Place of residence: 611 Magnolia Ave., Frederick, Md. 21701 Date of birth: April 13, 1961 Place of birth: Alexandria, Va. Occupation: Restaurant owner, Realtor Education: Mount St. Mary’s, B.A. history, magna cum laude, 1983 Community associations, involvement: Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, Leukemia⁄Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk (Frederick) Professional Associations: National Association of Realtors, Maryland Association of Realtors, Frederick County Association of Realtors Family: Large, Irish family all live in Maryland: Dad, Mom, five brothers and sisters, eight nieces and nephews. Campaign office and telephone: 207 W. Patrick Street, 2nd Floor, Frederick, MD 21701; 301-524-7442 Web site: www.jenniferdougherty.com E-mail: campaign@ jenniferdougherty.com or jennifer@ jenniferdougherty.com Link to federal campaign finance database

Congress, Dist. 6

Jennifer P. Dougherty (D)

I did not support the rescue package as crafted. The initial relief should have been directed at home foreclosure relief and the need to get credit flowing.

I support the creation of a Resolution Trust type of organization that would facilitate people renegotiating loans, paying their debt and staying in their homes.

The legislation did not adequately address the credit issue, which is a huge problem for the commercial side of the problem. Further, it allowed the Treasury Department too much leeway in writing the regulations for implementation.

The special interest "tag-a-longs" for rum and toy arrows added to the problems for this bill. The Alternative Minimum Tax Credit was passed (good) but it was not funded (bad); mental health parity was passed (good), but not funded (bad). The pay-go system has been abandoned.

Given the state of the economy, we should also adopt a five-year plan to balance the budget and start paying down the debt.

Q. Is the bailout package a slippery slope? Can we expect other industries to need/expect similar massive help and, if that's the case, how should the government respond?

Yes, yes, it depends.

Government and our economy are inextricably linked. When things go sour, our largest national industries have come to the federal government for relief. Chrysler came in the 1980s and came back stronger — for a while. The airlines got help after Sept. 11. Temporary relief is better for the economy than industry failure and massive job loss. The relief, however, should be tied to strategic changes.

When we loaned money to Chrysler, the need for more fuel efficiency was known, but we did not tie financial relief to industry reform. Government loans/investment must be tied to a national strategic interest, job growth and a good long-term plan.

The distaste most Americans have for this relief package is that the relief seemed to be directed at people who took advantage of a system with little or no regulation and oversight. The money managers pocketed millions and walked away. Another lesson for future relief requests must include retroactive penalties and assessments that disallow huge bonuses for failure (including relief requests).

Q. Some, like Sen. Cardin, have called for a Manhattan Project-type effort to address the nation's energy needs and to get the US off foreign oil? What do you believe should be done?

Yes, we need a 10-year plan for American energy independence with goals and investment. We cannot get distracted by momentary reductions at the gas pumps and must work to create effective options for consumers that include a focus on conservation, renewable energy supplies, new technology and nuclear power.

Local pilot programs will be important to create marketable solutions. I support a bio-fuels refinery for Western Maryland that will help with our reliance of fossil fuels, create a local alternative and create jobs.

I will also support a block grant funded "Get Off the Grid" program to allow local communities to create energy choices that help every homeowner and business in a community by converting to solar or wind power. By making these investments, we can improve the technology and speed conversion to renewable.

I support advancing our energy options by investing in nuclear power and will work to adopt sound operation and disposal practices that reassure the public's trust.

What are your top three priorities for the next two years, if elected?

1. War and peace. The next president and Congress should adopt a mutual goal of restoring America’s position in the world. The U.S. should promote peace, democracy and international cooperation.

We will protect and defend our nation, our citizens, and our allies, but will not be afraid to restore relationships that have been damaged over the past seven years. I support bringing the troops home from Iraq in 2009 and restoring a balanced approach toward diplomacy.

