League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz Counties, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Rex Keyes Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 27

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

Questions & Answers

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

Recently our state legislature refused to cut enough spending so now our governor has asked for a federal bailout. We are now number 4 in the nation on taxes. You don't raise taxes on the poor, the working and the middle class during a recession. People are losing their jobs, their homes are in foreclosures and many are just barely hanging on. The only alternative is to prioritize and cut excessive spending.

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

I support teachers enforcing higher educational standards in the classroom. Teachers should be able to give the grade that the student deserves. There is nothing wrong with a student having to take remedial classes. We are doing students a disservice if we don't maintain educational standards. The local community college also trains student in technical skills like welding, body shop and electronics. The community college system could use more of the same.

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

The problem with California's water needs is storage. The state could use more reservoirs. Reservoirs could be placed above rivers and streams so as not to interfere with salmon runs. And if there is extra water in the reservoirs it could be released to help fish populations during the summer dry season.

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

Funding is a big problem of health insurance. Countries that have health insurance have a general tax that supports it. They also control medical expenses. Would the public be willing to pay say a dollar more per gallon of gas to fund it? Would the legislature be willing to put a cap on medical expenses? Would the legislature be willing to put caps on medical malpractice lawsuits? There is no easy answer. But any plan should be put out to vote.

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

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 21, 2008 06:41
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