League of Women Voters election survey: Eric Roberson, candidate for U.S. House Rep. - District 32

by Staff of League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Dallas sent a questionnaire to every candidate running for public office in Dallas County. The election on November 4th features a number of local races to decide state and national Senate and House of Representatives seats.

The responses of Eric Roberson (D), who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives - District 32 seat, appear below. Roberson is running against the incumbent, Rep. Pete Sessions (R), and Alex Bischoff (L).

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

Roberson: I have seen America from the bottom up. Born and raised in Dallas County, I am a Veteran, a family man, Sunday School Teacher, community volunteer and highly rated trial lawyer. A graduate of Richardson High (1983), Baylor (1986), and Baylor Law with honors (1995), I am ready to serve.

LWV: What reforms would you propose to the U.S. healthcare system to control costs, improve the quality of care and expand access to healthcare to uninsured Americans?

Roberson: Americans have the world’s best healthcare, for the rich or well insured. So my plan builds on our strengths and fixes our weaknesses. Americans can keep their own doctors, insurance, or health coverage if satisfied; small businesses and the self employed will be allowed to participate in group coverage; and insurance pools for the currently uninsured will allow for increased access to preventative medicine and early treatment limiting the need for costly ER visits.

LWV: Do you support a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq?

Roberson: Yes. Thanks to the great work of our troops, it is time for a timeline. Depending on facts on the ground, we should remove the bulk of our troops (except trainers, special forces, and aviation assets) within 16 months--as requested by the Iraqi Prime Minister. By withdrawing our forces and leaving a peaceful, stable Iraq, we would show the world that the US is a liberating nation, not a conquering nation.

LWV: How do you propose to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S., while also meeting the increased need of American agriculture and small business for workers?

Roberson: The immigration crisis was created by Congress and can be fixed by Congress. Real reform can control our borders and strengthen our economy by focusing on making employer verification simple, ending document fraud, having sufficient border-protection funding, and providing legal visas to meet our economy's needs. Washington limits unskilled visas to only 5,000 annually, creating unnecessary demand for undocumented workers. By meeting demand legally we will control our borders again and strengthen the economy.

LWV: The U.S. Highway Trust Fund is expected to go into deficit next year. Congress is reluctant to raise the federal gas tax. How should America pay for its massive infrastructure needs related to roads and bridges?

Roberson: The Trust Fund is one resource but need not be the only resource. By using the 'Pay As You Go' (PAYGO) funding scheme, long-overdue projects and repairs can begin. Supplementing the Trust Fund could be dedicated funds from increased drilling on federal lands and waters; further, renegotiating oil royalties from federal lands and even amending the 1872 Mining Act more favorably could provide the needed dollars. Failure to act will hurt our economy.

LWV: What source do you think represents the greatest opportunity to achieve energy independence? How can the federal government best advance its development?

Roberson: America must use all potential sources for energy independence: Renew tax incentives for wind, solar, and tidal energy; increase drilling of American oil and natural gas on and offshore (with advanced protective measures); up to 20% of electricity provided by wind power through grid expansion; continuing nuclear power reforms that have produced four new plant approvals this year; and marketing natural gas vehicles with a tax incentive for gas stations to install natural gas pumps.

LWV: What other issue do you believe will be most pressing in the next session of Congress, and what is your position on this issue?

Roberson: Washington is broken and must be fixed. We must have Representatives in Washington that put America First, not special interests or partisan power. With Russia re-emerging as a real military threat and with China emerging as a real economic threat, we must rebuild our military and our economy so that we have the ability to protect ourselves and our economy...as well as fostering freedom worldwide. I will vote “America First” with every vote.