I will fight terrorists who want to attack us, but I don’t want us to be pulled into the middle of a religious civil war in the Middle East or anywhere else. I support proper treatment and pay for our armed forces, reserves and National Guard, and demand proper oversight over treatment of our veterans in all VA hospitals. I oppose the use of private security companies to do the work of our nation in international conflicts.

2. Universal health care. Health insurance costs are a threat to most American families and small businesses. Insurance benefits and procedures can be denied at the whim of a benefits’ manager. We have to adopt a practical plan that will provide affordable health care to all Americans.

I endorse a plan that allows consumer choice by letting people stay in their existing plans or choosing to buy in to the federal employee plan. Everyone has to be covered. I support the option of allowing young retirees (55+ years old) to buy in to Medicare, expanding SCHIP coverage for children, and allowing young adults (ages 18-24) to remain on family coverage.

3. The economy: Economic and environmental investment in District 6. The demand for green technology and industry make Western Maryland an ideal location for investment.

I propose the construction of a bio-fuels refinery for the production of (non-corn based) ethanol that will strengthen the economy, create jobs, and be good for the environment by providing needed ethanol for our cars and trucks.

Federal, state and private investment will help advance this project. Investing in our energy independence will improve our economy, environment and national security.

I support an end to tax cuts for the wealthy and re-directing that $70 billion to helping families meet the costs of college, health insurance and Medicare.

How would you rate the performance of the House of Representatives: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

Fair. The House of Representatives started with a unified agenda, but the stalemate with the White House still drives people away from politics.

Minus. The House could not achieve consensus with the White House on Iraq funding priorities despite an overwhelming mandate to bring the troops home.

Minus. The House could not achieve a veto-proof margin for the expansion of SCHIP.

Plus. The Intelligence and Oversight Committees have worked hard to hold the administration accountable to the American people, but little has come out of the administration.

Plus. The shame of the Walter Reed scandal has been removed from the front pages and new oversight roles have been established by this Congress.

Plus. Auto manufacturers and energy companies lobbied to maintain their protections, but new regulations will be better for American health and the environment.

Minus. Immigration reform was shelved despite the need for a comprehensive federal approach. It places the burden back on local officials who respond with a contradictory patchwork of local laws that burden local property taxpayers.

Do you have a timeline on when the US should pull out of Iraq?

I support having the troops home in 2009. There is no clear goal and the U.S. troops continue to be targets for attack. The Iraqi government has not demonstrated that it is willing to be accountable and will not take responsibility until we withdraw.

While there has been a reduction of violence in Baghdad since the surge, about 700 Americans have been killed since the surge began and the violence has spread to other areas in Iraq. Americans do not accept the endless loss of American life and support bringing the troops home.

I do not support asking our military to serve as the local police force in Iraq or for paying private security companies to be under contract either.

Sen. Biden’s plan recommends federalizing Iraq, proposes an oil-revenue sharing plan and a power sharing arrangement that allows for tensions to be minimized and an orderly self-governing plan to proceed. That would be a substantial non-military strategy that would minimize sectarian violence.

Half-hearted diplomatic efforts leave the U.S. military holding the bag in Iraq and slow efforts to make meaningful progress in other countries that harbor terrorists responsible for attacking our country.

Would you make any changes to the way the Department of Homeland Security should be run?

Yes. The Department of Homeland Security is a large bureaucratic maze that concentrates too much power in one agency. The creation of DHS was a reaction to 9⁄11, but it has too much power and too little accountability. Its actions are not in line with the 9⁄11 Commission recommendations. DHS funding priorities seem illogical by cutting funding for Washington, D.C. and New York City and by not investing in adequate border or port security.

We should focus on improved screening of cargo and imports. DHS, through Transportation Safety Administration, claims victory when the passengers are limited to 3 ounces of liquids and shoe removal requirements for air travel, but no cargo is inspected. It does not make sense.

