League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
State of New York November 7, 2006 Election
	Alexander B. Pete Grannis Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 65

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

Questions & Answers

1. What programs and actions will you support to protect communities from the negative consequences of the state’s increasing dependence on gambling revenue?

While I generally oppose expanded reliance on gambling revenues, I support the current laws requiring local referenda and state sign off on the establishment of new casinos. I support funding of programs and public service announcements targeting problem gambling and addiction.

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?

Yes, I strongly support changing the manner in which legislative districts are apportioned. I am a sponsor of legislation (A.6287-A, Gianaris) which would establish an independent commission to determine Congressional and state legislative districts.

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?

I support targeted Empire Zones to help provide incentives for employers to locate and remain in Upstate cities and ensuring that the tax relief provided is used as intended by making sure that the benefits provided to companies are linked to measures to hold them accountable for new job creation.

I also support other programs that expand the availability of jobs, improve public education, address property taxes and other issues related to affordable housing.

4. Legislative districts have been determined on a partisan basis. Would you support establishing an independent commission as a more open and ethical way to create the districts? Please explain.

In the event this question was intended to address campaign finance, I support the public financing of campaigns and I sponsor and voted for legislation (A.4, Silver) to reform campaign financing.

5. Do you support joint committees to reconcile differences between bills on the same issue passed by both houses of the legislature?

Yes, I strongly support joint conference committees and I am a sponsor of legislation (A. 1738, Galef) which would establish in statute the use of joint legislative committees to reconcile differences in substantially similar bills passed by the both houses of the legislature.

6. New York State Legislators did not address the pending CFE (Campaign for Fiscal Equity) suit during the 2006 session. What would you propose to expedite the resolution of the CFE case?

I strongly believe that the state must comply with the funding mandates set out by the courts with money targeted to the educational priorities identified in the litigation. I support the adoption of a solution to the CFE case that provides statewide, comprehensive reform complete with fair and adequate resources and accountability. This year, the legislature took a big step in provising significant capital funding for addressing CFE priorities.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Answers are published as submitted without editing.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 27, 2006 17:43
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