League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua Counties, NY November 7, 2006 Election
	Linda L. Witte Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 149

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How can we make State government more open and accountable?

I believe that we can make State Government more open and accountable. Two reforms that can move us towards a more open government are campaign finance reform. Campaign finance reform is important because it sets a limit on what can be spent on a capmpaign, this way regular citizens like myself can still run for office to represent average citizens. If we do not have this reform only the rich will be able to run for offfice. We also need a real lobbying reform law thaat ends the appearance of "pay to play" lobbuing and restores integrity to the Capitol. Eliminating gift giving from lobbyists to legislators is one example of ways to clean up Albany.

2. What should the next steps be in NY campaign finance reform?

The next step should be to reduce campaign contribution limits, and to implement a matching public funds system like the successful one New York City established in 1988. This system requires participating campaigns to abide by contribution and spending limits and to meet other qualifications set by law in return for which these campaigns may receive public funds. The public funds are given to candidates on the basis of a formula that matches the contributions they receive from individual New York City residents. If the entire state set up a system like this it would level the playing field and more individuals who would like to run for public office would be able to mount credible, competitive campaigns.

3. What can the Legislature do to reduce global warming?

In reality, this is truly a national, indeed a transnational, issue requiring a comprehensive national policy, However, given the appalling and inexplicable lack of federal leadership on this issue- or even recognition that the problem exists, the state should take whatever modest steps it can to help until Washington D.C. comes to its senses. Chief among the things that New York can do is to provide incentives in the form of tax credits to producers of alternative energy.Credits for the wind farms proposed for Jefferson County and the two ethanol plants under consideration in Fulton County and Seneca Falls will go a long way towardsmaking those operations economically viable. But the solution cannot merely be on the producer side. Providing tax credits to purchasers of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids, and ensuringthat service stations will stock alternative fuels will begin the long, difficult process of moving consumers away from fossil-fuelburning cars, perhaps the number one source of greenhouse gases.

4. What is your position on the death penalty?

I believe NYS has found the death penalty unconstitutional at the present time, but I'm not sure if seeing other state finding they have put to death someone not quilty of a crime a reassuring feeling. there should be a process where there is no chance of an mistake.

5. Where do you stand on funding for education?

It is imperative that the Legislature enact next year a final. comprehensive and statewide solution to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) lawsuit that mandates increased state education funding for NYC schools, the largest high needs school district in the state. There are many other school districts throughout the state that are similar to NYC's definition of high needs, many of them in the rural areas. That is why I support the Assembly plan to dramatically increase eduction funding in NYS, thereby settling this decade-long lawsuit regarding NYC, and at hte same time, increasing education aid dramatically for poorer districts throughtout the state. This will guarantee increased aid to every school district.

6. What should the Legislature do to provide health care for uninsured workers?

I support what the Assembly has proposed: A.6575 (Richard Gottfried, chair Health committee) Creates the temporary state commission on universal health coverage. The purpose of this bill is to examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning how to provide comperhensive, affordable, quality health coverage to all NYS residents, while controlling costs and ensuring freedom of choice for consumers. We are facing a healthcare crisis in NYS. Noit only is the uninsured population more prone to health risks, but there is a substantial financial toll on employers and the taxpayers who must accept the burden. The first step is to study the problem in order to come up with an viable solution that not only ensures every New Yorker has access to a doctor, but also that the solution we develop is economically sound and doesnot place overwhelming fiscal burdens on our businesses and taxpayers.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  None

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Candidate Page || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 24, 2006 16:36
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.