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For the 17th State Senate District election there are two candidates: Bill Monning (DEM) and Palmer Kain (REP). Here are our questions and the responses from Monning and Kain.
Q1 — State financing for maintaining and building our local transportation infrastructure (Roads, bridges, public transportation, etc.) needs to be increased. How would you raise more money and/or change the state’s budget allocations to provide more funding for our transportation infrastructure?
We are currently in a special extraordinary session on transportation in the state legislature where reforms and funding mechanisms are being negotiated. The governor includes over $1.5 billion in his 2015-16 budget proposal but this will fall short of current needs. We are also looking at how cap and trade funds might be directed to infrastructure and transportation funding.
I am proud to report that even with our state’s massive recession in 2009-10 connected with the national and international financial collapse, we were able to prioritize funding for major road repairs in the 17th senate district including the overpass at Salinas road at the border of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties on highway one; the three overpasses constructed on highway 101 from Prunedale to Salinas, and the massive project completed on highway one at Pitkin’s curve south of big sur.
All of these projects resulting a major safety improvements on roads that had history of high fatality. I am proud to have been able to push for the prioritization of these projects. Finally, I believe that investment in mass transit including local transit systems, light rail, and high speed rail are all important to reducing our carbon foot print while expanding affordable transportation options for workforce and tourists.
Kain: As State Senator for District 17, one of my main goals is to pass comprehensive legislation to create long-term solutions for our rampant infrastructure issues.
Funding is not the problem. 64% of Cal Trans road projects come in over budget. This is evidence of a fundamental breakdown in communication and allocation, and is absolutely unacceptable. The burden should not fall to the taxpayers to fix our mistakes, and introducing more government bureaucracy just adds more time and cost.
The current top-down approach does not take into account the needs and resources of the local communities. Our municipalities need to work hand in hand with Cal Trans, and there needs to be greater accountability on all levels.
Let’s bring together all the stakeholders in Public works and Transportation, and engage community leaders to make sure all needs are met, and to develop a practical action plan.
Q2 — State regulations on agriculture and transportation have enormous consequences for our local economy. Do you feel there is overregulation in some areas that are negatively affecting this district, and what are they?
I support fuel-efficient and alternative energy transportation, and believe our fossil fuel dependence needs to be tempered over time. We also need to take the current system into account, and create a sensible plan to achieve this that doesn’t harm our economy or businesses that have helped build this country.
I oppose CARB regulations that severely restrict diesel trucking, and other myopic policies that cripple businesses. We need to bring the stakeholders together from both the agricultural community and the trucking industry to have an honest and frank discussion about their needs, concerns, and ideas for reform.
Monning: We face an ongoing challenge of finding a balance between appropriate government regulation to protect health & safety while not inhibiting the growth of local businesses. I believe that we must better manage our precious ground water resources while protecting and developing appropriate water resources. I have been a strong supporter of reform of certain practices employed by lawyers to exploit the American with disabilities act.
We are currently supporting a bi-partisan reform measure in the legislature authored by senator Roth that strikes a balance between the rights of the disabled to access to businesses and preventing “drive by” law suits. The reforms allow appropriate time for a business owner to comply with ADA requirements and monitors attorneys who seek to file multiple claims.
Q3 — Education is essential in providing upward economic mobility for our citizens but California’s public colleges and universities are very expensive and getting more so each year. How would you help to make higher public education more affordable?
Monning: I am a strong supporter of public education and as a member of both the senate education and budget committees, I am proud to report that we have raised k-14 funding by over $4 billion in the past two years, bringing California’s total k-14 budget to over $62 billion, roughly half of the state’s overall budget. Additionally, we have raised funding to higher education. But funding alone will not guarantee quality education.
I supported the governor’s local control funding formula (LCFF) which seeks to provide greater equity in education to those in low income and English learning classrooms. There is not doubt that investment in education is one of the most important investments we can make and that greater investment in education including pre-k childcare and supportive pre school can reduce the loss of youth to drop out and entry into the criminal justice system.
Kain: Our children’s future is my top priority. My comprehensive eight-point plan for education will ensure that future is a bright one. I oppose Common CORE Curriculum, and believe in deemphasizing standardized testing and the one-size-fits-all philosophy.
I support education that integrates the unique learning styles, personality, passions, family, and culture of each student. I support coursework in communication, holistic health, nature studies, art, music, meditation, diversity, sustainability, and other valuable skills for a healthy, happy life.
Substantial funding could be made available immediately to support this vision. When California’s lottery commission was created, it stipulated that 70% of the money collected goes to public education. Currently only 25% of the billions collected actually does. I will propose legislation to enforce the original agreement.
Furthermore, I will bring students, teachers, parents, and administrators together with local governments to enforce accountability, financial responsibility, equality, and to create an action plan.
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To see the candidate’s ballot statements and other election information visit: VotesCount.com