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  • 18
    votes

    As the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, what are your priorities going to be in making sure that 2008 is a year of progress and change for the Democrats and Congress? More

    Asked 17 weeks 1 day ago of U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
    by elvin from Boston, MA

  • 14
    votes

    Do you support the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset of Social Security? Public employees who worked under Social Security AND a government pension program (state) are not able to receive the amount of Social Security they EARNED, and many are therefore living in poverty. More

    Asked 6 weeks 3 hours ago of All Democratic Representatives
    by Constance Harse from Athens, OH

  • 14
    votes

    Why do you think Americans and your constituents prefer our two party system over a legislature with multiple parties as in many other nations around the world? Why did or didn't you declare yourself as an independent? More

    Asked 5 weeks 2 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by michael perigard from Seattle, WA

  • 10
    votes

    Why doesn't the District of Columbia have "lawmakers" as defined on this website? I ask all the "lawmakers" and candidates if they support the bill that just barely missed being passed in this session to permit DC's delegate to vote in the House. More

    Asked 15 weeks 6 days ago of
    by STS from Washington, DC

  • 10
    votes

    Since it is proven that Earth goes through periods of global warming and then immediatley followed by ice ages; is it possible that the "global warming" that we claim to be experiencing is perfectly natural? More

    Asked 3 weeks 3 days ago of All U.S. Representatives
    by Jacob Nixon from Columbia, MO

  • 7
    votes

    Can you confirm that U.S. policy in Iraq prohibits Iraqi farmers from replanting their traditional seeds in lieu of patented seeds from the west? In fact making saving seeds illegal. If so, do you think this is good policy, and why? More

    Asked 2 weeks 3 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by Kurt Christensen from Westminster, MD

  • 7
    votes

    Why has Congress not acted to open the Federal employee health care system up to private individuals and businesses. This was a promise the Democrats made when they took Congress in 2006. It would cost us nothing to do this, and it would provide a means for individuals and employers to obtain health care insurance at reasonable rates. More

    Asked 1 week 4 days ago of All U.S. Senators
    by David Stoddard from Silver Spring, MD

  • 7
    votes

    Do you think our patent system needs reform? What do you think of the Patent Reform Act of 2007 and why is it not moving through Congress? More

    Asked 1 week 2 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by Emily from New York, NY

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Latest

Tell us what you want our journalists to ask: Click the VOTE button.
  • 1
    vote

    Do you agree that our liberties are being lost due to a prediliction for secrecy, excessive police power and for witholding information to avoid embarassment or exposure of malfeasence or incompetence? Do you agree that we need drastically-diminished presidental power and far more open government in order to restoreand maintain our freedom? More

    Asked 2 days 8 hours ago of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
    by gary knott from Silver Spring, MD

  • 1
    vote

    Given our financial problems - deficit, trade-balance, currency-parity, human needs, infrastructure, etc. Do you agree we should drastically cut our military spending? If not, how would you meet our needs? More

    Asked 2 days 9 hours ago of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
    by gary knott from Silver Spring, MD

  • 6
    votes

    Physical restraint and seclusion time-outs are being used on students with disabilities in Virginia public school systems. Why is there not a law out there to govern these inhumane practices? Why is the school system allowed to abuse our children with disabilities? More

    Asked 2 days 18 hours ago of U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA)
    by Priscilla Greene from Chesterfield, VA

  • 7
    votes

    Do you think our patent system needs reform? What do you think of the Patent Reform Act of 2007 and why is it not moving through Congress? More

    Asked 1 week 2 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by Emily from New York, NY

  • 7
    votes

    Why has Congress not acted to open the Federal employee health care system up to private individuals and businesses. This was a promise the Democrats made when they took Congress in 2006. It would cost us nothing to do this, and it would provide a means for individuals and employers to obtain health care insurance at reasonable rates. More

    Asked 1 week 4 days ago of All U.S. Senators
    by David Stoddard from Silver Spring, MD

  • 6
    votes

    Why can sitting senators virtually abandon their "day jobs" in order to run for President for more than a year? I assume you are getting paid your normal salaries during this time. Why aren't you responsible for being in your office, or being on the Senate floor for debates or votes. Where is the obligation to represent your constituents? More

    Asked 1 week 6 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by Beth Wiley from Sterling, VA

