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Editor’s Note: In June 2012, Civil Beat sent 10 questions to each of the candidates registered to run for the U.S. Senate in the Aug. 11 primary. Eight of the 11 responded, including Heath Beasley. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full. Read responses by Ed Case, Mazie Hirono and Linda Lingle to see how Beasley’s positions compare to those of his main competitors. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Beasley’s response.

• Drone Strikes
• Federal Debt
• Economic Growth
• Funding
• Akaka Bill
• Health Care Policy
• Filibuster
• Global Warming
• Super PACs
• Overlooked Issue

1. President Obama has significantly increased the use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets. The policy has been criticized for denying due process rights for at least one American living abroad, and for the collateral killing of civilians. Do you support this policy — why or why not?

America’s foreign policy over the past several decades has weakened the vested power of the Congress to declare war. President Obama’s drone attacks only follows a pattern that pervious presidents carved out of the Constitution with the help of lawyers. The Commander in Chief oversteps their bounds of authority granted by the Constitution in their war actions. They have led the country into countless conflicts like Vietnam, Panama, and many other military operations with out Congress’s consent. I do not support drone attacks without the permission of Congress. Congress should have the final say in what actions this country involves itself. ↩ back to top

2. A divided U.S. Congress has not been able to come to agreement on how to lower the federal debt, in spite of bipartisan recommendations from the Simpson-Bowles deficit commission and others. What is your evaluation of those recommendations, which include hard decisions regarding entitlement programs, defense spending and taxes?

One of the entitlements which is Social Security should not be alternated because the beneficiaries paid into SSI their whole lives. The lawmakers raided the funds and made the excuse the baby boomers out lived their expectation. Plain and simple the money was there. By their raising the retirement age it sends two messages, one they want us to work longer, and two they want us to die sooner than later. In regards to spending, get rid of the unnecessary redundancies in the government. The duplication of vital departments is understandable but there’s a point when the government goes over board. Another key factor to lowering the debt is the tax code. The code that is in place now is weak because of its lack ability to generate revenue, and the solution to this problem is to raise taxes on the rich? No one group of citizens should bear the burden of a country because of a weak taxation system. Citizens will leave this country if that happened. We need a new tax code, which I outlined at beasleyforhawaii.com on July 11, 2012. ↩ back to top

3. The major issue for most candidates is jobs and the economy. Can you identify a concrete example of how you as senator would go about stimulating growth both nationally and in Hawaii?

In order to create jobs we have to invest in education, technology, and the environment. The exploration of the five different platforms of power, which are wind generation, fuel from waste, hydro, solar, and geothermal energy, will give the edge we are looking for. This will help us build our infrastructure and create jobs and the economy here in Hawaii and in America. ↩ back to top

4. Sen. Dan Inouye has brought countless dollars to the state over his long career, not only for defense projects but to help with energy, agriculture, education, security and Native Hawaiian issues. Should you be elected to the Senate, Inouye could leave office during your time in office. How would you work to continue funding important projects in the islands, especially as a junior senator in a body that values seniority?

Establishing a working relationship with Senator Inouye and the rest of the Hawaiian delegates is key to future progress. Also making connections with their associates will prove to be a great asset when passing legislation. ↩ back to top

5. The Akaka Bill on federal recognition for Native Hawaiians has consistently stalled in the U.S. Senate because of GOP opposition. Do you support federal recognition, and if so, how would you go about securing it?

Yes I support the Akaka Bill because it brings the Native Hawaiians together to form a government. This enables the United States and the Native Hawaiian government to formally sit down and draw out plans for reconciliation, as was done for the Native American tribes. But until this bill passes this cannot take place. Much diplomacy is needed to bring this hope to reality. ↩ back to top

6. Regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules on President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, what would your goals be in terms of health care policy as a senator? Would you support universal health care?

I support the healthcare plan put forth by President Obama because it tackles the issues with the cost of care and the denial of coverage. However, I would not mandate every citizen to have coverage although they need it. Universal healthcare on the other hand would speak volumes about our country’s value of life. Just as we have public education paid with taxpayers’ money, so should we have public healthcare. We as a society deemed education as a necessity of life, how much more should we esteem healthcare. For more insight about my solutions on healthcare please visit beasleyforhawaii.com. July 20, 2012 where I will outline a healthcare plan. ↩ back to top

7. The filibuster has been used by both parties to block legislation. Do you support this controversial parliamentary maneuver? Why or why not?

Yes, I support the parliamentary use of filibusters. Filibusters can be used for all types of reasons, one you can hold a vote to wait for supporters of a particle bill or you can delay a bill from coming to a vote. So, it can be used for good or bad just like anything else in life. ↩ back to top

8. Global warming is real, and rising sea levels will certainly impact Hawaii. What steps would you take as a U.S. senator to mitigate the effects of global warming?

It all comes down to doing what’s right for the environment. Here in Hawaii we cannot afford to live as there’s no tomorrow. Innovation through alternative energy productions and industrialize farming (traditional farming, hydroponics, and aquaponics) will not only sustain Hawaii but bring futuristic and clean jobs to our islands. ↩ back to top

9. The Citizens United decision has resulted in nearly unlimited amounts of money being spent on behalf of many candidates. Massachusetts candidates Scott Brown and Eilzabeth Warren have pledged to reject super-PAC money in their Senate contest. Would you be willing to do that in your race — why or why not?

As an Independent, I hope that in its self sends a clear message to voters of my commitment to stand free and clear of any special interest groups to serve the people. ↩ back to top

10. What is an issue you think is important to address as a U.S. Senate candidate — one that perhaps has not been given sufficient attention during the campaign?

One of the main topics of many discussions is the federal budget, but one of its key components is the tax code. The solution that many have come up with is to tax the rich. Bad idea. This is why, over time the wealthy will leave this country and this also creates division. We have all heard the saying a house divide cannot stand, the same goes for a country. Our taxation system doesn’t generate revenue as it should because it’s coupled with erroneous subsidies and loopholes that renders it ineffective. No one group of citizen ought to bear the burdens of a weak tax code. My plan is to create a new tax code that addresses all the issues we face as a society. You can find my tax code plan at beasleyforhawaii.com. ↩ back to top