League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Trinity Counties, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of the State Assembly; District 2

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Budget, Government reform, Higher education, Major issues Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending? Answer from Tom Lynch: We need a new social contract, a new operating system; major reforms to make provision of services government once performed for generations, sustainable. 2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively? Answer from Tom Lynch: To make State, County and Local government perform more effectively we must fully pay for services provided by our public servants the year given...in other words we have to stop giving benefits for one years service paid for over the next 20-30 years by the next generation of taxpayers and government workers. 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? Answer from Tom Lynch: For twenty years UC California has had a pension holiday whereas neither the University, faculty nor staff contributed one dime to their retirement and now we are doubling tuition in order to fund retirements. Much of the money to pay the tuition increase is from ridiculously expensive loans at 6.8% interest paid over the next 25 years! This is a great injustice that needs to be corrected by freezing pensions and working toward reforming the system. 4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities? Answer from Tom Lynch: -Reform of retirement benefits. -Intergenerational equity. -Economic development, working with encouraging business to remain in the State instead of leaving. 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. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.