League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
State of California (Madera, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Placer, Mariposa, Mono, Alpine Counties) June 5, 2012 Election
	Tim K. "Timothy" Fitzgerald Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 5

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?

I would re-organize the budget making process, to allow the state to fund existing budget levels with a fair process and equal share in the costs of maintaining the State Fiscal Budget.

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

1) Develop a new view toward Tax Policy and funding state finances. Consider 'value-added' tax to supplement or replace current income tax. Admit Jarvis-Gann is not working after 30 years of failure,and amend the state Constitution to break the strangle hold Jarvis-Gann and conservative politics have on the State annual budget.

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?

I would shift cost of the penal system, with reform of prisons along the lines of AB109 - already begun. Savings in this area could be funneled into state public post secondary financing...putting a freeze on college fees and tuition.

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

Revisit K-12 public education as it is presently taught. Introduce the Montesorri system to all public schools K-3.Liberate the Middle schools from the dreary program now in place - of interest to neight instructor nor student, and add liberal arts courses, exploring the new world culture and civilization. Teach the high tech resources of the Internet at this level. Give High School students REAL substance by teaching the classics in all fields, not the water down second and third hand sources of no use to anyone. 2 Realize the original proposals for Community Mental Health, making it possible for all those who are disabled to attain Independent Living, free from the shakled of benign neglect and mere 'warehousing' of the handicapped for life.

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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 10, 2012 22:11
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