League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda, Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Rob Maffit Answers Questions Candidate for State Senator; District 10

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

Questions & Answers

1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending, and address the need for fair revenue sources that are sufficient for state and local government services?

Primary approach is to cut spending, particularly state employee payroll, and entitlements.

2. What proposals, if any, do you support to fix the budget process? What other types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?

California has a balanced budget requirement, but it allows structural deficits to continue by 'borrowing' from future years. This defeats the entire purpose of the balanced budget requirement. It allows legislators to avoid the difficult task of saying no to a popular program that must be cut to balance the budget. I oppose any borrowing from future years' budgets.

3. Many members of the Legislature say that education is a high priority for the state. Yet fees for public higher education have gone up dramatically and funding has been cut. What is your vision for California’s higher education future, and how do you propose to get there?

California spends an enormous amount on education, but does not see results. I believe the lack of competition for education dollars results in lax administrations. I applaud teachers who work tirelessly for their students, despite seeing only a small fraction of the money spent on education put into their paychecks. My priority is to create competition to traditional public education, such as charter schools, voucher programs, and better support for home schooling. I also believe 70% of education spending should be on teacher salaries and direct student education expenses. New facilities are the bottom of the priority list, especially palaces such as those being built by LAUSD.

4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address in 2011? What are your priorities?

Reduction in the regulatory burden from agencies such as CARB, and a more business-friendly litigation environment (specifically, elimination of joint-and-several liability.)

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. No candidate may refer to another candidate in the response.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 15, 2010 12:09
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