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Should abortions be easier or harder to obtain and why? I support a woman’s right to choose. I support the state’s current family planning programs, and as governor, would make no changes to this policy. It has been widely reported that you support I support a woman’s right to choose. I support the state’s current family planning programs, and as governor, would make no changes to this policy. I do not support partial birth abortion. I am in favor of parental notification, but I believe there must be a mechanism available where an individual can seek counsel from an outside entity, perhaps the courts. The Framework evolved from a consensus-building process over nearly two decades of hard work by all stakeholders, during a period covering both Republican and Democratic administrations in Sacramento and Washington. The Sierra Nevada Framework has been widely hailed as a model of forest ecosystem resource protection. As Governor, I will direct all relevant state agencies to work with their federal counterparts to comply fully with the Framework and call on the federal government to honor its pledge to abide by the policies set forth in this unprecedented compact. If changes are needed in the Framework, we must engage in the same consensus-building process that resulted in the existing agreement. Further, the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is one of the state’s crown jewels. Yet, unlike many of California’s other natural treasures, it has no conservancy. As Governor, I will propose establishment of a Sierra Nevada Mountains Conservancy. Everyone must do their fair share to reduce air pollution, but farmers have been unfairly caught in the middle of competing bureaucratic demands. For example, dairy farmers have tried to build methane digesters on their farms to convert manure and organic waste to natural gas, thus reducing both air and water pollution and simultaneously creating renewable energy that our state urgently needs. These projects are tied up by competing permit processes and fought by special interests who don’t want farmers competing in the energy business. As Governor, I will bring farmers together with state agencies, community groups, energy providers, and other stakeholders to facilitate these types of innovative solutions to complex problems. How will you address the budget crisis in It’s disturbing to realize that after taking a close look at California’s budget, it’s hard to make any sense out of it. My Economic Recovery Council, comprised of the best and brightest among the state’s economic and business leaders, recently drew this conclusion. California’s budget has become a patchwork of special interest give-aways draining precious resources from core programs such as education, public safety and health care. There are also hundreds of millions of dollars – if not billions – of documented waste, fraud and abuse in state spending. Our first order of business is to get California’s operating deficit – estimated at between $5 billion and $8 billion – under control. Runaway spending and structural deficiencies fueling this operating deficit are putting us deeper and deeper in debt every day. I will ensure that California government lives within its means – something working families manage to do everyday – and rein in spending to close the operating deficit. I support a constitutional limit on annual spending increases and an unambiguous constitutional requirement that the state pass a balanced budget, so that California never finds itself in this mess again. I will also restructure our inherited debt, estimated at between $12 and $20 billion – a very wide range that is itself another indicator of how difficult it has become to understand just what is going on in Sacramento. This includes the unprecedented $10.7 billion deficit bond and other borrowing in the current budget. The bottom line is to make California competitive again so that businesses and entrepreneurs stay here and create jobs – which will bring new revenues to state and local government. I have formed an Economic Recovery Council, and they have already begun work at my direction. How can you get your budget plan adopted I believe this historic election is sending a powerful message to the political class in Sacramento. Voters are demanding that their lawmakers work together to make our state a better place to live and work. They want real progress, and I’ll see that we work together to make that progress. In Sacramento, spending is out of control and as Governor, I will work to get the state’s fiscal house in order. Since the first moments of my campaign, I have said that cuts to education are off the table and I will ensure that it stays that way. Should the state have an effective spending cap? Yes, we should have a constitutional spending cap as well as a constitutionally mandated balanced budget. A spending limit like the one we used to have in California based on inflation and population growth would have prevented the deficit situation California finds itself in now. Our first order of business is to get California’s operating deficit – estimated at between $5 billion and $8 billion under control. Runaway spending and structural deficiencies fueling this operating deficit are putting us deeper and deeper in debt everyday. I will ensure that California’s government lives within its means – something working families manage to do everyday – and rein in spending to close the operating deficit. What would you do as governor to stimulate job growth in California? I have formed an Economic Recovery Council, co-chaired by Warren Buffett and former Secretary of State George Shultz, this bipartisan, independent panel includes some of the brightest minds our state and nation have to offer. Our goal is to set California’s fiscal house in order and make our state competitive again by: Reforming workers’ compensation – a self-inflicted wound that is driving away business; I have formed an Economic Recovery Council, co-chaired by Warren Buffett and former Secretary of State George