League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Riverside County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Joe Ludwig Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 61

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?

First, I believe that the Legislature should implement a two-year budget cycle, where the budget is the priority for the off-year, and then other issues are in place for the election year. By doing this, we can remove much of the politicization that occurs with the budget and get to serious reform. As to exact budget priorities, I believe by restructuring state government, we can then maneuver freed-up funding to our prison system, effectively eliminating the need for the AB 109 realignment, and infrastructure, especially roads and highways.

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

California's state government is designed not to work-that's why it needs significant restructuring. I will author a bill to consolidate the offices of Treasurer, Controller, and Insurance Commissioner into one position, Chief Financial Officer, and combine those three agencies into a Department of Financial Services. This same type of restructuring was done in Florida 10 years ago, and has worked. I would combine overlapping agencies, such as the Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization, to remove redundancy in state government and make it easier for the average Californian to access and use. Finally, I will lobby to change our Legislature to a unicameral (one-house) structure, which will help remove some of the gridlock in our legislative process.

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?

By restructuring state government, I believe that tax dollars being allocated currently can be used to help address this. However, California's public colleges and universities have traditionally been of a lower cost than other states; while I believe that it is possible to have that happen again, I do not believe that it will be to the point it was 30-50 years ago.

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

California's tax system needs a significant overhaul, which is why I oppose raising income and sales taxes. I will author legislation changing our income tax to a flat, 5% rate, with allowances for income and dependents. I will also push for the Legislature to review many overlapping regulations, especially those that directly affect small businesses, so that we can make it easier to do business in California while at the same time protecting environmental quality and our way of 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 08:42
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