Busby says she aims to change 'culture of corruption'
By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer
Editor's note: This is the corrected version of a story posted this morning that contained an error. The story posted this morning misstated Busby's view on the estate tax. It should have said Busby told the North County Times she supports a permanent repeal of the tax. We apologize for the error. | ∞
Candidates for the 50th Congressional District Francine Busby and Brian Brilbray.
North County Times file photos
ESCONDIDO ---- Democrat Francine Busby laid out the differences between herself and her opponent, Republican Brian Bilbray, Tuesday in her continuing bid for the 50th Congressional District seat.
The candidate spoke Tuesday on a wide range of topics from illegal immigration to campaign finance reform during a meeting with editors of the North County Times.
Busby, a Cardiff school board member and former teacher, is campaigning as a Washington outsider who wants to reform what she says is a corrupt campaign financing system. She said her opponent was a part of that system.
"What the voters here have is a very clear choice between someone who has a been part of the system and someone who hasn't," Busby said.
Bilbray, a former congressman who served the 49th Congressional District from 1995 to 2001, dismissed Busby's comment, saying that she is attacking him to mask her inexperience.
"Ms. Busby doesn't have a record, so her handlers have told her she has to attack me," he said in a phone interview.
Both candidates are hoping to capture the congressional seat left vacant by Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who resigned last year after pleading guilty in federal court to income tax evasion and taking more than $2.4 million in bribes. Cunningham, who served the district stretching from Escondido to Del Mar, is serving a sentence of more than eight years in federal prison.
Busby and Bilbray are in a fight to fill Cunningham's seat for the remainder of the current term, which ends in December, and to nab the job for the next two-year term, which begins in January. The two will face off June 6, when voters will decide who fills the seat until the end of the year. The primary election to determine candidates for the November election to fill the next term will also be held June 6.
During Tuesday's discussion, Busby said she would use her election as a springboard for a national effort to curb what she says is undue influence by lobbyists and special interests.
"If I win this in June, will have a national platform for my message that we need to clean house and put a firewall between lobbyists and legislators when it comes to conflict-of-interest issues," she said, speaking of her proposal, the Change Legislative Ethics and Attitudes Now House Act.
"In the next six months between June and November, I will be going across this country asking candidates to sign on to a CLEAN House Act, so that their constituents will have the choice of voting for more of the same or voting for change," she said.
On the topic of illegal immigration, Busby said she would support a bill sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that would allow millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the country legally. It would allow immigrants living in the country illegally to pay a $2,000 fine and get temporary work visas after criminal background checks.
"It is not amnesty, it does not qualify them for citizenship, but it will give them the opportunity to stay here and work," she said.
Busby said she also supports increasing border enforcement, but not in the form of a 700-mile border fence that some members of Congress have proposed. She said she would push for an electronic surveillance system that would warn immigration enforcement agents when illegal immigrants cross the border.
Her opponent has been an outspoken critic of illegal immigration who supports the border fence and tougher immigration enforcement measures.
Busby also talked Tuesday about her views on a number of different issues:
- On gasoline prices, she said would support congressional investigations to see if there has been price gauging at the pump or antitrust violations by big oil companies. She also would encourage the use of alternative fuels and stricter fuel efficiency standards for vehicles. She said she would not support a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
- On the Iraq war, she said the country needs to set benchmarks to determine when to start drawing down troops. The goal should be to have a functioning government in Iraq, she said.
- On tax cuts, she said she would support repealing the estate or inheritance tax. A 2001 law gradually increased the amount of inheritance that can be exempted from tax, while also gradually decreasing the top tax rate. She said tax cuts need to be reconsidered within the context of balancing the federal budget.
- On health care, she said would support tax credits for small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees.
- On minimum wage, she said she would support an increase in the federal minimum pay.
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Green wrote on May 10, 2006 5:46 AM:Controlling Congress for 12 years and the white house for five, Republicans have come to symbolize the culture of corruption in D.C. Voters need to send a message that it's not OK, otherwise they get the message that it is. And yes, Francine Busby and other "clean" freshmen will be a breath of fresh air. But the Democratic party is also knee-deep in lies and a corruption that goes to the core of our system. If we really want to become free of corruption we need fundamental change; public funded campaigns, true equality for other political parties, unbiased sources of news, etc. Let's be honest, this country is a sewer of lies, corruption, and self-absorbed consumerism. Money is our God. We fall far short of our potential to lead the species away from our barbaric and irrational past. Instead we remain knee deep in blood.
