Don Young- Congressman FOR ALL Alaska

Political Science students met with Congressman Don Young in the House Rayburn building on November 16th, 2006. Congressman Young is shown here with Mike who will be interning in his office next semester, Legislative Assistant Pamela Day and Mehwish. Congressman Young discussed various issues students had debated in class including Iraq, social issues, tax cuts, trade and many other issues...and gave the students some great driving tips! Prior to meeting with Congressman Young, students relaxed in his office.

Let me tell you something. You live in a great country. Americans are a great people. I'm sick of hearing how everything is our fault. If it wasn't for the U.S. this world would be in chaos!

People talk about Global Warming. 5 times the world has heated and then cooled. Even if the world is warming there is nothing we can do about it.

Oh nooo, we can't drill in Alaska, some little squirrel might get hurt!

Hugo Chavez is evil! We should not be in a position of having to buy oil from people like him.

All these people complain so we can't drill in Alaska, off the coast of California, in Colorado, off the Gulf Coast. So instead where do our dollars go? To the Middle East where we end up fighting wars! We are all on crack when it comes to oil.

People complain about gas prices but they have no problem paying $4.00 for a cup of coffee or $1.75 for a bottle of water.

Sabrina- In 1993 you voted against giving Washington, D.C. statehood, but would you be opposed to having DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton vote in the House? ANSWER- Yes, DC was never meant to be a state and it never will be one. I'm strongly opposed to DC having a vote. People say "taxation without representation" well if you're in DC and you don't like that, then move.

Matt- You have been a member of the House of Representatives for 34 years. In all those years what vote are you most proud of and what vote would you like to go back and change? ANSWER- I'm most proud of the Highway bill of 2005 that I sponsored. Infrastructure is needed for continued economic development. The one I would like to take back is the Patriot Act. I voted for it because the American people demanded it after 9/11. But I have not voted for any of the extensions of it.

Caitlin- In 1993, you voted against a bill that would require juveniles over 14 charged with serious violent felonies to be prosecuted as adults. Since minors don't have the same rights as adults in other aspects of the law, why treat them like adults in this situation? ANSWER- People know what they are doing if they murder or hurt someone and they know it is wrong. They should be held accountable for their crimes they committed by doing public service. "One strike and you're out" is what I believe. Jail is a no-win situation, no one benefits. Criminals no matter what their age should be made to work as a way of paying their debt to society.

Julianne- In 2004 you voted for the "Pledge of Allegiance Protection Act". This would forbid federal courts from hearing cases concerning the Pledge of Allegiance. If a court wanted to hear a case like that, shouldn't they make that decision instead of the House of Representatives? ANSWER- No, it's not the right of the court, it's the right of the people and that's what we respond to in the House. And if someone doesn't like saying the Pledge then they should just leave the country. And as far as burning the flag, if people start doing that I will sponsor a bill saying if you see someone burning the flag you have the full right to beat the hell out of them.

Naqib- In our class there are many different religions represented, so do you think it would be appropriate for Mr. Graney to put up a poster of the 10 Commandments? ANSWER- Of course he should. It's part of the heritage of our laws. If people don't like seeing the 10 Commandments, they should move somewhere else.

Nichole- If a terminally ill person wants to hire a doctor for the purpose of physician-assisted suicide and his family and the doctor approve of this, why should the federal government have a say in this decision? ANSWER- Suicide is against the law and anyone who helps someone kill themselves has crossed the line; you are now murdering that person. People should not do that, especially doctors who have taken an oath not harm anyone.

Jasmin- In 1999 when you voted for the National Day of Prayer did it bother you that one house of congress was promoting God to citizens? Why not just take part in the National Day of prayer without having a vote on it? ANSWER- Our country is based on Christianity and this is simply a day to remember that. And you don't have to pray if you don't want to.

