League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Mateo, Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Greg Conlon Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 21

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. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending, and address the need for fair revenue sources that are sufficient for state and local government services?

As indicated in my priorities, we need to be able to balance the budget without increasing taxes. The State has increased spending each year by greater than the increase in population and the rate of inflation. If it had not, we would have a balance budget now. We have to maintain the required spending in education (Prop 98) and some other programs but all other programs, agencies and departments would have to be reviewed for reductions in spending.

2. What proposals, if any, do you support to fix the budget process? What other types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?

The State needs to reduce its spending by first combining and streamlining many of its various agencies and departments. Then the State needs to reform the unsustainable pension and health care benefits of its employees. Next it should have each agency and department submit a spending reduction program the same as was done in the early 1990s, while I was President of the Cal. PUC. Such reduction in many cases can be accomplished without service reductions with creative streamlining and improved efficiencies.

3. Many members of the Legislature say that education is a high priority for the state. Yet fees for public higher education have gone up dramatically and funding has been cut. What is your vision for California’s higher education future, and how do you propose to get there?

I would support Meg Whitman's proposal and putting $1.0 billion into higher education, but on a pay-as-you-go manner of finding expense reductions elsewhere. She proposes reducing welfare benefits. I would want to look at all programs, including welfare, to come up with the money.

4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address in 2011? What are your priorities?

As indicated in my priorities I would address providing tax incentives for new capital expenditures in the private sector. It is estimated there is ample cash in many corporations to spend. Like providing incentives for solar projects I would provide tax credits for new capital spending that creates jobs. I also would create a program that matches whatever other states provide to steal our companies. These programs would be for five years initially. We our losing too many jobs to other states we need to fight back and protect our jobs in the state.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. No candidate may refer to another candidate in the response.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 4, 2010 21:27
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