Oh Please wrote on May 10, 2006 7:21 AM:Congress will change her before she changes Congress.
bryan wrote on May 10, 2006 8:36 AM:Even with all of our flaws this country is still 1000% better than any other country. We do have too many people in this country that are not patriotic and that want this country to fail or fall apart. We need a greater sense of national pride. We are a sovereign nation with laws and borders and no other country should be able to control our destiny.
Kristie wrote on May 10, 2006 9:09 AM:Republican or Democratic there always seems to be corruption. Have you seen either party enforce our immigration laws in the past twenty to thirty years?? Our whole family votes independantly because we are all sick and tired of it all. Beware of commercials on TV, with the internet so handy everyone better do their homework on the issues you're most concerned about. If you look at our State Senate they are mostly democrats and have been for awhile. Look at the shape California is in and 25 of them supported the May 1st boycott. What does that tell you??? Where does Busby really stand on illegal immigration??
Patriot wrote on May 10, 2006 10:17 AM:Busby sounds like she would be a descent Rep. Too bad she is soft on illegal immigration. Therefore she will not get my vote. It's unfortunate she doesn't have the guts to enforce the laws of the land, just like our other spineless politicians.
rationallib wrote on May 10, 2006 5:33 PM:Prop 13 keeps the billionare's property tax a fraction of a new owners, and when he dies with all his savings, the governemtn that provided a setting for his success doesn't get a cut. Liberal policies are pretty hollow without a plan to pay for it. Just how does Busby expect to do what she wants without such revenues?
Harvey wrote on May 10, 2006 6:57 PM:Well now we know where Busby stands on illegal aliens. She supports them and will vote with Kennedy and McCain to grant them amnesty, even though she pretends that's not what the bill will do. Of course it's amnesty. So this is how she would punish the law breakers? Reward them and the thousands that will follow. Too bad she show's no backbone on this issue. I guess I will be voting for Bilbray, if only as a vote against her. Illegal immigration is the most crucial issue facing this country today, it's not Iraq, is not the cost of a gallon of gas, education or health care. This proves she's just more of the same, another weak, spineless politician afraid to do what's right because it might offend somebody.
Moderate in the Middle wrote on May 10, 2006 8:05 PM:While Busby's promises of cleaning up Washington are refreshing, it's a bit naive to think that one freshman representative can accomplish all that she claims to want to do (check out her website for her long list of goals). I personally think that this region has been without competent representation for too long, and that Bilbray, while not perfect, is better suited to represent the citizens in this region. He can also hit the ground running, which we need to make up for lost time. As an aside, I find that the attack ads by both parties are just disgusting, and wish that both Bilbray and Busby would have them pulled. We all deserve better.
Busby needs to clean up wrote on May 13, 2006 5:30 AM:Her views on ILLEGAL immigration. She cares little to nothing of how her constituents feel about this issue and these ILLEGAL aliens have cost us tax payers alot more than $2000 in health care, educating their children, stealing tags for their ILLEGAL vehicles, WIC, it goes on and on. I can't tell you how many people I know that have experienced the same thing I have; an accident with an ILLEGAL alien, with no valid car insurance, no legally registered car and had to pay the bill. Where do these politicians think all these FAKE social security cards come from? They are someone's social security/ID that ILLEGAL aliens have stolen. I would NEVER vote for someone who would not insist on enforcing our laws. Let Busby go run for office in Mexico!
Ron wrote on May 13, 2006 5:40 PM:If she wins, we shall see. I'm putting money on the fact that she will be pulled aisde by the Democratic house leadership, and told what to do. She owes them big time for all the money sent to help her win. If she wins, she will be obligated to play by her party's rules. Which mena, get in line with whatever they want her to do.
I Got the Memo Too wrote on May 13, 2006 7:34 PM:The real issue is that if the Dems get a majority in the House it breaks the stranglehold on Congress caused by one party rule. Busby's (or Bilbray's) position on the Rep Nat Committee's talking point issue of immigration is relatively irrelevant and clearly a red herring.
Ron wrote on May 15, 2006 10:21 AM:Just based on her stance on illegal aliens, she's a NO vote. Allowing a path to citizenship for low skilled workers is against our national interests. These people will cause an additional drain, on already over-taxed social services. Ask any American, how their making ends meet on $8 bucks an hour. They will tell you, pretty poorly. They surely do not have health insurance. What makes anyone thing gaining more $8/hour workers is going to help anyone except criminal employers who don't have to pay all the "extras" American workers will expect?
JD wrote on May 15, 2006 1:12 PM:Same old political nonsense to me! She is just like a new lawyer who wants to help society get better. The problem is, the system is bigger then her and as long as the courts are making the laws (i.e. the 9th socialist court) the system is going to keep falling apart. Just look at things like the Mount Soledad Cross and "In God We Trust!" I hope she at least has good intentions and isn't just doing the political thing!
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