By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO, Calif. —If the visit of U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) back to her home district is typical, then the vocal members of her constituency—and those of other members of Congress— want their elective representatives to  lower taxes, figure out what to do about the war in Iraq,  get a handle on rising health care costs, and stop illegal immigration
Of course,  there are other issues that the constituents also care deeply about, but those four occupied most of the discussion time during Davis' advertised weekend visit to the Kearny Mesa Park and Recreation Center, across the street from San Diego's National Guard Armory.

About two dozen constituents in folding chairs listened, and occasionally agreed or contradicted, as Davis, a  three-term Congresswoman and member of the Jewish community,  set forth her views on these subjects.

The discussion on taxes focused on one particularly insistent questioner's views that the estate tax ought to be repealed. Davis resisted this, saying the tax falls on only .15 percent of the taxpayers in the United States but raises over $760 billion.  Repealing the tax, which only affects couples receiving more than $10 million in inheritance, would place an unfair burden on the rest of the taxpayers who would have to make up the loss of $760 billion in revenue.

A woman sitting in the back row, who may have been a multi-millionaire in middle class disguise, complained that "we're taxed, taxed and re-taxed."  Responded Davis, "I appreciate that , but what I am trying to understand is whether people think it is okay for the top .15 percent of the taxpayers in this country to put a burden of $760 billion on the rest of us."

The conversation transitioned to what high taxes support—the war in Iraq—and what they don't—lowering the cost of medical care.

On Iraq, Davis pointed out that she voted against the original resolution authorizing the war in Iraq.  "I did not think we exhausted the initial diplomatic options, and we did not have an exit plan," she stated.  As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, she added, "I listened to (Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld and company, and it was clear there really wasn't anything other than they thought we were going to be greeted with roses.  There was no plan how we would extricate ourselves."

The congresswoman said that  like everyone else in  the room, she is "a big supporter of our troops...but what concerns me is that our troops have been used in a variety of ways that they really haven't had an opportunity to train for, nor is it their role.  We were so poorly equipped and so poorly prepared, not just in armor, but in our diplomatic outreach and ability to go into the country and to work with local individuals," she said.

"We are using our military today to play those roles to help develop the local governments, but they are put in a situation where one minute they are put into a room and talking and the next minute they are trying to quell a disturbance outside and that is a very difficult role to play, especially when you are not even sure who your enemy is."

She said a plan needs to be developed to bring American troops home as early as possible, but added that she does not favor announcing a date certain by which the U.S. military would leave Iraq.  Making it clear that U.S. military support for Iraq will not last forever, she said, may put pressure on the new government of Iraq to do more to quell the disturbances, including working with neighboring Arab countries on methods to pacify the region.  Arab countries would not consider sending their troops into Iraq while U.S. forces are there, she said.

In the meantime, she suggested, "maybe we can remove our troops from some of the key areas so that they are not beyond the horizon but they are not within the center of the activity.  We certainly don't want them to be the source of continual conflict and violence in Iraq."

As for rising health costs, Davis—whose husband Steve is a medical doctor—said that they are attributable to a variety of causes.  In some cases, she said, the increases are a result of better health care—"some of that is for technology, for MRI's, and certain drugs play a role in it." Other costs result from  health risks that some Americans inflict upon themselves, such as smoking and obesity.  Another problem, she suggested, are "the middle men in this country.  We have HMO's, we have medical health care companies that take a large percentage of that in order to manage our affairs....Upward of 30 percent or more of health care dollars don't necessarily go to the health care provider or to the patient."

Davis said in the six years that she has been a member of Congress, the Republican leadership has not permitted any legislation that would seriously reform the health care delivery system to come to the House floor.  "I think that issues that really matter to the American people have been put on the shelf, while we have dealt with other issues that have not been as critical to every American."

The hot button issue in this border city forum was immigration—a subject which fills the many hours of talk radio with which San Diego is bombarded.  Although the issue is divisive, suggested Davis, there are perhaps four statements with which most people would agree.  First, that the borders must be closed to terrorists.  Second, American businesses need to be able to find people who can take fill their jobs. Third, we need more Border Agents.  Fourth, some way should be found to allow immigrants to earn their way into this country.

There was a murmur from the audience on the latter point, suggesting consensus on that point will be difficult to achieve.  "I'm not for amnesty," Davis said.  "But if you have a system where people have to demonstrate that in many cases they have been paying their taxes, and contributing to the community, and have been working to set up businesses, a whole host of things, then I think after a period of years, background checks, fines, speaking English, what have you, I would hope that there might be a comprehensive approach that we might agree on."
                                                                                Tank at National Guard Armory in Kearny Mesa

In the meantime, she said, the number of Border Guards have to be increased, sanctions need to be leveled against major employers who get rich exploiting low-wage-earning immigrants, and equipment promised for border control needs to be delivered and put in working order.   As for proposals to place the National Guard on the border, Davis said she does not believe this should be done wholesale, as National Guard units may be required in other parts of the state at a moment's notice. But here and there, she said, especially for technical support—as opposed to patrolling the border—she thinks some National Guard involvement may be an appropriate option.