Chris- When you consider that our nation is 9 trillion dollars in debt, do you think it is a good idea to extend the Bush tax cuts? ANSWER- The tax cuts are one of the best things that have ever happened to this country. They have produced the best economy we have ever had. Once this war ends it will make it much easier to bring down the debt. Taking money from the rich won't help anybody. All it will do is cost jobs for all of us. People say it's the governments money, it is not! It is the people's money!

This loss of congress will be easier for Republicans to deal with than it was for Democrats in 1994 because the Democrats had the House for 40 years, we only had it for 12. And we'll be back in the majority after 2008.

The national media is the enemy in this country.

Collin- In 2000 you voted against giving China permanent normal trade relations with the U.S. Wouldn't the leverage of U.S. trade be the best way to get China to improve their human rights record? ANSWER- No, China will do what it wants regardless of what we do. I would like to have fair trade. We have minimum wage, we have OSHA, we should not trade with any nation until they are on the same playing field we are on. But none of you would go along with that. Look at your shoes. Where were they made? China. You would scream if we did not let you buy high quality products from China.

Ilina- You recently voted to allow Alaskan Native-Americans to be taught in their own language. Since many people think the best way to insure success in the U.S. is to be able to speak, read and write English, why would you support this bill? ANSWER- This was a tough one for me. I was a teacher and my wife is a Native-Alaskan. We are losing some of the people who are falling behind because they don't speak English. You're not going to get a Chemistry text book or a Computer Science text in native languages. But I value the cultural identity of Native-Alaskans and I don't want that lost. Now if you're coming from another nation you should learn English.

Evan- Every day it seems like more and more of those that supported the use of military force against Iraq are regretting it. Since it is now more than 4 years after that vote, what are your thoughts on voting for that resolution? ANSWER- President Bush did the right thing by taking him out. Saddam killed people ruthlessly. If we did not stop him he would have been another Hitler. Saddam would have created an evil axis with Syria, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This could have led to a nuclear war in the Middle East. Now where President Bush made his mistake was that he should have set up a Shialand, Sunniland and Kurdland right from the start. You watch, when the U.S. pulls out there will be the greatest civil war in history. And then the same people that said we should not have gone to war in the first place will be crying for the U.S. to stop all the killing.

Mehwish- We have read about your so-called "Bridge to Nowhere", usually as an example of wasteful federal spending. Why was that project worthy of federal tax-payer dollars? ANSWER- It wasn't federal money, it was from a trust fund used for the states. And it's not a "bridge to nowhere". Bridges are connectors! If you want economic development you need bridges. Look at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That connects Maryland to the Eastern Shore. When that was built there was nothing but dairy farms out there. Look at the Golden Gate Bridge. That connects San Francisco to Marin County. When that was built there was nothing in Marin County but dairy farms. Look how much money was just spent on the Wilson Bridge. That connects Virginia to Maryland. Well whoop-dee-doo!

Derek- In 1997, you voted for an amendment calling for the U.S. to withdraw from the U.N. What were your reasons for that and are you still in favor of that. ANSWER- YES! It does not serve any purpose. It is a leech on the United States and a critic of our policies. Those people all work here but they don't pay any taxes. The U.N. is a disaster! And the U.N. is trying to take guns away from the American people so it is violating our Constitutional rights.

Khadijah, Ms. Rappaport and Jazman

Mary- We read an article by Robert Novak about how the rules were changed regarding voting on the Medicare Prescription Drug bill and about how Republicans used strong-arm tactics on other Republicans to get that bill passed. What did you think of the way that vote took place? ANSWER- Well voting is fun so we just decided to have a little more fun that night. And Novak is just as bad as anyone else in the media.

Beatriz- Do you think President Bush should have signed the Teri Schivo legislation? ANSWER- I would not have wanted to be President during that time. I've seen 7 presidents since I've been in Congress and I'll probably see my 8th after 2008. That job is a bitch. Everyone of them has aged an incredible amount. The Shivo situation was a tough call.

Caitlin and Liz "Buffalo" Wing

Nichole

Mehwish

"Posing in the Rain...." Evan, Mary and Derek

This Was Fun!