4th District GOP Primary Voting Guide Second Edition

Second Edition Voting Guide for 4th District Republican Primary:

The candidates are listed in alphabetical order. The information that follows comes from interviews with Patch and their individual stated platforms. The primary election is Tuesday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To read the first edition of the voting guide, click here.

1. Immigration/Border Security

• Dan Debicella: Wants to crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Opposes amnesty, but proposes a "blue card" for those illegal immigrants willing to step forward and register with the government – so long as they are employed and pay taxes. However, if someone with a "blue card" loses their job they must find new employment within three months or risk being deported. Describes this a middle ground between amnesty and path to citizenship. "The kick everybody out mentality is not good. Immigration is what makes this country great."
• Rob Merkle: Favors building a fence along the United State's entire southern border. Opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants saying, "It rewards bad behavior."
• Rick Torres: Favors building a fence along the southern border of the U.S. Opposes amnesty for the estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants working in the U.S.

2. Social Security

• Dan Debicella: Reform Social Security and other entitlement programs by capping the federal budget at 20 percent. Reforms are needed to ensure the Social Security benefits are there for future generations, and will consider all options save for raising taxes. 
• Rob Merkle: Says Social Security is structurally insolvent, and cannot be fixed without implementing one or all of the following:  Adjusting the retirement/eligibility age, means testing, segregating the Social Security lockbox, incorporated into the general fund by Democrats who, again controlling the presidency and both the Senate and Congress, conversion to a defined contribution vs. defined benefit plan, privatization such as personal control over investments.  When Social Security was enacted, it was intended as a safety net, not a retirement staple.  Average life expectancy was 61, with benefits eligibility at 65.  People live longer, with the same eligibility.  Any changes in eligibility and/or benefits must be phased in over a generation.
• Rick Torres: Favors increasing retirement age from 65 due to the fact that people are living longer and working longer. The system as it stands now is on the verge of collapse and is in need of major reform.

3. First Amendment

The Patriot Act, passed on Oct. 26, 2001, drastically reduced restrictions on law enforcement for searching e-mail, telephone, medical, financial and other records. It also empowered Secretary of the Treasury to monitor financial transactions. It facilitated ability of foreign intelligence services to operate on U.S. soil. And it increased detention and deportation of immigrants suspected of terrorism.

• Dan Debicella: Believes the Patriot Act does not violate the First Amendment.
• Rob Merkle: First Amendment provisions are sacrosanct, to the extent that they do not harm others — for instance you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Says the Patriot Act was necessary and essential when it was enacted, much like Lincoln suspending Habeas Corpus during the Civil War. However, any broad expanse of powers must be strictly monitored for abuses and subject to a sunset provision.  There IS a judicial tribunal which oversees intelligence gathering methodology and application of data, which was fully informed on the Patriot Act, and made changes to the program to promote protections of American citizens
• Rick Torres: Would have supported the Patriot Act. 

4. Second Amendment

• Dan Debicella: As state senator voted against a bill that increased penalties for trafficking firearms in the state and required lost and stolen firearms to be reported within 72 hours. Believes every American has a right to own a gun.
• Rob Merkle: He is a carry permit holder, and believes in the right to bear arms as a fundamental protection to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – the recent Supreme Court decision concurs.  He said that in countries where guns have been outlawed/confiscated, what has followed are genocides (China, Russia) or significant increases in crime (Australia, UK)
• Rick Torres: Believes in the "sanctity of the 2nd amendment" and will work to amend/repeal recent laws that weaken the individual's right to bear arms. Supports "safe and responsible gun ownership."