|
The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Budget Crisis,
Education,
Water,
Health Insurance
Click on a name for other candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
|
1. What does California need to do to address the current budget crisis?
|
Answer from Ernest L "Ernie" Konnyu:
The Legislature must bring spending down to equal income. The Legislature should adopt most of the spending controls recommended to it by the Reason Foundation through their Citizen Budget Plan. The Governor should lead an initiative drive to permanently cap spending at a rate adjusted for inflation and population growth.
Answer from David "Dave" Redick:
1. Reduce spending
2. Increase income by not scaring away companies due to excess taxes and fees (the Laffer curve)
3. Approve bonds as a short term fix to avoid default on committed expenses
|
2. What should the state's priorities be for K-12 education? For the Community College System?
|
Answer from David "Dave" Redick:
1. K-12; Improve results by bringing more local choice for teachers, parents and administrators as to curriculum, and which school to attend. Spread source of tax revenue beyond current primary source; property owners.
2. Community College: Increase fees
Answer from Ernest L "Ernie" Konnyu:
The $25 billion dollar categorical spending through some 110 educational programs has created a giant level of unaccountable maze of spending that even experts can't figure out. Most of the funds should be re-categorized into a block grants (no strings attached except it is for results based educational improvement) for schools.
|
3. What measures would you support to address California's water needs?
|
Answer from Ernest L "Ernie" Konnyu:
The state must work with the president and the U.S. Congress to settle federal/state water allocation issues.
The Legislature should consider the Governor's recommendations on water issues.
Answer from David "Dave" Redick:
1. Increase fees to reflect actual costs for residential, commercial, agriculture, and government users.
2. Renegotiate 'sweetheart' agricultural deals that allow wasteful use of cheap water for irrigation.
3. There is enough water if wasteful use (due to low cost) is reduced
|
4. What should the Legislature be doing to address the needs of Californians without health insurance?
|
Answer from David "Dave" Redick:
1. Eliminate 'free care' mandates now imposed on hospitals who now must give free care to anyone who goes to emergency room for care. These costs are reflected in higher fees to those who pay for their care, including insurance rates.
2. Many without insurance have chosen to use the free access in item 1, and would otherwise buy insurance.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
| 
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
