League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Bernardino, Los Angeles County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Sylvia Robles Answers Questions Candidate for State Senator; District 20

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 would you prioritize the fiscal choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?

The impending pension obligation crisis requires that we focus on balancing the budget without the creation of new programs. Proposition 30 was a temporary tax instituted by the voters to help the state meet its obligation to fund schools. The Governor has created a new funding formula for schools giving more money via LCAP to schools with greater needs. I support the Governor's proposal to pay down the "wall of debt." Interest on debt takes away financial resources we need to chip away at the unfunded pension obligation. I want to invite labor to work with the legislature on how to best deal with the unfunded liabilities of our pension fund to protect the system for current and future retirees.

2. Given our current drought condition, concern for water rights and usage is an important issue. What solutions would you support to address our water problems?

I support current legislative efforts to craft a "Water Bond" to deal with the problems of capturing and storing surface water, ground water recharge, watershed restoration and Clean Water Act Compliance. Many entities are still not metering water use. The conflict over the Delta environmental impacts must be negotiated. There are ten bills in the legislature. This has been on the legislative agenda for 36 years. If elected I would not let this issue fail.

3. California high school students rank lower than many states in student performance. What do you see as the ongoing role of the Legislature in addressing this problem?

The legislature must make sure schools are adequately funded, that the revenues are distributed in a timely way. Currently the state is deferring some Proposition 98 funds to districts creating a need for districts to borrow revenue anticipation funds with interest. The state must have a role in working with educators on formulating achievement benchmarks. There must also be some measure of individual teacher/school performance and accountability. I believe we must sit with teachers and administrators and set achievement standards.

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

The state must live within its means. Meaning that revenues from Proposition 30 must be recognized as temporary. The pension obligation issue must be faced. I believe we can work with state employees to measure out a plan that least impacts their take home earnings, while restoring pension sustainability. We must all share the pain of resolving this long term dilemma. Pension reform is necessary to make sure we can meet our pension obligation security for current and future retirees. Job creation is key to our long term sustainability as a state and employer. We must look at the $6 billion in Tax Expenditures (subsidies) that go to corporations and see which ones benefit the state. We must stop increasing taxes. Any corporate assistance must have some binding element to benefitting the taxpayer: Job creation.

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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).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 7, 2014 14:44
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