Shultz. This bipartisan, independent panel includes some of the brightest minds our state and nation have to offer. Our goal is to set California’s fiscal house in order and make our state competitive again. I will address the workers compensation crisis – a self-inflicted wound that is driving away business. I will address high energy costs. California has the highest commercial and industrial electricity rates in the nation. Therefore, I will renegotiate the energy contracts and take other steps to give California a reliable and affordable energy system. I will push for laws curbing frivolous lawsuits – which cost every Californian $1,200 per year. I will restore the state’s credit rating and restore investor confidence in California as a place to start and grow businesses and create jobs. What about the workers’ compensation I have pledged to aggressively address the workers’ compensation crisis in California. We have the highest workers’ compensation rates in the country – a third higher than the national average. This year, the estimated cost of workers’ compensation premiums, which has escalated dramatically each of the past few years, is more than $20 billion. That’s nearly three times as much as the total amount of corporate taxes paid by California employers. Businesses cannot continue to suffer under skyrocketing workers’ compensation costs. The day I’m sworn in, I will take action. I will call a special session of the Legislature to enact reforms to correct a system that imposes unaffordable costs on our employers, while denying decent benefits to injured workers. I will not sign a budget without workers’ compensation reform. We have the highest workers’ compensation rates in the country. This year, California businesses will pay more than $20 billion in workers’ compensation premiums. That’s nearly three times the total amount of corporate taxes paid by California employers. Skyrocketing workers’ compensation costs are driving businesses out of California. The Legislature and Governor Davis fell far short of reform this year. The day I’m sworn in, I will take action. I will call a special session of the Legislature and finish the job. I will not sign a budget without workers’ compensation reform. What role should the state take in reducing the crime rate? As Governor, I will enforce the laws that already on the books. Including working with police on the Three Strikes because it has proven to be an excellent deterrent to violent crime. I support the death penalty and DNA testing to prevent wrongful executions while minimizing delay tactics that prevent the service of justice. I am a believer that after school programs are crucial to get kids on the right track early, off drugs and out of trouble. Yes. Many Latinos lack access to quality education and well-paying job opportunities. If schools are underperforming, we need to fix them immediately or allow parents to send their children to better schools. I became involved in the Prop. 49 campaign to create a safe environment for children after school, studies show when juveniles are more likely to engage in criminal activity. As an immigrant I realize that access to opportunity is the only way to overcome poverty. As governor, I will bring opportunity to all Californians by improving California’s business climate. I will reduce burdensome regulation, bring sanity to our out-of-control workers’ compensation system and by creating empowerment zones and incentives for individuals and businesses that invest in economically disadvantaged communities. More needs to be done to bring undocumented workers into California’s economic mainstream. This is necessary so that undocumented workers do not fall victim to criminals who prey on immigrants. What is your education platform? Education is my passion and California is not where it should be. Our children are not where they can be. The academic achievement for California students must improve. Parents, teachers, principals, school boards and businesses know this. We have an achievement gap that leaves behind too many of our state’s children. This is unacceptable. I will take aggressive measures to improve our public schools. I guarantee to every Californian:
My goal is to shift more power to local communities and give them more say over their budgets and get more You have spoken a great deal about the I believe the importance of a safe, academically enriching after school environment cannot be overstated. That’s why I authored and sponsored the passage of Proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2003. Proposition 49 will dedicate funds for after school programs when additional revenue is available. We know that after school programs make a difference in the lives of our kids. Among students, those who attend quality after school programs achieve higher test scores, graduate at higher rates, and are more likely to attend college. They also use drugs less, abuse alcohol less, commit fewer violent crimes and have fewer children out of wedlock. Providing a safe, enriching environment for kids should be a priority for our elected leaders, and it will be when I become your governor. What are your education priorities and how will you implement and pay for them? I believe that one of the most important things we can do for our children is to provide them with a quality education. As a parent, I realize parents need choice in their children’s education. I believe in dramatically expanding charter schools by allowing universities, mayors and others to grant charters, and ensuring parents can exercise their school choice rights when our schools fail to meet standards for excellence. My top budget priority is to protect education. I support Proposition 98, and I will protect our investment in schools, but I will seek changes to ensure more money is spent in the classroom instead of being wasted on bureaucracy. Parents, teachers and school board members from all over California express concern that not enough money is being spent directly on kids. We need to streamline state categorical programs, cut regulations and