League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of the State Assembly; District 53

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Budget, Government reform, Higher education, Major issues Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending? Answer from Roger A. Young: State governments reason for being is to provide the safety, protection and general services required by the citizens of the state to include the basics such as Police, Fire Protection, Education, and the infrastructure. These items and issues are the top priority things that the budget should fund first. Other issues can be funded on a lower priority basis. The law requires a balanced budget. We cannot spend more money that we have. 2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively? Answer from Roger A. Young: The influence of campaign donation has to be curbed. This is the main reason that the state has unrealistic budgets every year and why the overruns occur. These sham budgets must end. The Controller tried to hold the legislators to bay by withhold legislators pay checks in accordance with the law that was passed. Unfortunately the legislators composed the law knowing that it would be unenforceable. These shenanigans must also stop. 3. Fees for public higher education have gone up dramatically and funding has been cut. Is this a priority concern, and if so, what measures would you propose to address it? Answer from Roger A. Young: There is a distinct discrepancy between the rise of the cost of living for the average Californian and the rise of the cost of public education. The California Board of Regents, California Department of Education, and local boards of education must called to task. The cost rising issues of these institutions must be identified and addressed. Raises and other salary increases must be suspended until this problem is solved. 4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities? Answer from Roger A. Young: The State of California used to be a magnet for jobs and had the best education in the nation. Mismanagement by the legislature has forced businesses and jobs out of the state. WE now have the highest unemployment rate in the nation. The performance of the school system is not at or near the bottom of the list, compared to other states. The spending of tax money has to been closely tied to revenues (taxes) received. The budget has to reflect this relationship. The winking and nodding and passing illogical budgets has to end. This process is what has led to the downgrade of the state's credit rating and the threat of bankruptcy. The state of the infrastructure is an item of concern and needs to be addressed. The impact of illegal immigrants on how taxes are spent is tremendous. The state is required to provide education and hospitals are required to provide what results in free health care. The non use of e-verify, the existence of "Sanctuary Cities", and the non use of police, judges, and other agencies to identify and report the presences of illegals all contribute the "draw" of illegals to this state. Let there be no mistake, I am for legal immigration and am not for providing tax money for the benefit of illegal aliens or the "undocumented". The Death Penalty, the length of time that it takes for the State of California to perform executions is unacceptable. It is astounding the a handful of people have been able to thwart the law and the will of the people. The appeal process has to be revised. The process in the State of Texas may provide a good model to emulate. The cost of maintaining convicts is alarmingly high as well. Again the Texas model may provide some practical insight here as well. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.