League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sacramento County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Gaspar Roberto Garcia Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 9

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What does California need to do to address the current budget crisis?

California needs to elect legislators that will stop the political bickering between political parties and focus on balancing the budget on time and to do the people's business. California needs to elect people, like me, who are honest,courageous, competent, and are also characterized by integrity. California needs to elect legislators who will recognize the the time for politics as usual is past. California needs to elect legislators who will make California a magnet for companies looking for a place to grow. I advocate balanced budgets, prudent spending, and protection for the weakest among us.

2. What should the state's priorities be for K-12 education? For the Community College System?

For both the K-12 education and the Community College System, the state should prioritize the elimination of the gross unfairness in our educational funding process. The state should prioritize funding the needs of the classroom first, the needs of the school site second, and the needs of the school bureaucracy third and last. The state must also prioritize the development of a comprehensive job description for each teacher and each school employee such that the average California citizen can understand what teachers and other school personnel are specifically supposed to do to earn their salaries.

3. What measures would you support to address California's water needs?

I will support expending state funds to insure that every individual in California has available safe water to drink and use in meeting daily needs. I will also support making sure that California Farmers have available water to grow their crops and require them to return unneeded water in safe-consumable form. I will oppose installing water meters at the homes of Sacramento residents. I will support the development of water desalination plants in Southern California cities and communities.

4. What should the Legislature be doing to address the needs of Californians without health insurance?

The State should provide small employers with incentives, of various sorts, to encourage them to pay for the health needs of their employees. The legislature should make it unlawful for insurance companies to make extraordinary income by providing health insurance to Californians. The legislature should develop a detailed plan for getting help with health problems if the families do not have adequate coverage from a health plan, or do not have a health plan at all.