League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
State of California (Shasta, Nevada, Placer, Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Butte, Modoc, Sierra Counties) June 5, 2012 Election
	Charley Hooper Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 1

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 government is spending too much, not taxing too little. We have to live within our means, why not the government?

I think there's so much waste in the state budget that the budget can be cut and services can be improved simultaneously. Some of this can be achieved via charter schools, outsourcing, cutting agencies, and getting non-violent drug offenders out of our prisons.

The areas we must protect are public safety, education, and infrastructure.

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

Our state government is trying to do things that are not appropriate for a state government. The state government must do fewer things but do them better. Outsourcing is one way to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

California has numerous agencies that duplicate federal agencies. This is arrogant and wasteful. Getting rid of most or all of the 500+ state agencies, departments, and commissions would be a good start.

Reducing bureaucracy in all branches of government will also reduce costs and improve services.

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?

While I sympathize with those paying the fees for higher education, and have a son in college myself, these fees reflect the reality of the supply and demand of higher education. If more people want to attend college than the available slots, the price (tuition and fees) should rise to balance the supply and demand. This is basic economics.

4. There is increasing demand on California water, particularly in central and southern California. How do you propose to meet this demand without permanently depleting northern California water sources and further damaging the Delta? How can the less-populated water sources north of the Delta have sufficient say in water policy?

There is plenty of water in California, except in extreme droughts, for farms, cities, suburbs, and wildlife (primarily fish). The problem is improper use. If any Californians waste water, that tells us they don't value it highly and the price to them should be increased.

Suburban residents in Southern California shouldn't be cleaning the sidewalks and gutters in front of their houses with water shipped all the way from Northern California. If we raise the price of water to them, they will find an efficient way to use less. Southern California, not Northern California, should pay for the California State Water Project's operating costs.

Farmers, for their part, choose what to grow and how to irrigate. They use most of the water in California and even small improvements will add up.

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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 2, 2012 23:43
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