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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Rockland County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Joint Committees,
Education Financing,
Indian Point
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. Do you support joint committees to reconcile differences between bills on the same issue passed by both houses of the legislature?*
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Answer from Ann G. Rabbitt:
Yes, I believe it is a mechanism that greatly enhances the legislative process.
Answer from Michael D. Paduch:
Yes. It is important to listen to everyone's concerns to arrive at the best possible solution or proposal. Elected officials need to be more open minded to resolving problems. Working together to reconcile differences is imperative to improving state government.
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2. What methods would you support to ensure equity in funding public education?*
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Answer from Ann G. Rabbitt:
As legislators it is incumbent upon us to support budgets that provide fair funding to our school districts and oppose those budgets that adversely impact upon the quality of our educational system. We do need to find a system that incorporates the stability of the property tax but relieves the burden to overtaxed property owners.
Answer from Michael D. Paduch:
Foremost is to relieve the property owners burden as the sole mechanism for funding education. The state has the responsibility to fund education. Fixing the lottery program, reducing fraud in the Medicaid program and eliminating wasteful spending are key ways to helping to change education funding. Expanding the STAR program to include a middle class category must be done. We must use existing income, sales and corporate tax revenue to fund education in its entirety.
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3. If Indian Point nuclear power facility licenses are not renewed, how do you propose to ensure adequate electric power for the region?*
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Answer from Ann G. Rabbitt:
Removing the Indian Point Nuclear Power Facility would certainly reduce available capacity to the grid. I would support increased conservation measures, alternative energy and would encourage the state and federal governments to collaboratively adopt a true energy policy.
Answer from Michael D. Paduch:
There is no single solution to ensure adequate electric power for our region if Indian Point's licenses are not renewed. There needs to be a combination of strategies including alternative energy to be successful. Advanced gas fired, combined cycle plants are considered to be the best options of making the biggest contribution at the lowest costs in time to replace Indian Point if the licenses are not renewed. We need to ensure safe and reliable energy for all.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
- Original answers for a published Voters Guide
were limited to 30 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have
since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
