League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Francisco, San Mateo County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Chris Maden Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 12

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

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

We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. During the boom economy, state spending grew out of all proportion to inflation; a return to pre-dot-com spending numbers would be a first step.

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

Education is too important to be a political football. Allow local school districts to opt out of state control, fostering local innovation and competition. Establish an endowed private foundation to administer the community colleges without having to worry about whether their budget will be spent on fixing potholes instead.

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

Private property rights have been shown again and again to be the best solution to resource management. Government subsidies hide the true environmental cost of desert sprawl like Los Angeles. Encourage a transition to free-market water competition. (Note that this is not the same as the so-called energy "deregulation" disaster; that was only a re-regulation that encouraged gaming the system.)

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

Getting out of the way. Legislation and regulation, however well-intentioned, inevitably drives up cost through compliance paperwork and limited competition.