This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/state/ for current information. |
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues State Senator; District 13 | |||
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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.
Answer from Mike Laursen:
Answer from Elaine Alquist:
I propose a two-year budget cycle, and a mandatory "rainy day" reserve so that we are obligated to save money during good economic times. Also, I feel that the budget process needs to take place in an orderly fashion, without the last minute frenzied midnight budget deals that often escape public scrutiny. Answer from Shane Patrick Connolly:
We then must combat the waste, fraud, and abuse occurring in Sacramento, such as the hiring of over 1,000 additional prison guards without the authorization of the legislature at a cost of up to $100 million (as reported by the San Jose Mercury News).
We must elect legislators who are committed to the growth of California's economy so entrepreneurs and businesses large and small can create the jobs and income that, in turn, generates resources for our State government.
Finally, we must elect legislators that take action when they are warned of an impending fiscal crisis instead of legislators who are paralyzed by their ties to special interests.
Answer from Elaine Alquist:
I strongly believe that we need to invest more in education, not less (as some in Sacramento have suggested). As a parent and a grandparent, I will continue to fight for Universal Pre-School. Early education shouldn't be the privilege of the fortunate.
To promote an educated and capable workforce we need to continue to invest in higher education. I learned this as a college trustee in the 1970s and as a member of the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) in the 1990s. While in the Assembly I successfully authored the Graduate Education Opportunity Act (AB 511), which allows
employers to reimburse graduate students $5,250 in tax free tuition credit. The business community relies on skilled workers, and higher education facilitates economic growth.
I would continue to fight to protect investment in education - from pre-school to Ph.D. I was proud to co-author the largest statewide school bond measure in history to fund major school facility construction and modernization projects for K-12 and higher education.
I believe that we should invest in all levels of education and would support measures to lower the threshold for local school bond measures. I would continue working to ensure high standards in the classroom and accountability for parents, teachers and students. I know that educating our children and adults is the most important investment we can make. This was my top priority in the Assembly, and if elected, will be in the State Senate. Answer from Shane Patrick Connolly:
In K-12 education, we must maintain high standards for students and teachers, measured through testing. At the same time, we must free local teachers, school boards, and administrators to make spending decisions for their own schools. We must get Sacramento out of the job of micro-managing our schools by consolidating various categorical grants into locally-controlled block grants, so our tax dollars can be directed based upon local needs.
Economic growth will help our State generate revenues to restore additional aid to our community colleges. Further, we could spur more funding for community colleges by developing new tax incentives for businesses to further utilize community colleges for employee training and retraining. Given the current low borrowing rates, we could also expand loan guarantees, making more student loans available to those in need.
Answer from Elaine Alquist:
Answer from Shane Patrick Connolly:
To prepare for the future of our water needs, water rate structures should reward conservation and innovation, such as the expanded use of clean "gray water" for irrigation. We must also examine the need for the expansion of our water storage systems and immediately begin rebuilding our deteriorating water delivery systems.
Answer from Elaine Alquist:
California's children need comprehensive healthcare coverage, which is why I was a co-author of the Healthy Families legislation. I want to work to expand the Healthy Families Program to an increased percentage of the poverty line to widen the umbrella of Californians with access
to health insurance. I also want to work on finding a solution to making health care more affordable for small business. My goal is to see that all Californians have access to affordable health care which they can receive in a timely manner. Answer from Shane Patrick Connolly:
As a start, we can improve upon our existing healthcare system by encouraging the formation of buying groups to get group-purchase power for drugs and routine care, expand the availability of catastrophic-care insurance policies coupled with tax-free flexible health care savings accounts, increase the use of health care vouchers for people on fixed incomes and the unemployed, and expand public-private partnerships for the training of needed health-care professionals. It is also essential that we reform the tort system to bring down the cost of medical malpractice insurance while preserving the rights of people with legitimate claims and that we have robust audits of healthcare providers that receive public funds to ensure those funds are being spent legitimately and effectively.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. |