Positions 

Cap & Trade

Cap and Trade involves using new regulations and legislation to reduce the release of various pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and oceans. The prime pollutant is carbon dioxide. If enacted, this law will create a scheme that would allow companies to buy and sell their emission permits or credits. But despite the political spin in Washington, this is nothing more than a smokescreen to impose a tax on business that will hurt not only businesses, but particularly distributors, and will ultimately hurt the consumer.  

Jobs & The Economy

From the time Laura Richardson took office unemployment figures in the 37th Congressional District reflect the following increases:                    

Job Losses

Carson:   2500 representing an increase in job losses of 71.4%
Compton:   3,400 representing an increase in job losses of 72%
Long Beach:   14,100 representing an increase in job losses of 72%

The economy has been in a downward spiral since the Obama Administration began its socialist agenda. Instead of focusing on jobs, which is the people’s highest priority in all major polls, the president and the Congress led by Reid and Pelosi has focused on such government takeover programs as Healthcare, Cap & Trade (Cap & Tax), Financial Reform and Amnesty for illegal immigrants. Most financial experts now say that Obama’s plan for financial reform will only further destroy the economy by causing more job losses.

What I want to do when I arrive in Washington is to bring back control of the economy to private industry – the entrepreneurs that create jobs. 

Abortion

Rather than recognizing that every human being is unique and free, created in God's image, socialism tries to turn us into laboratory rodents, pretending to manage our lives according to predictable formulas. A recent Gallup poll reflects that 51% of Americans are now Pro-Life. Even former Planned Parenthood director, Abby Johnson, has confirmed that her former organization tries to instill in its employees and women who seek abortions that their wombs carry nothing but a mass of cells. 

Taxpayers, especially in light of their faith, should not be forced to support abortion with their hard-earned dollars. 

Note: In my state of California, a school official can remove your minor daughter from the school and facilitate an abortion without so much as notifying you the parent. Yet these same school officials cannot administer so much as an aspirin without your written permission. Their goal: control and indoctrination as early in life as possible

Education

With 2009 California Standardized Test scores in my district reflecting proficiency rates as low as 4% in English-Language Arts, and 17% in Math, it is long past time that the students in my district receive the same quality education as is in more affluent parts of the state. 

What will help bring this to a realization is what always works in other areas: COMPETITION!! More than 50% of the high schools students drop out in my district. This is unacceptable and I will work to restore California to its previous #1 education ranking in the country. 

(Test Score Source: www.greatschools.com)

Gay Marriage

Marriage between one man and one woman has been a protected institution over the centuries all across the globe. Californians passed Proposition 8, the “Marriage Protection Act” constitutional amendment in a clear effort to continue to protect this institution. Studies show that homes and families with both parents have a significantly higher success rate raising their children to become well-grounded adults. 

Related 

• See Incumbent Laura Richardson's positions through her voting record.