maximize the use of existing education dollars. California’s schools will also benefit when we get the state’s economy back on the right track. Under Proposition 98 schools will see their share of the economic recovery. My priority is to improve our public schools. Charter schools are a great option for parents. I support lifting the cap on charter schools. I will reduce red tape that is strangling charter schools. I support the school choice provision in the No Child Left Behind Act that provide parents and students with options when public schools are falling them. A student in East L.A. deserves the same quality education as the student from Newport Beach. California needs to provide all students with the same level of educational oppourtunity. As Governor, I will propose the Legislature fully-fund community colleges under Prop 98 requirements. What is your position on bilingual education? English is my second language and I am proud of my heritage. But we should keep English as the primary language taught in schools. Immigrant children do better in school when they are taught in English, and they earn more money after they graduate. I will work for expedited consideration of citizenship applications to immigrants who complete advanced civic education and English immersion programs. I will restore stability to our energy system and stimulate private investment in electricity generation and transmission. The blackouts had a terrible impact on our economy and were yet another result of failed leadership in Sacramento. I have a six point plan that will prevent further blackouts. You have stated that you are a friend of the I will be a passionate defender of California’s environment, providing real leadership to protect our precious land, air, and water. I believe that part of California’s greatness lies in its natural resources and beauty. It is an essential part of the California experience. It is much easier for an employer to attract talent to our Golden State with its majestic coastline, snow-packed mountains and limitless recreational opportunities. I believe what we do in this state must improve our quality of life, and environmental damage runs counter to that. Even from an economic perspective, our environment must be protected. If we have beaches soiled by oil spills, tourists will not come to this state. If we log our forests irresponsibly, stream beds will be destroyed and our fishing industry will be damaged. I believe we can improve our economy without impairing our environment, and will govern by this belief. I am assembling a team of environmental advisors that will elaborate on key issues in the coming weeks. What is your position on offshore oil California is identified for its beaches and magnificent coastline more than any other single feature. I am opposed to offshore oil California has long been plagued with air quality problems. What will you do to address them? Breathing clean and healthy air is the right of all Californians, especially our children, whose health suffers disproportionately when our air is polluted. California’s Clean Air Act was the model for the federal Clean Air Act and our state has always led the nation in clean air programs. How do you plan to protect California’s environment? California’s economic future depends significantly on the quality of our environment. We face serious environmental challenges, which have a profound impact on public health and the economy. “Jobs vs. the environment” is a false choice. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that clean air and water result in a more productive workforce, and a healthier economy, which will contribute to a balanced state budget. California law will require cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state in the future to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas linked to global warming. The auto industry and Bush administration says this issue should be left to the federal government. Who is right? More acres of California forests were clear cut under the first 4 years of the Davis administration than the prior eight years under Governor Wilson. California’s Forest Practices Act already has the tools to protect our watersheds, wildlife, and water supplies, but it must be appropriately enforced. As Governor, I will work to protect these resources by managing them as watersheds and by creating a Sierra Nevada Conservancy, among other strategies, to protect those areas most at risk. California’s Coast is recognized worldwide as one of our most precious resources and it must be protected. The California Coastal Commission should not be subject to political interference in Commission decisions that has characterized the Davis administration. How will you protect California’s drinking and recreational waters from pollution? I will direct the State Water Resources Control Board to fully enforce all laws that protect our state’s drinking and recreational waters from pollution. I will immediately take action to restore and protect our waters, beaches, trails, and wildlife. 22 million Californians rely on the San Francisco Bay Delta for the quality of their drinking water. Sacramento’s lack of leadership in supporting state and federal cooperation on Delta water management (CAL-FED), Our streams, rivers, lakes, and bays can be better protected by using watershed management. As Governor, I will direct Cal/EPA and the Resources Agency to fully implement their recent agreement to clean up California’s watersheds. These watersheds feed Lake Tahoe and Santa Monica Bay that are among California’s most precious natural gems. While often well-meaning, such laws are not always solutions to the complex problem of poor land use planning, which has resulted in fiscally unsustainable sprawl, traffic congestion on commuter roadways, air pollution, pressure to consume scarce infrastructure resources, and loss of valuable open space. We must invest in our existing urban areas and remove barriers to smart growth. For example, there is currently no effective, widely used mechanism for identifying vacant or underutilized