  • 2
    votes

    Bush and Cheney and others are guilty of impeachable offenses. Why are not more members of Congress speaking out about the lies, the public admissions of permitting torture, the subversion of our Constitution? More

    Asked 2 weeks 15 hours ago of All U.S. Congress
    by apr from Milwaukee, WI

  • 7
    votes

    Can you confirm that U.S. policy in Iraq prohibits Iraqi farmers from replanting their traditional seeds in lieu of patented seeds from the west? In fact making saving seeds illegal. If so, do you think this is good policy, and why? More

    Asked 2 weeks 3 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by Kurt Christensen from Westminster, MD

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CNC Picks

These questions are recommended by CNC Journalists. Tell us what you want our journalists to ask: Click the VOTE button.
  • 6
    votes

    Why can sitting senators virtually abandon their "day jobs" in order to run for President for more than a year? I assume you are getting paid your normal salaries during this time. Why aren't you responsible for being in your office, or being on the Senate floor for debates or votes. Where is the obligation to represent your constituents? More

    Asked 1 week 6 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by Beth Wiley from Sterling, VA

  • 11
    votes

    Why are the Democrats protecting billions of dollars for big farm subsidies when that sector of the economy is booming and not using the farm bill to as an opportunity for reform? More

    Asked 10 weeks 2 days ago of U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
    by Alice Bartholomew from Fairfax, CA

  • 26
    votes

    What is your opinion of the problem with electoral integrity regarding the use of voting machines which can be hacked? More

    Asked 17 weeks 2 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by selma goldberg from Crofton, MD

  • 36
    votes

    What will you do to reform the redistricting system in this country, which has led to most seats in Congress being so safe that even a major shift in public opinion won't be reflected in an election. More

    Asked 19 weeks 4 hours ago of All U.S. Representatives
    by Barbara Knapp from Germantown, MD

  • 33
    votes

    American high schools have high drop-out rates. What can Congress do to curb this trend? More

    Asked 26 weeks 4 days ago of All U.S. Congress
    by elvin from Boston, MA

  • 24
    votes

    Do you think a border fence is the answer to our immigration problems? More

    Asked 28 weeks 12 hours ago of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
    by Matt Cheney from San Francisco, CA

  • 6
    votes

    Were 42 House members right in refusing to support a House resolution commemorating the holy Muslim month of Ramadan? More

    Asked 28 weeks 12 hours ago of U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
    by populist from San Francisco, CA

Answered

  • Question:

    why aren't the costs of militarily defending our oil interests in the persion gulf included in determining the u.s. cost of a barrel of oil?

    Asked by: Gerald Wagner from Dayton, OH. Received 17 Votes.
    Categories: Campaign 2008.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

    It’s obvious that the war in Iraq has made things more difficult because of turmoil in the Middle East, and just the amount of oil the war is using. There’s a number of things that have caused the price of oil to go up. We believe, and that’s part of our package, we need to do something to rein in the speculation, we believe there’s a lot of speculation. Some economists say the percentage is pretty high, just the speculative part of this.

    Answered on May 13th, 2008 More

  • Question:

    Digital rights pioneer Larry Lessig recently launched the 'Change Congress' website, which encourages "a national movement to end corruption in America's congress. " The site organizes citizens to encourage their lawmakers to pledge to change the rules of Congress to favor transparency. Sen. Feingold, will you take this pledge?

    Asked by: elvin from Boston, MA. Received 8 Votes.
    Categories: Arts | Culture · Money & Politics · Regulation · Technology. Tags: appropriations · Change Congress · Larry Lessig · no more earmarks · transparency.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. John Salazar (D-CO)

    Salazar: Well I think we made major reforms just this last term in the 109th. And we have certainly made clear, a clear movement towards transparency especially in the earmark reform area. And so I think while Democrats have been trying to do the good things we’ve been constantly blocked by the minority party.

    Laslo: Do you think there is more that needs to be done on transparency legislation and ethics reform?

    Answered on May 9th, 2008 More

  • Question:

    Currently there is a lot of discussion on both immigration and military strength. Rather than focus on building walls, why aren't we building recruiting stations on the border with Mexico? It seems like an obvious solution, if a family wants to come to this country then at least one member that family joins a US military branch.

