POSITIONS ON ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES

By Timothy J. Hannan

ENSURING INTEGRITY OF FREE ENTERPRISE

ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS

One way or another, we all depend on the free enterprise economy for our livelihoods. So it is vitally important that our economy be kept free of destructive elements such as predatory lending, abuses by trustees, identity theft, false advertising, health care fraud, unfair debt collection practices, dishonest home or auto repair, and other forms of marketplace fraud. The Attorney General must take a leading role in the investigation and prosecution of such wrongdoing in the marketplace. The AG needs to protect and encourage whistleblowers who are willing to report corporate fraud and underground economy issues. The Antitrust Law Section of the AG's Office needs to work especially hard to enforce California's laws against monopolies, price-fixing, and other unfair business practices. As Attorney General, I will take a leading role in ensuring the integrity of California's economic system.

ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS

The phrase "civil rights" refers to the rights we all have not to be discriminated against because of unchangeable traits such as race, nationality, religion, gender, age or disability. Nothing is more Libertarian than equal opportunity. No one should be denied a job or a housing opportunity on account of an unchangeable trait. As Attorney General, I will see to it that federal and state civil rights laws are consistently enforced. In my view, equal opportunity means equal opportunity. No particular ethnic or racial group should be given preferential treatment. Historically disadvantaged minorities need to be asking themselves not "What can I get from the government?" but rather "What can I do to improve myself?"