League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Keith Brandon McCowen Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 54

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?

Government must operate within its budget. Higher taxation is not the answer to fixing the budget ills. All non-essential spending must be eliminated. The key to improving our economy is to help develop private sector jobs and develop small businesses to generate revenue. California does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. The Legislature must be more fiscally responsible for the sake of all Californians.

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

Excessive government regulation is crippling business growth, profits and innovation, which negatively impacts jobs. We must look at what really works in some regulatory agencies and eliminate others. Government must learn how to operate at a more efficient status and at the same time perform at a gold star level of customer service.

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?

Billions of dollars have been redistributed to administrators and to special interest groups with no appreciable increase in student achievement. In order to get a handle on the high cost of higher education we must hold the administrators more accountable and restructure the system they use to vote themselves raises. Our educational system is off track and needs major restructuring. One way is to involve the private sector. I believe in apprenticeship training. Young people or anyone interested should have more choices either to go to college or to get their career under way by means of an earn while you learn/work program. We need more apprenticeship programs in the mid to high tech sectors to stimulate and assist industry in developing the skilled workers needed to compete in a global economy.

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

The Legislature must address its issues by simply getting back to the basics. The Legislators must abide by their oath of office and our state's constitution. Special interest groups must take a back seat for the greater good of all Californians.

My priorities to the people of California are to advocate for parental rights, protection of our children, protect prop 13, actively seek out businesses that will bring with them good paying jobs, and to make sure government does not infringe on our freedoms.

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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 11, 2012 14:03
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