League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc.
	New York State Government November 2, 2010 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Governor; State of New York

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of New York State and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Economy, Budget, Campaign Finance, Redistricting, Education Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What measures do you support to save existing jobs and create new jobs in New York State? Answer from Kristin M. Davis: I support the legalization of marijuana to restore economic growth to NY State. Ending the prohibition on marijuana would generate over $2 Billion in new tax revenue, an immediate 50,000 and a total economic impact from spinoff industries of $15 Billion. I also favor cuts in the income tax and spending caps... Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo: I recently released a comprehensive jobs plan, called NY Works that will help create and retain jobs across New York, including lowering business costs, creating targeted tax incentives and regionalizing economic activity. Please see my website at http://www.andrewcuomo.com/CuomoCentral/press/press-release/2010-09-cuomo-announces-comprehensive-7-part-plan-to-revital for more information. Answer from Howie Hawkins: A Green New Deal. WPA-style public jobs in public works and services to guarantee every worker the right to a living wage job. A state fiscal stimulus of public investment in renewable energy, mass transit, and other green industries to increase employment, raise consumer spending, and revive the economy. Answer from Warren Redlich: We need to stop wasting money. High taxes and difficult regulations hamper business. I will cap bureaucrat pay at $100,000 a year and eliminate several state agencies. By making necessary cuts, we will protect private sector jobs and important public sector jobs like teachers. 2. How do you think New York can best deal with upcoming unsustainable deficit budgets? Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo: Tough and decisive measures are needed to address these challenges. First, we need an Emergency Financial Plan to freeze taxes and cap both State spending and local property taxes. New York can no longer afford the size of government it has amassed over the past several decades... Answer from Warren Redlich: We must cut spending. Other cuts I would make include capping public pensions at $75K, requiring voter referenda on all politician pay increases, and eliminating all "economic development" spending, which is really corporate welfare and crony capitalism. More details at: http://wredlich.com/ny/issues/cuts/ Answer from Howie Hawkins: Progressive Tax Reform. Stop rebating Stock Transfer Tax to Wall Street ($16 billion). 50% Bankers Bonus Tax ($10 billion). Restore 1972 progressive income tax structure ($8 billion more in revenues, tax cut for 95%). Equals $34 billion. Subtract $9 billion projected deficit. Yields $25 billion for Green New Deal. Answer from Kristin M. Davis: First, we need to reduce spending by cutting the unnecessary member items out of the budget. These slush funds are a playground for corruption and political horse-trading. I favor capping increases in the growth of state spending at the rate of inflation. Because we have a regressive income tax... 3. What reforms would you propose to address inadequate campaign finance rules and enforcement in New York? Answer from Warren Redlich: The biggest problem is the institutional barriers to outsider candidates. Incumbents and party insiders have huge advantages. I would provide free postage to all candidates who get on the ballot, at perhaps 25 cents per registered voter in the candidate's district. This would help even the playing field. Answer from Howie Hawkins: Public Campaign Finance. Like Maine, Arizona, Vermont, Colorado. Public elections should be publicly financed, not subjected to legalized bribery by wealthy special interests. Public financing should be voluntary. Candidates choosing private financing must comply with disclosure rules and contribution limits, which in New York need to be strengthened and enforced. Answer from Kristin M. Davis: I favor lifting all restrictions on campaign giving. Contributions are speech. I favor full immediate on-line disclosure of campaign contributions to eliminate the buying of access. I oppose public financing of elections. "Requiring a man to subscribe with his tax dollars to a cause he does not support is tyrany" Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo: I have an aggressive Clean Up Albany plan that, among other things, calls for a voluntary system of public funding of election campaigns, reducing sky-high campaign contribution limits, closing corporate subsidiary and LLC loopholes and improving enforcement of campaign finance laws. Please see http://www.andrewcuomo.com/issues_and_agenda for more detailed information. 4. What reforms would you support for the redistricting process? Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo: I will fight for the creation of an independent redistricting commission and will veto any redistricting plan in 2012 that reflects partisan gerrymandering and ensure that the State has set itself on a path to reforming the process itself. Please see http://www.andrewcuomo.com/issues_and_agenda for more detailed information. Answer from Warren Redlich: I support the LWVNY's call for an independent redistricting commission. Answer from Kristin M. Davis: I favor a bi-partisan commission to draw districts based on fairness, balance and efficiency - not political advantage. Both Parties have worked together to raise taxes and spend us into oblivion. Redistricting is too important to leave to them. Answer from Howie Hawkins: Proportional Representation. Like New York City, 1938-1949. Like most democracies. Each party gets legislative representation proportional to the votes its candidates receive. Gerrymandered districts are impossible. Political minorities get their fair share of representation. With multi-member districts for proportional representation, or without them, I support an independent redistricting commission. 5. Would you support a cap on property taxes and, if so, how do you think school districts can deal with the decrease in revenue? Answer from Andrew M. Cuomo: I have a comprehensive plan to get our fiscal house in order, including imposing a local property tax cap. However, we must also eliminate mandates that make it impossible for school districts and localities to contain costs. Please see http://www.andrewcuomo.com/issues_and_agenda for more detailed information. Answer from Warren Redlich: No. Caps on taxes are meaningless unless we cut spending. School districts will save a lot of money if we cap administrator pay and pensions. We also need to reform capital spending, such as "prevailing wage," to help schools protect teacher jobs and pay, and lower taxes. Answer from Kristin M. Davis: Yes. If the state produces new revenue based on ending the prohibition on marijuana, casino gambling we could actually increase school funding. Answer from Howie Hawkins: No. Fully Fund Public Schools. The property tax cap is an ill-conceived state mandate to cut school funding and reduce home rule on local taxes. We can provide far greater property tax relief through single payer health care that takes over county Medicaid costs, over half of most counties' budgets. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.