Important Issues Facing the State of California

By Jeff R. Mathews

Budgets, Unions, and Districts

California's budget process reminds us every year that politicians can't help themselves to more and more spending. In California we do not have a revenue problem + we have a spending problem, plain and simple. I would like Sacramento to realise that the state must live within its means, just like families do every month. We must stop the wasteful spending, budget gimmicks, and political handouts.

Public Employe Unions

I do not look favorably upon public employee unions. I would favor elimination, curtailment or, at least, limitations on them. Absent that, I favor finding ways to reduce the undue influence that these entities have on the political process in this once-great state. Future ballot initiatives (if legislation cannot be passed) that would seek to prohibit, curtail, or limit public service union use of membership dues to fund the political agendas of the union leadership would be highly welcome, and strongly supported by me.

Election Districts

I am not in favor of the ballot initiative petition currently being circulated for signature, which would seek to eliminate the citizen redistricting committee which is supposed to be empaneled by 2012. Our current state assembly and senate districts are not properly drawn to reasonably and fairly represent the voters in those districts. Indeed, what we have now are gerrymandered districts, drawn in such a way as to virtually guarantee election and re-election by the same political party again and again in their respective districts. This is not ethical and I remain hopeful that in years to come the districts will be redrawn in such as way as to encourage greater competition between the political parties.