Representative Steve King has a poor record of accomplishments, has not written one bill since he has been in congress despite having a staff of 18 people. This does not seem very effective. King also says objectionable things, which does not represent the values of western Iowa. I am talking about common decency. When I heard of the racial slurs directed at members of congress, King said he didn’t think that that was anything. I found it outrageous that he did not denounce the statements. There is no place for that in American politics. What King is doing is dangerous. It plays to some of the fringes of our society and caters to hate-mongering more than to what we need to do to make society better.

King has a responsibility to speak out on acts like that. His failure to lead and not writing a single law is not what America or the 5th Congressional District needs with the critical issues the country faces.

BFIA: As you know, BFIA is a progressive blog. Where do you see yourself on the political spectrum?

CAMPBELL: I see myself as a centrist, moderate. I have worked on complex international business needs to enable businesses to operate in an environment where they can be successful and create jobs. I believe Democrats have done a better job of running the country.

BFIA: What is your reaction to the health insurance reform bill just signed by President Obama?

Campbell: I am very supportive and excited about it. There is a lot of disinformation out in the public. It is a complex bill and there are a lot of good provisions in the bill. Once people get to know the provisions of the bill I believe they will like it. We have been paying for health care inefficiently because of the uninsured. There is disinformation on the Medicare provisions. It’s like the President said. If you eliminate waste in your household budget are you going to budget the old number? The cuts to Medicare are related to the waste and fraud. The General Accounting Office has said that Medicare Advantage is an inefficient system.

BFIA: Where do you stand on financial system reform?

CAMPBELL: Business cannot operate in an unregulated environment because it is prone to abuse. The collapse of the economy last year indicates that financial reform is necessary. Regulation of the hedge fund industry would be prudent. The same thing is true with the derivatives market. Some say there was not enough capital in the system. The 2004 Securities and Exchange Commission’s Net Capital Rule changed the debt to equity ratio from 15:1 to 30:1 and this contributed to the financial collapse. Companies couldn’t service their debt obligations.

BFIA: The incumbent speaks often of the economic philosophy of Adam Smith as outlined in Wealth of Nations as contrasted with Keynesian economics. What is your economic philosophy?

CAMPBELL: Economics is an inexact science. I believe in a free market system, but government must sometimes intervene. I would like to see the government intervene as little as possible. The infusion of cash into the economy by the federal government last year prevented another great depression. Representative King’s view was “let the city burn.”

BFIA: What are your ideas for reducing the federal deficit?

CAMPBELL: I share the concern about the deficit. Democrats are concerned, Matt Campbell is concerned. Tax cuts to wealthy Americans do not help us. Unfunded wars did not help. President Bush added more to deficit than all past presidents combined. Republicans blame the deficit on fiscal stimulus, yet the Democrats were implementing the policy of Treasury Secretary Hank Paulsen. Regarding reduction of the deficit, I believe the time has come for the line item veto. I also support Senator Harkin’s Let Wall Street Pay for the Restoration of Main Street Act.