sites in urban areas to evaluate their potential for infill redevelopment. Working with local officials, my Administration will develop an Infill Incentives Package to help local governments deal with the jobs/housing imbalance throughout the State and to spur smarter development by providing a mechanism for planners to identify and evaluate redevelopment of blighted and underutilized sites, allowing cities to accommodate mixed use, compact development and urban infill growth, while curtailing urban sprawl. First let me say I support Proposition 13 and oppose any attempts to change it. Specifically I oppose efforts to increase business property taxes by $3 billion through a “split roll.” Regarding smart growth, I have spoken with local officials and have heard their concerns about growth management and about the fiscal relationship between cities and states. My immediate goals as governor include getting our fiscal house in order, and addressing both the operating deficit and the inherited debt. Once this crisis is addressed, we can look at longer-term reforms. Where do you stand on gun control? I am a strong supporter of the second amendment. The U.S. constitution allows for law-abiding citizens to own a firearm. I also believe that there are responsibilities that gun owners must follow in owning a firearm. I support the Brady bill, I support the current assault weapons ban and I believe that guns must have safety devices or be stored as to prevent accidental discharge. How can you ensure that California residents will have access to quality health care? Without a doubt, California’s health care system is in crisis. Six million Californians go without insurance. We do need to find ways to reduce the number of uninsured Californians. We need a system based on an individual and his or her physician. We need to get rid of costly mandates that make health insurance costs prohibitive. We need leadership and innovation. Government may be part of the solution in the future, but with our current financial situation, now is not the time to impose a costly new mandate on business. Businesses are already faced with choosing between paying workers’ comp premiums or shutting their doors. We simply can’t afford to add another tax, another mandate on business, not until we get California working again. These proposals will hurt the small employer, those with 20 to 100 employees. If implemented now, not only will we have Californians without health insurance, we will have Californians without jobs. I support the continuation and expansion of the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program (FIREBAUGH), which allows licensed doctors and dentists to practice medicine and dentistry in the U.S. for up to three years. I also support incentives for physicians and dentists to practice medicine or dentistry in underserved communities. Health care professionals who work in underserved or limited-English communities should also have to show a baseline competency in cultural and linguistic literacy. What should the state and public schools do to reverse the trend of our children growing more obese? It is up to parents, educators, legislators, even Governors to always push the message that exercise and nutrition are critically important for every child. Encouraging children to exercise and avoid junk food is a message I have been delivering in schools for many years. As Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness under the first President Bush, I traveled to schools all over the country promoting physical education and urging schools to remove junk food from vending machines. When schools make junk food available to kids, what they are saying is we don’t care what you eat. What is your position on undocumented immigrants? I came to California 35 years ago because I saw this state as the best place on earth to fulfill my dreams. Immigrants contribute to the richness of life in California, and I embrace them. Border enforcement is a federal responsibility. However, state taxpayers currently bear the costs of providing public services to undocumented immigrants, such as incarcerating undocumented immigrants in the state prison system. I will work with other border states, the President, and the U.S. Congress to increase federal reimbursements for these costs. Proposition 187 has been resolved by the courts. It is time to move on. More than 2.3 million undocumented immigrants currently live in California. They cannot continue to live underground. I will work with federal officials to address this problem. No, they have not. Our budget crisis was created by the lack of leadership of Gray Davis. What is your position on allowing undocumented immigrants to hold California driver’s licenses? SB 60 is not the answer to providing undocumented immigrants with California Driver’s licenses; this bill was rushed through the Legislature without addressing law enforcement concerns or Federal guidelines regarding the use of Taxpayer Identification Numbers. SB 60 was stripped of a biometrics feature that would allow for the gathering and comparison of fingerprints. Without this, it effectively eliminates any safeguards to prevent the issuance of multiple licenses. In addition, District Attorneys and Prosecutors have expressed concerned that because fingerprint records and other information will not be shared with other agencies, potentially 2 million non-citizens could be called for jury duty. Not only could this overwhelm our court system, but it creates an atmosphere where unsuspecting immigrants could commit a felony by serving on jury. Governor Davis and Cruz Bustamante are playing politics with this critical issue. I want to solve this problem not create a larger one What is your position on immigration controls on the California border with Mexico? Human Traffickers and smugglers exploit and endanger immigrants, and I will crack down on this problem. Traffickers and smugglers should be prosecuted as organized crime syndicates. If their schemes result in the death of immigrant, they should be eligible for the death