League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc.
Saratoga, Schenectady County, NY November 2, 2010 Election
	BK Keramati Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 110

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of New York State and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What measures do you support to save existing jobs and create new jobs in New York State?

I would provide larger incentives to homeowners, small businesses, and farmers to install approved renewable energy (solar for heat and electric, wind, etc.) products to reduce our dependence on CO2-generating fuels. I would like to see these technologies spread widely across our state, creating thousands of jobs. These are jobs that cannot be exported! I would provide larger incentives for US-made technologies and products, and would work with Congress to assure that part of the incentives are provided by Federal sources. The incentives need to be large enough so that the customer's investments pay off in a reasonable number of years. I would eliminate unnecessary government regulations and reduce red tape, while assuring that we have sufficient regulations to protect the public and preserve healthy competition. I would invest in broadband access for ALL New Yorkers so businesses can locate anywhere and all families can get on-line.

2. How do you think New York can best deal with upcoming unsustainable deficit budgets?

New York is one of the highest taxed states in the country. We waste a lot of money and we make it hard for businesses to start and to grow here. There is much that can be saved in all segments of government (executive, legislative, judicial). We need to aggressively pursue all waste, fraud and abuse at all levels before we explore other options. This is how world-class businesses operate. To me, this is Job 1. When we get to this point, then we would at least have the confidence that we are spending our resources wisely. And when we get to this point, we need to have a tax policy that pays for government, without waste and abuse. To get to this point, we need to make changes in the culture of Albany, starting from the very top. The reforms listed below and others will directly affect government expenditures.

3. What reforms would you propose to address inadequate campaign finance rules and enforcement in New York?

We must create a public funding options for all elections in the state. This option is already working in several states with good results. Public-funded candidates are beholden to every New Yorker - we will all become special interests. For candidates who will not opt in to the public option, we must have tighter rules and lower limits and strict enforcement to reduce the corrupting influences of money in our politics. I have been working on this reform personally for the past several years as a citizen activist.

4. What reforms would you support for the redistricting process?

We need to have a redistricting process that is not driven by maintaining political control, but by assuring equal and adequate representation for all our citizens. So at the minimum, the process must be non-partisan. I would also avoid splitting up cities, unless the city is just too large, such as New York City. An independent commission could work, but the details are important to assure the public that the redistricting is serving them, not the politicians.

5. Would you support a cap on property taxes and, if so, how do you think school districts can deal with the decrease in revenue?

I would support a property tax cap to provide some relief to New Yorkers. However, I see the tax cap as just a band-aid measure. We need to find a way to fund public education that does not rely on property taxes at all. It is unfair to poorer communities, it discourages investments in home improvements (which create jobs), and it forces seniors to move away from the communities in which they lived all their lives because they cannot afford the increased property taxes with their fixed incomes. I believe we should pay for public education based on affordability, using tax based on income. The state wastes too much of our money today. We need reforms to reduce government expenditures. We need to establish New Yorkers' trust that our government departments, agencies, and authorities are using our tax dollars wisely. We need to establish how we are going to achieve these reforms so we can pay for public education without raising taxes.

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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.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 29, 2010 13:26
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