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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Rockland County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Joint Committees,
Education Financing,
Indian Point
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. Do you support joint committees to reconcile differences between bills on the same issue passed by both houses of the legislature?*
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Answer from Ellen C. Jaffee:
I welcome the Assembly proposal to create a task force to study the use of joint conference committees. I support the concept of initiating joint committees, which would allow the sponsors of the Senate and Assembly versions of the same bill to convene joint conference committees automatically upon the passage of both versions and require conference committee meetings to be open to the public and transcripts made available on the internet.
Answer from Joseph P. Brennan:
Yes. I understand that the Republican minority in the Assembly has been calling for joint conference committees for years. There is something of a mechanism in place right now, but it needs to be made stronger.
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2. What methods would you support to ensure equity in funding public education?*
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Answer from Ellen C. Jaffee:
Public Schools are burdened with an unpredictable, complex school funding system, pitting taxpayers against children, relying on property taxes and unfair formulas. We must resolve the CFE Lawsuit with true reform of the state's education finance system to provide all districts with predictability and transparency in the way schools are funded, not simply moving money around, access to pre-K for all children, and end unfunded mandates.
Answer from Joseph P. Brennan:
I support adequate school funding. It is our responsibility to provide the best education for our children. However, in order to not cause an additional rise in local property taxes, the funding has to be achieved without short-changing districts in Rockland County.
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3. If Indian Point nuclear power facility licenses are not renewed, how do you propose to ensure adequate electric power for the region?*
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Answer from Joseph P. Brennan:
Education about conservation would be a priority for me. All power produced in New York State goes into the grid. Proper planning can eliminate the need for Indian Point. In the short term, as Con Edison can purchase power from numerous sources. The long- term problem with power has been caused by the Assembly which allowed Article 10 to fall out of effect in 2003.
Answer from Ellen C. Jaffee:
Increase sustainable electric generating capacity: prioritize investment in expanding clean renewable energy sources + wind power, solar power, hydro and fuel cells; build a new generation of cleaner power plants (Renewal/ revise the Article X siting law). Incentives for companies to develop alternative/sustainable energy sources; Upgrade/expand energy transmission system; initiatives/incentives promoting energy efficiency and conservation; legislation establishing guidelines and incentives for "green" buildings; Improve and streamline NYSERDA; Remove barriers to large scale urban solar development.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
- Original answers for a published Voters Guide
were limited to 30 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have
since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
