League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Greg Akili Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 59

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund 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?

The state has cut as much as can be cut. The next options are to shut down the UC and state college system, and remove state services. Without additional revenues, the state will be so badly crippled that even when the economy rebounds, the state will still be handicapped.

I would support an oil extraction fee. States like Alaska, Oklahoma, and Texas have oil extraction fees and there's no good reason why they same shouldn't go for California.

I support raising taxes by at least 15% on the top 2% of the wealthiest Californians. They must pay their fair share. Tax loopholes must be closed. The federal and state codes allow such holes to persist.

I would also support increasing taxes on luxury items

2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?

I would support reforms to change how campaigns are funded adopting a system similar to the systems in Arizona and Connecticut with public financing the funding come from fees and fines from major corporations and lobbyists.

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?

Yes it is priority I would support a roll back and a freeze on fees at an agreed level. I would also be an advocate for developing dedicated sources of revenue for the UC California State University System similar to Prop 98

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

• Creating quality local jobs: I will advocate for the expansion of growth industries such as energy, transportation, health care, tourism and entertainment, I support increasing the number of cleaner energy producers in the state. I also support incentives for companies in growth industries that produce quality, career path jobs in communities with high unemployment.

• Investing in public schools: I believe providing higher expectations, quality leadership, caring staff, manageable class sizes, and strategic collaboration can positively impact the educational environment and reduce poor outcomes like high dropout rates. Also, I believe in protecting proposition 98 funding for education. I intend to use the office to bring together stakeholders; teachers, parents and community members to create fair and effective evaluations of school staff and leadership. I will also fight for the development of fair and just discipline policies that prioritize keeping our children in school. In addition I would be an advocate for higher education as a key component to supporting working people access to a higher standard of living making and bringing California back as a world leader in higher education

• Protect community services: I am an avid supporter of President Obama's efforts around healthcare reform. I will work to ensure that it is fully implemented within the state. Given the transition of many of our people from state and local correctional facilities, I am also a supporter of real re-entry services for the thousands returning to our communities from the jail and prison system. This includes dedicated funding for community based re-entry support services, and the development of monitoring programs to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the re-entry process. This would involve regular report and evaluation on status.

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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.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 14, 2012 14:14
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