League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sacramento County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Gale R Morgan Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 9

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

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

1. Spend less money. A temporary roll back of 13% would do wonders for the short term crisis.

2. Combine agencies to reduce overlapping duties. Let us consider the states Environmental Protection. Who is in charge?

The Environmental Protection Agency, the Resources Agency, or the Water Resources Control Board, maybe the Department of Water Resources, or the Air Resources Board. Add to the mix the Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Department of Toxic Substance Control, and Integrated Waste Management Board. There is also an Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and a Department of Conservation. They all independently control the environment.

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

As a student and an Instructional Assistant, I understand the advantage of programs like MESA/CCP and Beacon. Most school boards find it difficult to manage their budget when the state and federal government are controlling the vast majority of the money. The instructors and local administrators are more knowledgeable about their schools than those who reside in the Department of Education. We need to reduce the regulation and let the districts run their schools. The test scores will rise as each school takes the responsibility for their own success. This will also reduce the cry for a voucher system. We need to stop taking money (tuition) from our colleges and putting it in the general fund.

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

California has no excuse for water shortages or lack of equitable water distribution. A December 14, 2003 Orange Country Register editorial quoted Brett Barbre of the Municipal Water District of Orange County as saying, "more water is released out of the San Francisco Bay every day than would meet the needs of all of Southern California for a year." In addition, we possess the technology to turn seawater to drinking and irrigation water. I support legislation that restores water rights and allows ethical private industries to build desalination plants and sell their water to local and inland towns.

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

Considering the current budget condition, the government should advise the people of California to acquire medical insurance or set up a medical savings account to provide for their needs. However, we should not spend any money to give this advice for the next two years.

The MediCal program needs to be examined and updated to be more efficient. There is room for charitable organizations to step up to the plate and help. Medical professionals should be given a tax incentive for assisting the medically indigent.