What is the most pressing issue in...

What is the most pressing issue in the state? In Newport-Mesa?

The out-of-control budget and budget process are the most pressing

issues since they affect so much else. Until we get a handle on the

budget there is just too much uncertainty to plan and spend

rationally on education, on health care, on the transportation

infrastructure, on the environment and on the other state priorities.

Preserving the quality of life in Newport-Mesa and throughout the

70th Assembly District is the most pressing local issue. I would like

to get Sacramento out of our lives to the greatest extent possible

and instead empower local officials -- the city councils, the school

boards, the college boards, public safety officials -- to solve local

problems rather than pass them on to Sacramento.

What is the best solution to the state’s budget crisis?

State income is up almost 25% over the five years of the Davis

administration. But spending has gone up nearly 44%. It is clear that

the budget problem is overwhelmingly on the expenditure side. The

state’s natural economic growth can pull us out of our budget

problems. But growth can never solve the problem if we continue to

spend recklessly and tax excessively.

On the spending side, the first rule of holes applies. When in a

hole, stop digging. We must stop overspending. Each budget year, the

government spends more than the year before. Stop. We can cut the

number of state employees, cut the rich state employment benefits and

reduce benefits to illegal aliens.

As to taxes, the budget problems will not be solved by increased

taxes or more bonds. Tax increases put a drag on the economy. We must

be doing everything possible to spur growth. Pete Wilson imposed $7

billion in taxes in his first term, but the economy remained sluggish

and income from the tax did not meet projections. The economy did not

turn around until Wilson cut tax rates in his second term. At the

national level we saw the same thing. In the ‘80s, Ronald Reagan cut

taxes and government receipts virtually doubled in six years. The

same can happen here. We should impose no new taxes or bonds, and cut

tax rates.

Assuming the Legislature stays in Democratic hands, how will you

work with the majority party?

As an elected official, I have made numerous trips to Sacramento

to meet with, lobby, testify before and work with the Legislature on

education and budget issues. I have made a point of reaching across

the political aisle to the Democrats because they hold power. I have

had success doing so in the past and will continue to do so in the

future. I do not support compromise for the sake of compromise and

simply will never compromise on principles.

What makes you the best person for the job?

I am the only candidate in the race with experience in elective

office. I have done in office here in Orange County the things we

need our Assembly member to do in Sacramento. Nearly a billion tax

dollars have come across my desk while I have been in office. Not a

single one of those dollars was in the red. I have balanced every

budget I have touched. I have also set sound education policy and

stood up against both liberal special interests and illegal alien

tuition giveaways. Meanwhile, I have opposed new bonds.

What one thing would you hope to accomplish while in office?

I do not want to go to Sacramento primarily to pass new laws. I

would consider it an accomplishment to finish my term with less

regulation on California businesses and families. I would like the

Legislature to do a serious review of the laws, rules and regulations

that burden us and repeal them. This will allow the economy to grow.

More to the point, it would allow the people to better control our

own lives, to spend our own money on the things important to us, to

educate our children as we know best and to get Sacramento out of our

lives.