fresno elections 2008

Dealing with our Foster Care population in California (85,000 children in the Foster Care system, approximately 75% end up in prison – something needs to be done differently!) I am committed to work on this issue.

I regularly work across party lines to make positive changes in our state. At the beginning of our current 2007-2008 Legislative Session, I worked with Governor Schwarzenegger and the other legislative leaders to pass the historic bipartisan prison reform measure, AB 900, which adds over 50,000 new beds to our prisons to reduce overcrowding. Taking this step also alleviated the need to let prisoners out into our community before they have served their time.

I am currently working with Speaker Nunez to reform the way California’s political lines are drawn. Right now, political districts are so gerrymandered in favor of one party or another, that fair elections are virtually impossible. We must restore the voice of the people to their government. Voters should pick who represents them, rather than politicians picking who their voters will be. Only by giving the power to draw district lines to an independent citizens’ commission can we draw fair lines that will result in competitive elections. Doing so will make politicians more accountable to their constituents.

I don’t think bipartisanship is defined by going against the conventional wisdom of your party. Bipartisanship exists when the two parties come together to find common ground and do what’s best for the people of California. I have worked in a bipartisan manner in the State Assembly and will continue to do so if re-elected.

a. Illegal immigration

b. Prioritizing water for agriculture to maintain our crops.

School Accountability and Water

Very specifically, I support the building of dams to capture and improve our dire water situation. I don’t think that we can simply conserve or reuse our way out of the water situation we face. We need more supply to ensure our economic viability and well-being. While many Democrats are standing in the way of new dams because of environmental concerns, I think they are short-sided to the enormous needs and long-term consequences of not building dams.

I strongly support the death penalty, Megan’s law, the Three Strikes law and other efforts to hold criminals accountable for their crimes. I think that rehabilitation may be a luxury that we can’t afford, if in fact that means that we don’t have the resources to keep criminals behind bars for their full term. I don’t support a moratorium on legislation that increases penalties or adds new felonies that is occurring in the Legislature.

And I would also disagree with many folks in my party with respect to the right to bear arms. I don’t believe the folks in the Central Valley should have their right to possess firearms limited because of the violence that occurs in our state’s urban centers. Valley folks have a long tradition of owning guns responsibly, and I plan to continue to defend that right, without restrictions.