{"id":14300,"date":"2012-10-24T12:33:16","date_gmt":"2012-10-24T19:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/idyllwildtowncrier.com\/?p=14300"},"modified":"2013-04-19T09:05:21","modified_gmt":"2013-04-19T16:05:21","slug":"congressional-district-36-interviews-with-bono-mack-and-ruiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/idyllwildtowncrier.com\/2012\/10\/24\/congressional-district-36-interviews-with-bono-mack-and-ruiz\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressional District 36: Interviews with Bono Mack and Ruiz"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: Idyllwild is in the 36th Congressional District. This district is slightly different from former Congressional District 45. <\/em><\/p>\n

Congressional District 36 extends west from the Colorado River to the San Bernardino National Forest, but includes Banning, San Jacinto and Hemet rather than the western Riverside communities of Temecula and Murrieta.<\/p>\n

In 2011, when redistricting was completed, the district\u2019s party registration was 42 percent Republican and 39 percent Democrats.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 7, 2012, a year later and two months prior to the election, the registration was 40 percent Republican and 39 percent Democratic.<\/p>\n

Rep. Mary Bono Mack<\/h3>\n

Rep. Mary Bono Mack was interviewed by phone on Tuesday, Oct. 16.<\/p>\n

What is the budget solution? \u201cCut programs\u201d or \u201cTax the rich\u201d are slogans that aren\u2019t solutions?<\/strong>
\n\u201cThis is not a tax problem, it\u2019s a spending problem,\u201d Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack replied quickly. \u201cThere are tough decisions, but Congress has to go through the budget with a fine tooth comb and find a lot of waste. We either save now rather than later. But it all adds up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Examples of programs, which she feels should be cut or reduced, include funds for the high-speed rail for California, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as subsidies for the Public Broadcasting System. In her opinion, the Internet has changed the world and reduces the need for federal support of these activities.<\/p>\n

While seeking to reduce the deficit, Bono Mack is cautious about defense reduction. \u201cI don\u2019t support defense cuts to activities that directly support the defense program mission,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n

However, the defense budget has grown so large, she believes there are programs, which are not mission-specific and don\u2019t belong there. For example, the defense budget harbors millions for breast cancer research, which should be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services, she advocated. Then, Congress should make decisions about the totality of funding for disease research.<\/p>\n

What is the role of Medicare?<\/strong>
\n\u201cMedicare right now is a promise made for health care,\u201d she said. \u201cThe problem is Medicare going broke. We can\u2019t do nothing because the cost is increasing to service fewer doctors who take Medicare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reinforcing her point, Bono Mack discussed the annual Congressional adjustment to doctor reimbursements from Medicare, the \u201cDoc fix.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the Congressional Research Service, \u201cEach year since 2002, the statutory method for determining the annual updates to the Medicare physician fee schedule \u2026 has resulted in a reduction in the reimbursement rates. With the exception of 2002, when a 4.8 percent decrease was applied, Congress has passed a series of bills to override the reductions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[President Barrack] Obama and [Democratic CD 36 candidate Dr. Raul] Ruiz won\u2019t admit [this] system will make Medicare go broke four to six years sooner,\u201d Bono Mack claimed.<\/p>\n

While Bono Mack wants to preserve Medicare, in its current form for people over 55 years, she insists the future problem is the costs for people under 55 years. \u201cThey\u2019re scaring seniors over 55, while the problem is for the people under 55.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s up to Congress to write legislation to provide as much healthcare for seniors as possible,\u201d she urged.
\nHow do we ration medical services?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need a system that provides accountability between patient and doctor. Everyone should have \u2018skin in game.\u2019 Now there\u2019s no accountability, especially in Medicare. Is it the patient, the insurer, or a doctor who has a choice?\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo expand to everyone is foolhardy,\u201d she said. \u201cIt will be a moderate healthcare catastrophe if there were 100 percent coverage.\u201d As an example, she asked how the government would ensure that patients actually used the medicine prescribed to them.<\/p>\n

