League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda, Contra Costa County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Patricia Deutsche Answers Questions Candidate for State Senator; District 9

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

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

We need to make some serious cuts. Our problem is not that we tax too little, it's that we spend too much. Let's figure out where the money is going and whether those programs are effective. We need to get back to basics -- government helping protect our safety (fire, police, etc), support our education system, and guard our borders. For those things we can't fund , we should turn to private sector and religious & charitable organizations.

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

For K-12: safe schools (both adequate buildings and free from violence), competent teachers, and giving schools more flexibility with their funding.

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

I'll have to look into this more.

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

There is a plan in place in Wisconsin that works VERY well. It enables retired phyisicans to provide free health care to those without insurance and the state covers the physicians' malpractice insurance. This would make high quality health care available to thousands of Californians immediately while we continue to work on insurance reforms, making health insurance more affordable.