This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on February 11, 2010.
Republican candidate for Senate Tom Campbell spoke to San Diego business leaders Thursday — pitching his ideas to solve the nation’s $1.35 trillion deficit.
The former U.S. Congressman, who just announced his run less than a month ago, made his campaign stop via the “Good Government Series” hosted by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, introducing his “alternative budget” for the U.S.
“I went through every item and I think we could all benefit from it,” Campbell said. “The debt we currently have — and to put it into perspective — if we continue to spend at the rate we’re going, it would take 293 years to pay it back.”
In an intimate setting with about 30 Chamber members, Campbell pitched his campaign spiel stating if his run against incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was solely based on economic issues he would win.
The hour-long meeting with the former candidate for governor was complete with a session of questions and answers – touching on issues such as health care, the controversial Cap and Trade Bill, water and why he swiftly dropped out of the state race for a seat in Congress.
Perhaps his most poignant suggestion for solving the deficit is to re-allocate stimulus funds — otherwise known as President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
According to ProPublica, the $787 billion has been set aside to stimulate the economy, nearly $465 billion has not been used. Campbell suggested putting half the amount back into the federal bank account and offering the other half to stimulate “all businesses, not just small businesses.”
He said his reasoning is to prove that government is investing in American businesses so that consumer confidence could be restored.
Using phrases such as “user funding,” “pay as you go,” and “user pay,” Campbell added that he would bring back tax credits used during the second Bush Administration, when the deficit was “a third of what it is today.”
The economist, who received a “frugal” award as a Congressman, also said he would put a cap on Medicaid, believes the Cap and Trade Bill is the “greatest intrusion” of his lifetime and the health care debate should be focused on what is best for the “neediest” population.
The discussion between Campbell and business leaders also included his decision to drop out of the Governor’s race and immediately jump into the Senate race. He said he couldn’t ignore the problems facing the nation and he couldn’t beat wealthy contenders Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner.
He said he wanted to help solve the federal issues and became aware that he couldn’t win the Governor’s seat.
Though he has only been in the Senate race since Jan. 14, the latest poll by the Public Policy Institute of California show he has support from 27 voters compared to Carly Fiorina’s 16 percent and Assemblymember Chuck DeVore’s eight percent. This leaves Campbell trailing behind Boxer by six percent.
Confident in his ability to defeat the popular Senator, Campbell said if voters select their next California leader based on “accounting,” he would win.
“If you vote on who is careful with your money and as long as we keep the debate on accounting, I’ll win,” he said. “And, I’m Pro-Choice, always been. Boxer will most likely turn this into a social issue race but I won’t argue with anyone’s conscience.”
The “Good Government Series” is an ongoing project by the Chamber which invites elected officials to speak with business leaders. Campbell’s opponent Carly Fiorina took part in the series Tuesday but her meeting was closed to the media.
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.