League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Trinity Counties, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	John Lowry Answers Questions Candidate for 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.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How would you prioritize the fiscal choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?

Currently there is a revenue surplus. I favor creating a reserve fund, and I support the Governor's proposal to save a portion of capital gains taxes to fund it. I support cutting taxes on "front end" investment, including impact fees and environmental exactions. I favor an analysis of other business taxes to determine where cuts would most significantly support economic growth.

I favor restoration of cuts to education, human services and housing, as resources are available. I favor the oil extraction tax. I would support a voter initiative to reverse the prohibition on estate taxes and I favor a candid conversation about the unintended consequences of Prop 13. Regarding new spending or tax cuts, I favor a "pay go" approach where a source must be identified before either can go into effect.

2. Given our current drought condition, concern for water rights and usage is an important issue. What solutions would you support to address our water problems?

I favor policies that promote, incentivize and in some cases require water conservation. I favor reuse of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation. And I support increased surface storage, understanding that there are often environmental questions that need to be addressed.

3. California high school students rank lower than many states in student performance. What do you see as the ongoing role of the Legislature in addressing this problem?

I favor increased funding for education, since California now ranks almost at the bottom in per student spending when compared to other states. I support a program of ongoing basic skills competency training for high school students who need it. I support relevant education which includes vocational training and job readiness.

I support reform of the tenure system that would allow for replacement of ineffective teachers. I favor on-going experimentation and innovation to better understand how to keep young people engaged and interested in pursuing education, and to identify more efficient and effective methods of teaching. I also favor greater local control of education.

In the past I held a teaching credential and taught at the secondary level.

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

I think that housing is underestimated in its significance to the wellbeing of our people and of our economy. It is the largest single cost for most people and especially for low income people. Safe and decent housing is very important for people to make progress in all other areas of life. Homeownership is usually the only way that low-income and many middle-income people can invest and gain assets. California's high housing costs are as important as taxes and regulations in business decisions to locate and stay located in California.

I favor a new approach to environmental regulation that would replace our current conflict ridden reactive approach with a proactive and results oriented approach, where we identify the preservation and restoration goals and act on them in a systematic way. This policy direction would be less expensive, more effective, and in line with a strong economy.

I favor a full-on commitment to renewable energy, including small, medium and large scale renewable energy development. New approaches to financing and regulation are the keys to making this happen.

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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 9, 2014 22:01
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