League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sacramento County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
	Donna Begay Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 9; Democratic Party

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What does California need to do to address the current budget crisis?

Fix the Financial Management Systems of California State Government. Each state department has its own budget, position tracking, procurement, and other financial applications. We don't have an integrated method of planning/budgeting, accounting, reporting, and auditing. There are the "have's and the have not's" of technology and enterprised systems within the State. It will take legislation and funding to address these issues.

2. What should the state's priorities be for K-12 education? For the Community College System?

K-12 Priorities should include proper teacher-student ratio, flexible categorical funding and educational curriculum, "live-able" wage for teachers, and improved vocational education for high school students.

Community College focus should include improve funding base, level out the student fees, and get students and faculty involved in long-term curriculum planning.

3. What measures would you support to address California's water needs?

I worked for over nine years with the Department of Water Resources. District 9 is surrounded by two rivers. We must ensure proper flood control, improve on water conservation education and implementation, ensure proper water management of the Central Valley Water Project and State Water Project, and seek alternative water sources for coastal metropolitan areas.

In addition to water, we need an energy capacity-planning tool for this state. In about two years, we can experience more "brown outs".

4. What should the Legislature be doing to address the needs of Californians without health insurance?

We should promote universal health care for our state. We must also include cultural sensitivity in the delivery of quality health care. Cultural sensitivity includes languages and traditional medicines.

Seek additional federal funding for our Healthy Families program.