Locally, we can acknowledge the need to expand DHS, but the rush to expand secure lab facilities at Fort Detrick may have led to an inadequate public review process. The expansion may be inevitable at this point, but there is no reason for the review process to have been short-changed.

Tragically, five people died in the anthrax attacks in 2001, but we have no one charged and there have been no further attacks. We are spending billions in this bureaucracy and re-directing funds from other essential efforts like National Cancer Institute research.

During my tenure as mayor of the City of Frederick and today, the city has been awarded DHS grants for security screening cameras, training and communication equipment. We also created the Homeland Security Technical Advisory Council that coordinated our regional response. Local governments need grant-funding to continue these essential efforts.

I support investing in additional port screening, border security, police officers and fire⁄rescue workers. I support a block grant process to assist local communities.

Should more be done to shore up Social Security? Why?

Yes, because Social Security should be predictable, stable and risk free. Without action in the next few years, the long-term solutions will be more costly – both in contributions for current workers and reductions in benefits. There is no call for panic, but circumstances demand action in the next few years.

Changes should combine phased changes to contributions, guaranteed protection for seniors making under $40,000, and lifting the cap on wages subject to contributions. It is possible to provide a new source of income by retaining a residual estate tax and dedicating it to Social Security (must be addressed in 2009 when current law sunsets). I do not support privatizing Social Security.

Should more be done to shore up Medicare? Why?

Medicare must remain a protected benefit. Part D (prescription drugs) helps, but it is not enough. Allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to reduce rates will deliver direct savings to 40 million seniors who rely on the benefit. Improving the reimbursement rate for doctors and other medical professionals will improve availability of services.

What is your position on the death penalty?

I oppose the death penalty. Judges, juries and witnesses are not perfect. New DNA techniques have freed a lot of innocent people who were wrongly convicted. Executing an innocent person is one of the worst things a government can do, but we cannot free them if they have already been executed. I support life in prison without parole for the most serious crimes in the alternative.

What is your position on abortion?

I support a woman’s right to choose in private consultation with her family and doctor. Choice comes with responsibility and limitations. I support a woman’s right to make an informed decision.

As a woman, I know other women who have made this heart-wrenching choice. It was never easy, never glamorous but, always performed by medical professionals in a safe and clean environment. I fear the reaction of what would happen if the constitutionally protected right to an abortion were made criminal after 30 years even in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.

I think we can agree that the ideal number of abortions is zero. Now, the tough part comes when people on either side of the debate — pro-choice and pro-life — shouting at one another that do nothing to reach that goal.

What is your position on same-sex marriages?

The federal government should not be in the business of deciding who may love another and who may commit to another. This is an interesting ‘‘wedge issue” that distracts us from issues of daily concern like war, peace, economic security, environmental stewardship and health care.

I believe that God loves all people. There is no limit to His love. I would not support a federal constitutional amendment to declare marriage to be between one man and one woman.

Do you support the federal No Child Left Behind Law? Why or why not?

No. High standards and accountability are great, but the law needs to be re-worked so that we know if students are learning. The current testing pattern is not adequate – test students with more than one standardized test, reward progress over time, reduce class size. We need more certified highly qualified teachers in the schools and we need flexibility to reward them. If the federal government places a mandate on learning, then funding must follow. I don’t support unfunded federal mandates.

What state transportation projects are a priority for you? How should we pay for them?

I support annual contributions to complete the I-70 and I-270 improvements so Maryland’s commute won’t be one of the worst in the nation. I support a one-year study of expanding mass transit on these corridors as well.

I will conduct an annual regional transportation summit that brings elected officials and residents from Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia together to coordinate transportation spending priorities. The federal funding component should come from current tax revenues.

Should America have a self-sufficient energy policy? How would we create one?

We absolutely need an energy policy that focuses on true energy independence and outlines achievable goals. The U.S. energy policy is still controlled by old-economy industries like automakers and energy companies. We have to adopt a creative and aggressive strategy that emphasizes conservation, controls green-house emissions and moves green industry to the forefront.

