League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
Cortland, Tompkins County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
	Jim R. Rohan Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 125

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?

Budget and Tax Issues: My primary concern is securing new high paying jobs for New York State and retaining existing ones. New York is among the states with the highest total tax and fee burdens. I would consider budget requests on their merits, case by case, but overall I believe we must not increase the total tax burden and must strive to actually reduce it if we are to retain jobs and grow.

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?

The appointment of an "independent" commission would itself be political in the selection of members. The Legislature has the responsibility to draw state legislative districts and that responsibility should not be delegated elsewhere. The courts serve as a further check on any blatant gerrymandering. We don't need another government commission or bureaucracy.

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?

Approximately 10,000 higher education students graduate from these institutions annually. Unfortunately, the great majority of them leave for better employment opportunities elsewhere. I want to change that. My first bill offers some students special financial incentives - scholarship/grants or zero-interest loans - in return for their agreement to remain employed within New York State and hopefully within the 125th District for a specified period of time.

This financial aid will first go to students with majors in cutting edge technology. The repayment period will depend on the amount of financial aid awarded and time worked in-State. For example, a student receiving a $50,000 grant might be expected to work in the State for ten years, the period for a $25,000 grant could be five years. Organizations looking for stable workforces would see this area as a place that offers a committed, highly educated, employee base. Organizations would be assured the newly-graduated employees are likely to stay for the aid-repayment period. Paid internships during the summer would allow organizations to mold the students into their workforces and make for a much easier transition from college life to full-time work.

We know that when people live in our area for a time they frequently find themselves in love with the region. If we have these newly-graduated students employed here for an incentive period of several years, there is a strong chance they will meet a special someone, possibly marry and purchase a home. They may also have children that will attend our schools and they will use services that boost our economy. This equates to building our community with new life and ideas. They will make many contributions to our overall living environment. They will pay income, sales, and property taxes, and generate business for and jobs in our economy. This will help redistribute our residents' tax burdens, lowering individual total tax liability. If many students take advantage of this financial-aid opportunity, our communities will grow and we will spur new jobs and encourage the expansion of current organizations. New, high paying jobs will provide the economic means for current residents to remain and to move up economically.

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.

The appointment of an "independent" commission would itself be political in the selection of members. The Legislature has the responsibility to draw state legislative districts and that responsibility should not be delegated elsewhere. The courts serve as a further check on any blatant gerrymandering. We don't need another government commission or bureaucracy.

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

Yes. Anytime we can get these two legislative houses together to discuss and agree on bills within each house, this is a win. These two houses can come to agreements that will be signed by the governor.

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?

Yes. I would again point the my answer to the previous question.

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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 24, 2006 16:36
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