fair Lawn News.  (See Summer Q&A)

I thought my opponent's answers in the last edition of Fair Lawn News were very thoughtful. Ed Trawinski is a person of integrity and someone who cares deeply about our area. Ed and I are friends and fellow residents of Fair Lawn and I look forward to seeing Ed on the campaign trail this fall. My simple hope is that the people of this District take a look at my record of fighting for a genuine prescription drug benefit for seniors under Medicare, universal health care for all Americans, tax deductions for college tuition, the strongest military in the world and my firm commitment to getting our economy moving by rebuilding our nation's infrastructure. It is an absolute privilege and blessing to have this job and to serve the 650,000 residents of the district. I would be honored to serve the people for another two years.

I respect the responses of my opponent in the last edition of Fair Lawn News. Given our professional and educational backgrounds, our deep faith in our respective religious beliefs, and our strong desire to serve the people of the 9th Congressional District we are, in many respects, similar. We do, however, have a different philosophical view of the role of government which makes us very different in other respects - not better, not worse, just different.