penalty? The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2001 establishes a special visa, the T-visa, for immigrants who assist in investigations. As governor, I will order state law enforcement officials to work with their federal counterparts to prioritize and process applications for t-visas expeditiously. I am pro-immigration and pro-immigrant. I voted in favor of Proposition 187 because of simple fairness. Californians should not have to bear costs that are the result of the federal government’s failure to enforce immigration laws and to implement a fair and effective immigration policy. I support the provision in the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act” (DREAM Act), sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch, which gives states the authority to determine this important question. I support in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants who have graduated from a California high school or who have been in California for more than 5 years. I believe that everyone should be treated equally and that all Californians deserves a shot at the American dream. I embrace the diversity of California and deplore discrimination in all its manifestations. I support race-neutral measures to advance historically underrepresented groups in education, employment, and public contracting. Support and advance current efforts to identify and advance students from underrepresented communities into higher education; The people have spoken on this matter and the U.S. Constitution recognizes the sovereignty of Indian Tribes. What are your priorities in addressing the needs of working Californians? As Governor, I will work to bring more good high-paying jobs to California. I will work to solve the our workers’ compensation crisis, curb frivolous lawsuits, bring down the high-cost of energy and restore the state’s credit rating so that businesses expand and grow their operations in California creating new jobs. I will also work to bring greater flexibility to people trying to balance their family and professional lives. What experience have you had with Latinos and Latino issues in California? Latinos share the same concerns as all Californians- Access to quality education and healthcare, job security and public safety. Latinos represent a diverse community-from newly arrived immigrants to multi-generational families, to the small business owner or the recently retired, it is important to recognize the variety of issues affecting Latinos. As an immigrant myself, I respect a strong family bond. I had the opportunity to work with many Latino leaders to help pass Prop 49 and bring much needed after-school programs into neighborhoods throughout California. After school programs allow working parents to go to work with the comfort of knowing their children are safe. Why should Latinos believe that you would do a better job than the current governor? Gray Davis tripled the car tax, failed to deal with the electricity crisis, and locked ratepayers into the highest electricity rates in the nation. Governor Do you support the passage of Prop 54, the “Racial Privacy Initiative?” Please explain why. I oppose Proposition 54 because while I share Dr. King’s dream for a colorblind society, I recognize discrimination persists and only by acknowledging this fact can we seek to overcome it. My position on this issue is informed by my years visiting inner-city schools and neighborhoods and seeing the lingering effects of racial discrimination. What is your position on allowing undocumented immigrants to hold California driver’s licenses? SB 60 is not the answer to providing undocumented immigrants with California Driver’s licenses; this bill was rushed through the Legislature without addressing law enforcement concerns or Federal guidelines regarding the use of Taxpayer Identification Numbers. SB 60 was stripped of a biometrics feature that would allow for the gathering and comparison of fingerprints. Without this, it effectively eliminates any safeguards to prevent the issuance of multiple licenses. In addition, District Attorneys and Prosecutors have expressed concerned that because fingerprint records and other information will not be shared with other agencies, potentially 2 million non-citizens could be called for jury duty. Not only could this overwhelm our court system, but it creates an atmosphere where unsuspecting immigrants could commit a felony by serving on jury. Governor Davis and Cruz Bustamante are playing politics with this critical issue. I want to solve this problem not create a larger one Do you support the death Yes. I believe it is a necessary and effective Do you support the Three Strikes Yes, and I believe it should not be modified. It too has proven to be an excellent deterrent to violent crime. I do not support a ban on cell phone use in cars. That being said, people should put their safety and the safety of other motorists first when they are at the wheel of a motor vehicle. I believe that people should use common sense and good judgment and pay attention to what is happening on the road while they are driving. Why are you running for When I first came to California 35 years ago, California was a place of dreams. This great state said to the people everywhere: Come here, work hard, play by the rules, and your dreams can come true. But today, the dream – and the optimism that California represented to this nation and the world – has been shattered. I believe we can restore that optimism and the dreams that were once fulfilled here. Our people are good people – they work hard, they’re paying their taxes, they’re raising their families, and they’re doing everything they can to provide their children with the tools to succeed. We have everything we need here in California – except leadership. California government is failing the people. The state government is not providing the leadership necessary to put people first – to put their hopes and dreams ahead of the special interests that have entrenched themselves in Sacramento. The day I am sworn in, I will take action to deliver economic recovery in