    Asked by: Gabriel Whalen from Fort Belvoir, VA. Received 1 Vote.
    Categories: Defense · Immigration.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-TX)

    Well, which is really interesting, because you already have many non-citizens serving today. I believe the first soldier who died in Iraq was a non-citizen, someone that illegally immigrated to California, he was an orphan and then joined the Marines and died. I know that we have non-citizens from San Antonio that have died, because actually their funerals took place in Mexico. So you already have that going on to be honest with you. But, no, I don’t think that’s going to be one of these solutions- that if you want to come over here, you join our armed services.

    Answered on May 8th, 2008 More

  • Question:

    Every university has created online schools for profit, at around 40 to 70 million dollars-less than .0008% that we now spend. True democracy offers opportunities for all! Why have we not created a free online university for all Americans?

    Asked by: Russell Spears from Montclair, NJ. Received 57 Votes.
    Categories: Campaign 2008 · Education. Tags: educational reform.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)

    Rep. Kucinich: Well, you know, online education keeps growing, and for some people it’s a more affordable option. What we need to do is to make that those people who want to go to an institution and appear in person would be able to afford it. That’s where our focus should be. We should not take our eye away from our obligation to give people a chance to go to college.

    Answered on Apr 25th, 2008 More

  • Question:

    Recently you revealed that you intentionally avoid classified meetings, as a matter of choice. How do you justify this to your constituents who rely on you for representation, when it comes to matters of national security and the war?

    Asked by: jasonthe from Hyrum, UT. Received 10 Votes.
    Categories: Homeland Security · Iraq · Terrorism. Tags: Classified Information · Congressional Representation · iraq · Leadership.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT)

    Rep. Cannon: In the first place the problem with classified briefings is that you don’t learn anything. But then you’re stuck with stuff that you’ve heard that you don’t want to say out of context. So I read extensively and I’ve gone to classified briefings half a dozen times – that is, I’ve only skipped two or three of them frankly bc nothing is said there that’s really important. The really important things actually are available to the public if you look and read and so I educate myself extensively on these topics.

    Answered on Apr 24th, 2008 More

  • Question:

    With gasoline prices so high and a large part of the cost going into the hands of America's enemies, why are we not legislating incentives to build nuclear electric generating plants to reduce our dependence on oil?

    Asked by: Brian Schwartz from Weston, FL. Received 6 Votes.
    Categories: Energy · Homeland Security · Technology. Tags: National Security.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)

    We aren’t doing enough to incent nuclear energy and there’s two major road blocks to nuclear energy. One’s just the high cost. It takes several, I think 5 billion dollars to build a new plant, whereas it’s a third of that to build a coal plant. So the government has to step up and provide some kind of grant or loan fund to be able to offset some of the costs. The second thing is a big thing, and that’s what do we do with the waste. And we can’t get Yucca Mountain through the Senate. So even if we came up with a grant or loan fund they still don’t have anyplace to store it.

    Answered on Apr 23rd, 2008 More

  • Question:

    When will the federal government begin to get honest with the American people about the issue of peak oil?

    Asked by: goat from Brooklyn, NY. Received 33 Votes.
    Categories: Agriculture · Campaign 2008 · Economy · Energy · Environment · Ethics · Foreign Policy · Technology. Tags: energy crises · peak oil.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)

    The discussion about whether we hit peak oil I think drives some of the discussion about whether or how quickly we move away from oil as the major use of our energy. It’s kind of like global warming was a few years ago. People talk about peak oil, but there’s no evidence that we’ve hit peak oil, some people think it’s right now. So it’s part of their discussions.

    Answered on Apr 23rd, 2008 More

  • Question:

    With gasoline prices so high and a large part of the cost going into the hands of America's enemies, why are we not legislating incentives to build nuclear electric generating plants to reduce our dependence on oil?

    Asked by: Brian Schwartz from Weston, FL. Received 6 Votes.
    Categories: Energy · Homeland Security · Technology. Tags: National Security.
    Answer:

    Listen to: U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

    In the last Congress nuclear energy was one of those parts of the package we had as a part as an energy package. I certainly think it is one that needs to have greater emphasis. When you look at countries like France that have 75 to 80% of their power supplied by nuclear plants, you have to ask why we don’t do that in this country. We do have some that are in the early stages of coming in the planning part of it. We have at least one in my state of George that is planned come on line.

    Answered on Apr 23rd, 2008 More

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