Clay Romero for State Assembly - Positions

By Clay Romero

Clay 41, is a Republican, conservative, Christian, small business owner, and a retail firearms dealer. He is not a politician nor a lawyer, but a statesman willing to serve and represent the people of the Northcoast.

Affordable Housing: I would like to encourage those in the contracting and building business to design and build housing for people of modest means. I'll help by proposing legislation that reduces regulations and taxes for those builders who achieve price and quality goals. I also would encourage architects and engineers to compete in a state competition for the best design in construction methods.

Agriculture: The control of dangerous pests and diseases are, and should be a high priority with the state. The demise of agricultural products would mean the demise of food and us. The state should have as little detrimental effect on agriculture as possible. Protect our farmers. Neuter the Endangered Species Act. We must build for greater water capacity. The state must not be involved in taxes on inheritances.

Child Support Laws: Though I recognize the importance of parents supporting their children, only parents who are trying to avoid responsibility should have their wages garnished.

Crime: Violent crime can best be halted by arming people who are good and disarming those who have proven to be bad. Respect for property and individual responsibility must prevail.

Death Penalty: I'm in favor of the death penalty. To end ones life is indeed a tragedy, but is necessary when one has proven to be a hazard to other people. I feel badly for those whose job it is to carry out the death penalty. No right minded person enjoys another's demise.

Economic Security: The business of California is business. If business does better, employees do better and more employees can be hired. To hinder business is to put a roadblock in front of those who wish to better themselves. Manufactured products are preferred because a product that can be held in the hand will drive many service jobs.

Education: I believe that teachers can do a better job teaching without the State government controlling them. The State and Federal governments have no good reason to be involved in controlling education. Teachers must have the authority to conduct their class room as they see fit and should not be subject to law suits. The Education Code should set the standard only. Please reinstitute the Ten Commandments and the Pledge of Allegiance in schools.

Electric Power: I'm in favor of building more power plants. California is faced with critical shortages and must respond now. For over twenty years, environmental fraud has been carried out on the public, stopping hydroelectric and nuclear power plants and leaving us in a position where we can not supply enough electricity. Cut the red tape and get to work. Credible sources tell me that alternative sources of power (Solar, Geothermal, Wind) are insufficient to meet 5% of power needs in the next ten years. However, fuel cell technologies have shown great promise and may well become the predominant power of the future.

The Environment: The North Coast environment is special and should be protected. However, so much junk science has been brought to bear on industry and the common citizenry that our jobs have been negatively impacted. I believe we can broaden our job base and protect our environment at the same time. We can achieve this by eliminating fraudulent environmental laws and reestablishing good science and common sense in forestry. It's not necessary to destroy an industry and ruin peoples lives to save a species. Industry and endangered species can exist together.

Fisheries: The North Coast fishing industry is a vital part of the economy and culture. Because of this fact, I must reject the 1999 Marine Life Protection Act. Legislation that protects a sensitive species of life, must also protect man, economics, and industry. This can be achieved by business working together with government to preserve tomorrow's catch. The funding of fish hatcheries is crucial to the survival of certain species of fish to survive the naturally occurring climatic changes. Anytime a man is subordinated to a plant or animal, both lose.

Foster Children: The state should be the safety net for the care of abused or otherwise parentless children. Such funding must not be compromised or delayed.

Freedom: I wish to restore the freedoms that we had 50 years ago. Examples:
1. Those who would trade freedom for security deserve neither.
2. No right may exist without a matching responsibility.
3. Smaller and limited state government.
4. State fees that are justifiable and reasonable.

Funding of the State: Lower tax rates increase state revenues because people are doing better themselves. When people have more of their own money to invest, they generally invest more wisely than the government can. It's this investment that results in more wage earners that are now paying taxes to fund the State.

Gasoline: I'm in favor of removing MTBE from gasoline as it is highly toxic to the environment. I also favor gasoline that is formulated to federal standards because the price and supply will be more stable should petroleum supplies be locally interrupted.

Gun Control: I'm against gun control for several reasons.
1. It doesn't work. Criminals still get guns and the law abiding are disarmed from defending themselves.
2. Gun control is against the God given right to self defense.
3. Gun control is anti-woman. Women are usually the victims of muggings, purse snatchings and sexual assault.
4. Gun control has been at the heart of evil governments that slaughter their own citizens.

A. The Soviet Union established gun control in 1929. From 1929 to 1953, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

B. Turkey established gun control in 1911. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

C. Germany established gun control in 1938. From 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, mentally ill people, and other "mongrelized peoples," unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

D. China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

E. Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

F. Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

I must point out that the right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the second amendment of the United States Constitution and is, in fact, a right and not merely a privilege. Permits can not be required, nor fees imposed, nor can tax be levied as a prerequisite to manufacturing, purchasing, owning, using, selling, transporting, or discarding a firearm. No law can be passed that restricts the type of firearm permitted regardless of caliber, options, or technical attributes. Additionally, no tax can be levied or fee imposed, or permit be required in the manufacturing, purchasing, owning, using, selling, transporting, or discarding of firearm ammunition.

I further assert that any elected official who takes the oath of office promises to "....support and defend the United States Constitution." This includes the right to keep and bear arms.

Immigration Concerns: The speaking and writing of the English language is vitally important for success to come to our new immigrants. We must not delay the assimilation of new immigrants by speaking in their native languages. The sooner immigrants can speak English, the sooner they can gain success. I favor programs that encourage good relations between recent immigrants and business. Our borders must be controlled for preservation of security.

Labor Unions: Labor unions have done much good for the country. However, I believe that union members should not abuse the power that has been so hard in coming. The employer-employee relationship should be one of teamwork and not adversarial. A good union can stand on it's own merit.

Property Rights: People have the right to be secure within their property boundaries and should have the right to remove anyone who is not conforming to their house rules. If you are a guest on another's property, abide by the owner's rules. If you don't like his rules, don't go there. The State should not force people from using their private property. I'm against the conversion of private land into government land. The government taking of land through coercion or force should be a punishable offense.

State Limitations: I believe that the state government is involved in matters in which it has no authority. Many things, like helmet laws and raising our own children, should not be a State concern. I disapprove of the State being a big brother.

Taxes: Energy taxes serve nobody and should be abolished. No fees or taxes may apply to petroleum, electrical, nuclear, solar, wind, fuel cells, geothermal or anything that produces energy. You will also find me solidly behind plans to eliminate any income tax. It's destructive to the business enterprise. The Homeowners Property Tax Exemption of $7000, established about 1960, is long overdue for an increase.

Tort Reform: No manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or person can be held responsible for bad occurrences in which another person used a product incorrectly. If a person damages or destroys anything, that person is wholly liable. If you get hurt on another's property, the property owner is not at fault, you are. Take responsibility for yourself.

Veterans: These are the people who risked their lives and fortunes in service to the United States. I will never forget the gift they gave to me. Freedom. For their service, they should have special accommodations in governmental programs.

Water: The State of California has not been impounding new sources of water in many years. To accommodate growth, more dams and lakes must be constructed. Growth will always require more water and power. Until such time that people stop coming to California and people stop having children, we will have to build for increased capacity.