Without any co-pay, Bono Mack describes medical practice as an arbitrary political decision, which is no longer based on efficacy or economics of the treatment or procedure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you believe the people are not paying, somebody is paying for the medicine, and this doesn\u2019t fix system,\u201d she emphasized. \u201cIf medicine and treatments are free, the doctor and pharmacy are happy to write prescriptions whether you use the medicine or throw it away.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do we improve educational programs?<\/strong>
\nLocal schools must find ways to inspire students, she said. \u201cKids are not inspired by much in school now. Sending more money to Sacramento or Washington won\u2019t fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bono Mack wants to see school districts employ performance programs which only reward good teachers and she supports the expansion of local charter schools. \t\u201cWe need a system that finds people goals,\u201d she said. \u201cIdyllwild Arts Academy serves a passion, finding their students\u2019 greatest gift.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a model for a magnet school, but local districts need to make decisions to encourage this approach, she argued.<\/p>\n

What does the Californian Republican party have to do to be relevant statewide?<\/strong>
\n\u201cIt will be interesting to see how the election plays out and the results of redistricting,\u201d she replied. \u201cThe pressure no longer pays to be extreme, people need to be consensus builders and problem solvers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hopeful the open primary system finally worked for greater good of the district rather than worked for good of ole boys in party,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Dr. Raul Ruiz<\/h3>\n

Dr. Raul, Ruiz, the Democratic Party candidate for CD 36, was interviewed by phone on Thursday, Oct. 18.<\/p>\n

What is the budget solution? \u201cCut programs\u201d or \u201cTax the rich\u201d are slogans that aren\u2019t solutions?<\/strong>
\nThis is one of biggest contrasts between Mary Bono Mack, the Republican candidate for California\u2019s 36th Congressional District, and Dr. Raul Ruiz, the Democratic Party candidate, he said.<\/p>\n

Ruiz began with a characterization of Bono Mack\u2019s budget solutions: $6,000 more for Medicare recipients, cut Pell (student) grants and raise the income tax on the middle class.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll put people first,\u201d Ruiz claimed. \u201cNumber 1, we need to start to really work hard to create jobs. The unemployed are relying on a safety net.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ruiz said he would support action to bring the troops back from Afghanistan. \u201cThis will save 100\u2019s of billions,\u201d Ruiz said.<\/p>\n

Secondly, he supports legislation to permit Medicare officials to negotiate drug prices. According to Ruiz, this would save $200 billion over 10 years.<\/p>\n

Ruiz wants budget officials to seek out and eliminate waste in Medicare that would amount to an annual savings of $750 billion per year. But total Medicare expenditures in 2011 were $549 billion, according to the annual report of the Medicare program trustees, four of which are Obama appointees.<\/p>\n

Finally, he will support eliminating the Bush tax cuts on incomes greater than $1 million.<\/p>\n

What is the role of Medicare?<\/strong>
\nSince it was enacted in the1960s, Medicare has guaranteed healthcare to seniors, according to Ruiz.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeniors are struggling to make it with only social security checks,\u201d Ruiz said. \u201cIt\u2019s an economic catastrophe when our seniors do not have enough money to afford healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMedicare needs to change otherwise it\u2019s not sustainable,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll strengthen Medicare through healthcare costs savings.\u201d The largest, in Ruiz\u2019s opinion, is to allow the program officials to negotiate drug prices. He estimates this will save $200 billion over 10 years.<\/p>\n

Secondly, he advocates that Medicare focus on prevention of disease. \u201cThis is a cost effective way to reduce healthcare costs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

How do we improve educational programs?<\/strong>
\nTo make big differences, Ruiz believes schools have to focus on programs such as science and healthcare and to cooperate with businesses so that graduates have a future when the finish high school.<\/p>\n

Secondly, every classroom should have access to the Internet. This may require computers and software, but they are necessary and should be provided to every school\u2019s classroom, he urged.<\/p>\n

Funding for this equipment would come from partnerships between public, private and philanthropic agencies, he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: Idyllwild is in the 36th Congressional District. This district is slightly different from former Congressional District 45. Congressional District 36 extends west from the Colorado River to the San Bernardino National Forest, but includes Banning, San Jacinto and Hemet rather than the western Riverside communities of Temecula and Murrieta. In 2011, when redistricting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"amp_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[369,30],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nCongressional District 36: Interviews with Bono Mack and Ruiz • Idyllwild Town Crier<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/idyllwildtowncrier.com\/2012\/10\/24\/congressional-district-36-interviews-with-bono-mack-and-ruiz\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"JP Crumrine\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" 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