League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Brian C. Johnson Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 46

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?

We must have a laser focus on our core priorities: improving education, creating jobs and ensuring public safety.

2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?

For too long, we have given up local control of our neighborhood schools. Sacramento and LAUSD bureaucrats have dictated how local school funds are used, restricting parents and community members from making decisions that benefit our children. Reforming these and other state regulations will give local parents, teachers and school principals more authority and make sure decisions are based on what is best for our neighborhood schools.

3. Fees for public higher education have gone up dramatically and funding has been cut. Is this a priority concern, and if so, what measures would you propose to address it?

Yes, making sure everyone has equal access to a quality higher education is a priority for me. If we don't invest in education now, we will all be paying the cost in the future. By 2025, it is estimated that California will be one million college graduates short of what we need to stay economically competitive. That is unacceptable. We need to be investing in our local higher education programs now to build the future leaders of tomorrow.

In order to restore funding for our public education system, we need to first look at how we can balance our budget in a responsible way. I have spent my entire career fighting for education equality, and it would be my honor to bring that fight to Sacramento.

4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities?

In order to successfully tackle new programs and priorities, we need to first look at how we can balance our budget in a responsible way. Right now, when discussing balancing the budget and potentially getting rid of vital programs, the question essentially becomes "which way do we want to jump off this cliff?" Without a long-term strategy and structural reform, there is of course no right answer to this question.

I believe that to address this structural deficit, we need a combined approach that increased revenues while increasing flexibility in spending. Specifically, I would work to:

1. Implement multiyear budgeting + We need to engage in a budget cycle that extends beyond single year budgeting to make sure that we are budgeting for the long run and avoiding smoke and mirrors to balance a budget

2. Enhance our rainy day fund + Given the volatility of our budgets, as revenues begin to increase over the next few years, we must be diligent about maintaining a strong rainy day fund to help us weather down turns in future years.

3. Increase flexibility + We need to ensure that we give cities, counties, agencies, and schools more flexibility in how they spend their resources so that, particularly in down times, they can protect the people and programs that matter most.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

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

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 3, 2012 23:59
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.