League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
Albany, Saratoga County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
	Paulette M. Barlette Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 109

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Capital District and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. "007" accounts, better known as member items, account for $200 million in tax payer dollars doled out to individual legislators each year. These pork barrel funds are not covered under New York State's Freedom of Information Laws. Do you support efforts to make the distribution of these funds public record?

I firmly believe that there should be full disclosure of member item fund distribution. Taxpayers have the right to know where their hard earned money is being spent.

2. Legislative district boundary lines are drawn by the legislators themselves and are tied directly to the advantages of party politics. Would you support the establishment of an independent commission as a more open and ethical way to create districts?

As an Albany County Legislator, I have experienced first hand the illegal and unethical manipulation of legislative district boundaries to suit party bosses - thus depriving citizens of proper representation and squandering their tax dollars on legal fees/court battles to address this wrongdoing. I favor an independent redistricting process.

3. Amid the recent reports that more and more young people are leaving upstate cities for better opportunities, what would you propose to reverse this trend?

First, we have to make living in NYS affordable and that starts with cutting the cost of government. We also need to support and develop projects such as CEG's Beanstalk program, which is a student retention initiative, working with employers and students to foster careers and employment opportunities.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

• Original answers for a published Voters Guide were limited to 50 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 12, 2006 19:23
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