California. I will call a special session of the Legislature to reform our inefficient and costly workers’ compensation system. I will order an outside, independent audit of the state budget so we can get a clear picture – uncluttered by politics and special interest influence – of how we can bring spending under control without neglecting our most important obligations. I will repeal the recent car tax increase. And I will send a message to the political class that it will no longer be business as usual. What rights do you support for same-sex couples? I am for equal rights for all. I do not support gay marriage. Marriage is unique to a man and woman. That said, I do believe that gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based on their relationship. What is your position on taxes? I am firmly opposed to raising taxes. Californians are already overtaxed. California has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation, and just about everything a Californian does today is subject to one tax or another. From the moment you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night, the tax collector is there to take a share – at your home, in your car, at the gas station, at the restaurant, and just about everywhere else you go and everything else you do. It’s unfair to accept the notion that hitting taxpayers up for more money is the answer to our state’s budget and economic problems. Politicians in Sacramento should find a better way to turn things around – not simply shift the burden of their mistakes onto the backs of taxpayers. Do you support repeal of the recent increase The car tax hurts working Californians who are already overtaxed. I will repeal the tax immediately upon taking office. Do you believe Proposition 13 should be Proposition 13 has allowed millions of Californians to realize the dream of homeownership for over 25 years, and I will fight any attempt to roll back its protection. Thanks to this measure, California homeowners are not burdened with the prospect of losing their homes someday because of a spiraling tax burden. Proposition 13 also protects Californians on fixed incomes, notably retired residents, from being priced out of their homes. Should commercial property pay higher State government places a heavy tax burden on business. Proposals to alter Proposition 13’s protection and raise taxes on business property would make it worse – especially for small businesses that are the engine of our economy. Because of our unfavorable business climate, many companies are already leaving California – and taking jobs and tax revenue with them. That’s why I will vigorously oppose any proposal to change proposition 13. Do you consider term limits a hindrance or benefit to government and why? California has some of the worst roads in the nation. We need a world-class transportation system, including roads, rail, ports and airports, to maintain the quality of life for all Californians and to keep our economy strong. Texas has recently surpassed California as the nation’s top exporter and that is merely a taste of what is to come. Anyone that has driven on our highways during rush hour knows that our highway system is in crisis. Californians pay the third highest per vehicle tax in the nation, but ranks 50th in per capita spending on roads. In the past decade, the time Californians spend stuck in traffic has more than doubled. Should California’s recall provisions be changed? If so, how? The recall is in place to give the people of California recourse when their governor fails them as Gray Davis has. More then a million California’s signed the recall petition expressing their discontent with Gray Davis’s failed leadership on the budget, education and the economy. I support a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to pass a state budget. The current system worked in the early 1990s to eliminate a deficit, and in the late 1990s when there was a surplus. It has worked in good times and bad. The problem isn’t the California Constitution; the problem is the partisanship and lack of leadership in Sacramento. I will provide leadership to pass state budgets on time. If a budget is not passed on time, the Legislature and the Governor should not be paid. 22 million Californians rely on the San Francisco Bay Delta for the quality of their drinking water. Sacramento’s recent lack of leadership in supporting the CALFED partnership has resulted in a critical loss of momentum, in California and Washington, at a time when a reliable water supply and environmental restoration are more urgently needed than ever before. Congress must re-authorize the Federal contribution to CAL-FED and insist that participating Federal agencies develop and live by a comprehensive budget “cross-cut” to permit predictable, sustained funding. The time for piece-meal fixes negotiated by special interests behind closed doors is long gone. Only CALFED can provide comprehensive solutions to long-term water quality, supply, storage, conveyance and fish restoration needs in the critically important Bay-Delta region. With strong leadership and adequate resources, this unprecedented partnership can and will implement the balanced plan that was painstakingly developed by CALFED stakeholders. This consensus will make possible the simultaneous protection of environmental values in the Bay-Delta, development of new infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population, and conservation of existing supplies. Operating California’s water supply system more efficiently-a key element to attaining CALFED reliable water supply and environmental restoration benefits -may be best achieved by California acquiring the federal Central Valley Project, and integrating its operation with the State Water Project. What does Maria think about your running for Maria is very supportive and shares my strong belief that I can make a positive difference for Californians. She is a bit distressed, however, that after 17 years of marriage she was unable to get me to change my party affiliation! |
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