League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Tom Hutchings Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 33

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

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

California needs to realize we are in this together. Appropriate revenue enhancements for a balanced budget include increasing tax rate for top 1% income earners so their share is same as the bottom 20%; close corporate tax loopholes; enact a severance tax on oil produced; appropriate valuations of commercial, non-residential properties.

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

California cannot continue to give our youth substandard education by taking money from the schools. We need a fully funded free public education, a separate guarantee for the Community College system, and a reduction of fees and tuition at the UC and CSU systems. The UC and CSU systems also need to be audited for waste.

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

Conservation! Water is a very precious resource and the supply should be protected. Each political subdivision in California needs to begin conservation programs and encouraging drought tolerant flora. I oppose the use of desalination plants. They would increase harmful discharges into the oceans, require more power plants co-located with them, and there also lies the hazard of privatizing a natural resource. Again, CONSERVATION!

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

We have approximately 7 million Californians without healthcare. I see many of them in my job as a Benefits Counselor. California needs to adopt SB 921, in order to provide "Healthcare for All". I support a single-payer healthcare system and leaving for-profit out of our medical and health related decisions.