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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Budget Crisis,
Education,
Water,
Health Insurance
Click on a name for other candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What does California need to do to address the current budget crisis?
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Answer from Pat Krueger:
Making California more business friendly is the best way to help. The State Legislature's attitude toward businesses in California is adversarial at best. Business has become the enemy... not a partner as it should be. The legislature cannot come to the realization that without better paying jobs provided by large and small businesses alike... they will never balance the state's budget. Running business out of the state instead of attracting them to California has to stop. The bleeding has gone on for far too long. California needs to return to its greatness when it was business friendly. In addition to the issues previously covered, I oppose shakedown lawsuits, sue your boss and split roll property tax.
Answer from F. Aaron Smith:
Our state government must balance the budget and pay it's debt WITHOUT borrowing or raising taxes.
This can be accomplished by:
· Cutting $6 billion in wasteful programs
· Saving $9 billion through privatization
· Divesting $1 billion in assets
· Eliminating duplicative agencies, saving $880 million
· Reducing personnel costs by 5%, saving $1 billion
· Introducing performance-based and biennial budgeting
· Creating a legislative sunset commission to cut ineffective programs.
· Amending the California Constitution to include revenue and spending limits.
For More information see, http://www.aaronsmith.org
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2. What should the state's priorities be for K-12 education? For the Community College System?
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Answer from F. Aaron Smith:
Every child in California deserves the very best education possible. The state is failing miserably in this area.
My campaign embodies the spirit of individual liberty and free enterprise. This means that parents must be able to choose from a variety of competing educational programs that suit the appropriate values for their family. I propose granting a 100% tax reimbursement per child to all parents who choose to send their children to non-government schools. Most importantly, the state must not meddle in the affairs of these "voucher" schools. Otherwise they would be doomed to the dismal fate of the government-operated schools.
I feel that charter schools and/or a "Voucher Program" are steps in the right direction.
Let's celebrate diversity in education, give the responsibility back to parents where it belongs.
Answer from Pat Krueger:
I entered this race because I thought that my experience as a State Senator... in a state that is rated at the top nationwide in providing quality education to its children without either a statewide sales tax or state income tax... would prove helpful in dealing with the failure of the state's education system. Currently, there approximately 600,000 people in the state are employed in K-12. Only 296,000 (43%) are teachers in the classromom. We need to return more control to local school boards, consolidate school districts, eliminate the bureaucracy, and put more teachers in the classroom.
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3. What measures would you support to address California's water needs?
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Answer from Pat Krueger:
Meeting our state's water needs must begin and end with water conservation. The City of Santa Rosa has set a very high standard with their water conservation programs. Thier program would be an excellent template for our cities to follow.
Answer from F. Aaron Smith:
Reduce taxes. Currently, state taxes and hidden regulatory costs consume about 20% of the California economy. I support lowering taxes and regulations to a level of sanity so that employers and employees can once again afford quality health care. Furthermore, I support a 100% tax reimbursement for citizens who donate to non-profit charities that provide health services to lower income groups. These charitable organizations are far better suited to provide for their communities than any state could ever hope to be.
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4. What should the Legislature be doing to address the needs of Californians without health insurance?
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Answer from Pat Krueger:
First, we must get the state on a sound financial basis and stop running buinesses out of the state. Business provide health insurance opportunities for their employees. But, the State Legislature's attitude toward businesses in California is adversarial at best. A good economic climate reduces the number of people without health insurance
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
