Candidate for
State Senator; District 28

JOBS FOR CALIFORNIANS

California must stem the outflow of jobs and create an atmosphere attractive to business. A realistic approach must be taken to increase job opportunities for Californians. That approach requires a frank and candid discussion without the traditional hardened positions controlling the dialogue. The goal must be realistic, obtainable, and where necessary, new ideas and concepts brought to the discussion.

How does California increase job opportunities? This is the challenge. Solutions must include creating a friendly work environment for employers. California's employer environment is in direct competition with other states, states which have demonstrated their ability to attract and remove major employers from California. What have those states provided that has proven successful in their quest for California employers?

Tax credits have played a major role. A new employer is given tax credits by the state, credits which reduce the employer's tax burden and allows more resources to be utilized by the employer to increase research, development and production, thereby increasing employment.

States have reduced expensive regulatory and costly mandates thereby increasing available funds to employers to employ new workers.

California could welcome and encourage new entrepreneurs by eliminating the $800 minimum start up cost for new corporations.

California could increase the research and development tax credit from 15 to 20% to compete with states offering a similar credit.

California's debt burden, according to Forbes Magazine ranks third from the top, i.e., 47 states have less debt burden than California. As a result of California's huge debt, money directed to the maintenance and reduction of that debt reduces the ability of the state to offer and make available attractive incentives to retain existing and to attract new business.

Therefore, primary attention must be devoted to resolving the current debt crisis. The debt burden hovers like a pall over the entire state structure. Tuition, infrastructure creation and maintenance, all suffer when debt absorbs such a large part of California's revenue.

Our technology industry is second to none. California should implement the products of technology in education and in state operations. California is overburdened with numerous duplicative and redundant departments, agencies and commissions, all with an expensive cost. The sprawl of bureaucracy penalizes citizens every day when different offices of a single commission fail to coordinate their data and citizens are given conflicting direction.

EDUCATION

Education has become expensive and access has been reduced. These are undesirable results. California needs to find a way to increase access and reduce cost. Today, only 60% of education spending reaches the classroom. Sacramento takes its cut from local school districts. Sacramento preempts local districts' ability to control the curriculum. Local control must be restored and will result in more dollars being devoted directly to students' benefit.

Technology can be utilized to stream good teachers into the classroom, thereby providing greater access to classes and reducing cost. It will make life more affordable, increase educational opportunities for more, and reduce a graduation debt!

STOP WASTEFUL SPENDING

California is in crisis. The failure of politicians to stand up to the public employee unions has given us a $28 billion budget deficit and driven our state to the edge of bankruptcy.

It is imperative Sacramento tackle wasteful spending, including a thorough review of public employee pensions and other benefits. While all agree pensions and benefits are necessary there is a great divide over the results and concomitant burden placed upon the taxpayer. A reasonable solution must be determined.

There are nearly 500 departments within the state governement, many with overlapping and duplicative functions. Reducing bureaucracy to an efficient, well run, and business-like operation will provide greater and more immediate benefit to the citizens of California and result in lower cost to the taxpayer.

I will be open to full discussion of new ideas, and to new concepts, all with the goal of seeking reasonable and workable solutions for the benefit of California.