Name as it Appears on the Ballot: Laura Fjeld

Full legal name, if different: Laura Bernstein Fjeld

Date of Birth: June 14, 1954

Mailing address: PO Box 635 Hillsborough, NC 27278

Campaign Web Site: www.laurafornc.com

Occupation & Employer: Attorney

Home phone: 919-245-1337 Work Phone: 336-790-4075

Email: Laura@laurafornc.com

Twitter handle, if applicable: @laurafornc

1. If elected to the House, what is your highest priority for the next Congress? Please discuss what you would do to help it be achieved.

My highest priority would be to help promote a new spirit of cooperation in Congress in which members are working together again to solve our country’s problems. Extreme partisanship, a huge influx of corporate money, and over-the-top rhetoric are poisoning the system. My top issues include job creation, public education funding, and improving veteran services.

2. Some House candidates favor term limits and pledge, if elected, to limit the number of terms they will seek? Is that a good idea? Will you, if elected, impose terms limits on yourself?

I believe that a better way to accomplish many of the same goals that proponents of term limits advocate for is through redistricting reform. For too long, partisan politicians have drawn themselves safe districts that give voters less choices and influence. I believe non-partisan commissions should draw district lines that honor city and county boundaries and keep communities together instead of tearing them apart. Redistricting reform will put the power back in the hands of the people.

3. As a result of Citizens United and related factors, so-called “dark money” is pouring into American political campaigns without voters knowing where it came from. Do you favor or oppose measures to require that contributors be identified when their money is used to pay for political ads and other activities?

I absolutely favor measures that require contributors be identified. Voters have the right to know who is trying to influence the system.

4. The American economy is not producing enough jobs for everyone who wants one, especially not enough jobs that pay enough to support a family. Conservative critics say the reason is too much federal spending which crowds out private investment. Critics on the left say there’s not enough public investment in job-producing sectors, while private capital is flowing to other countries. Where do you come down on this issue?

Job creation and strengthening the recovery must be top priorities. I believe that we need more public investment in our country’s infrastructure which creates immediate jobs and helps improve the overall job producing climate. We can do this and be financially prudent. Instead of providing huge tax breaks for companies who ship American jobs overseas, we should invest that money in our own workers and infrastructure.

5. Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage? If so, to what amount? And should it be indexed for inflation?

Most people making minimum wage are women supporting a family. Despite working full time, many still need food stamps to feed their kids. We should reward hard work and raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Work should pay more than welfare.

6. On the Affordable Care Act, what should the next Congress do? Repeal it? Change it? If so, how?

Rather than spout partisan rhetoric with no hope or plan for a solution, we need to fix the Affordable Care Act. The website rollout was a disgrace, and we need to ensure that anyone who likes their plan can keep it. Repeal would allow insurance companies to discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions, and kick millions off their plans. We need solutions, not rhetoric.

7. Should undocumented immigrants be offered a path to citizenship? If so, what requirements would you impose? How should the law treat undocumented young adults and children who’ve grown up in the U.S. after being brought here by their parents?

I believe we should do more to secure our borders. It’s time to stop talking about securing our borders and actually do it. I do not support amnesty. I would support the Dream Act.

8. Do you think climate change is a serious, even urgent problem? Do you think human beings are causing it? What environmental policies should the U.S. adopt to combat climate change, if any?

Like 97% of climatology scientists, I believe climate change is a serious problem. We can save money in the long run by reducing dangerous emissions that poison the air we breathe.

9. Is it time to pass a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to protect the rights of LGBTQ people in the workplace?

Yes.

10. Should union organizing be facilitated by changes to labor laws, including the proposed Employee Free Choice Act (ECRA)?

Yes.

11. Do you support or oppose increasing tax rates on the wealthy, either to reduce federal debt or as part of a package to raise money for public investments and/or cut taxes for the middle-class?

I do not support raising taxes. I support ending loopholes that huge corporations and the uber-wealthy use to keep from paying their fair share. They should play by the same rules the rest of us do.

12.What do you think of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s idea of expanding Social Security benefits as private pensions become less and less common?

I am a strong supporter of Social Security. I will oppose any and all attempts to cut benefits or privatize it.