I propose a bio-fuel refinery in Western Maryland that would create jobs, be good for Maryland farmers, and provide bio-fuels for the region. By working toward practical solutions, we can help Maryland drivers participate in meaningful change.

The investment by federal and state governments will be matched by local governments and the private sector to achieve the best result.

I also support expansion of wind farms, the use of solar power, and the expansion hydrogen power to provide environmentally friendly energy that will keep our lives comfortable, our economy humming and restore our position of leadership in the world.

The cap and trade policy recommended by several presidential candidates is a reasonable way to make industry to take the right steps and meet improved emissions’ standards.

Is the federal government doing enough to help communities deal with the effects of the Base Realignment and Closure Plan? Why?

No. Maryland has the double-edged sword of net growth due to BRAC. New jobs and new base housing create an impact on local communities without the benefit of federal support for road and school funding. The federal government should create a per-student formula for school funding to alleviate the burdens on local property taxpayers as well as contribute to road projects similar to existing formulas for private sector development.

Is the federal government doing enough to protect the border? Why?

No, otherwise 12 million people would not be in this country without having followed the legal process. Secure borders will come when we make a national commitment to invest in adequate personnel and technology to patrol borders and review immigration documents. Securing the border means more than just posting patrols on the U.S.-Mexican border.

Building a fence is a waste of money. I support a different approach.

I support reforming our visa program so it is clear to the applicant, supports our national economic policy, does not hurt current legal workers and rewards those who play by the rules.

I support investing in Immigration and Customs Enforcement so that local governments and police departments are not forced to deal with immigration enforcement, and that when local police arrest a violent criminal who is here illegally, that person is processed for expedited deportation.

I support preventing undocumented workers from buying firearms with a state-issued drivers’ license.

What should the federal government do about the illegal immigrants already in the United States?

I will propose and support practical solutions that address current illegal immigrants. Americans support legal immigration and believe people who are here illegally have to follow a process like everyone else and like our ancestors.

We should create a process to identify, register and process undocumented workers through their employers. The use of technology will enable employers to confirm immigration status of workers and monitor employer compliance with harsh penalties.

As an employer, I make a commitment to know that my employees are legal residents. Any employer who does not make that commitment gets an unfair advantage.

I agree with most Americans who think there should be a fair process to earn a visa by making a legal application, paying appropriate fees and fines, having a clean criminal history in their home country and this country.

I agree with most Americans who believe that people who are here now — and did not follow the legal process — should not be able to ‘‘jump to the front of the line” to punish those who are following the process.

I agree with most Americans who believe the applicants should not be entitled to welfare benefits or other social benefits without making adequate contributions to the system.

Speaking English should be a part of any citizenship process. My Irish ancestors spoke this language with a brogue, but my maternal great-grandmother came to this country from Poland at age 19 and learned to speak English with no accent. The English language is a unifying golden thread that should be emphasized in work and schools.

Finally, Americans must realize that the price tag for true and complete immigrant enforcement is astronomical. The 2008 federal budget includes $3.5 billion for border enforcement alone, but to deport up 12 million could cost another half trillion dollars. I promise to pursue the best solutions, but I won’t issue an IOU to China or anyone else to fund a policy that will bankrupt our country.

What is your opinion of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America?

I have heard it called NAFTA on steroids. While it sounds like a ‘‘good neighbor” policy, it runs counter to the stated national goal of securing our borders. It is another example of why local governments feel compelled to write their own immigration policies.

Specifically, the ‘‘Trusted Traveler Program” allows a ‘‘trusted traveler” to pay a fee and earn trust. ‘‘Facilitated Flow of Legitimate Cargo” is a priority in order to reduce transit times, however, the 9⁄11 Commission Report — passed by Congress — recommends expanding port security screenings.

I support efforts to secure our borders and after we improve our record, we can ask the public if they support the lessening of restrictions, but this runs counter to the public will.