League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda, Contra Costa County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues State Senator; District 9

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 Lisa D. Ringer: Although California's constitution requires a balanced budget, the state perpetually runs a deficit. Californian's bubble burst in 2007, yet Sacramento's legislators appear to believe they are still on a hot air balloon ride. I will insist state government make deep enough cuts to eliminate current and future deficits. Budget cuts hurt. No one disputes that. However, they are necessary to balance the budget and not fall into the same crisis that Greece did. Gaps shouldn't be closed by borrowing, so I will also insist government wean itself from debt and become fiscally responsible. Many Californians have cut up their credit cards and paid off debt; Sacramento must do the same. If elected, I will work to restore California to prosperity by ensuring future generations are not forced to pay off debt run up by Sacramento's unsound reliance on excessive borrowing. I propose a universal cut to all government agencies/programs. No preference, no special treatment. A fair, equal percentage cut. No one gets a lesser cut, no one gets a bigger cut. This is the only way to ensure a balanced budget and no preferential treatment. 2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively? Answer from Lisa D. Ringer: All governments should exist to protect individual rights. Redistribution of wealth, corporate bailouts, protection of politician's favored industries/jobs, spying on individuals, and hindering our unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is not legitimate function of government. My reforms would be aimed at reigning in government, restoring sanity to the legislative process, and protecting unalienable rights. 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 Lisa D. Ringer: Unfortunately the saying "there is no such thing as a FREE lunch" is true. Higher education is beneficial to individuals and to society. Higher education should wean itself of government funding which is subject to the whims of Washington and Sacramento, both of whom siphon off large percentage of taxpayers' dollars before doling it out. Dollars are not necessarily returned to those who paid in, but rather to those who pay expensive lobbyists. Higher education should seek to balance their budgets by increasing private funding (alumni, corprate donors, individual non-alumni donors, licensing fees, sports tickets, tuition) rather than government funding. 4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities? Answer from Lisa D. Ringer: My 3 priorities are Restore fiscal responsibility to Sacramento's state budget by ending deficits and excessive borrowing. Protect States' rights from Federal encroachment. The Feds' recent raids on California's legal medical cannabis dispensaries are just one example of rights I will protect. Protect Individual's rights. The prohibition against legal recognition of gay and lesbian couple's status is unconstitutional. The Patriot Act's expansion endangers our rights to privacy and free speech. These are just two examples of rights I will protect. 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.