Legislative Priorities

By Dennis De Young

Legislative Priorities:
- Keeping jobs in California
- Balancing the budget and living within our means
- Reviving California's economy
- Improving our schools
- Immigration reform + I favor a pathway for citizenship
- Reducing traffic congestion, improving infrastructure

I have the tools, experience, knowledge and independence to make a difference and will work with both sides of the political spectrum. I am not a professional politician nor will I be a puppet for the special interests. I will match spending with revenue and I will bring to Sacramento fiscal common sense and focus on legislation that will make government more efficient and less costly.

Job Growth, Not Job Loss California is experiencing one of the worst recessions since the 1930s. Rather than proposing restrictions, additional taxes and unnecessary regulations that cause businesses to leave California, the State Assembly should be proposing incentives for existing businesses to stay and for new businesses to start and grow. According to the Tax Foundation, California has the third-worst state business tax climate in the nation.

Our gasoline tax of 70.6 cents per gallon is the highest in the nation. In March of this year voters approved another 3.5 cents per gallon increase which became effective July 1, 2013. This is another regressive tax that hits all employees & employers and will result in higher prices for consumers across the board. High taxes on gas and energy is another reason many employers have been leaving California.

Also, with an 8.84% flat rate for corporate income tax, California has the highest corporate taxes in the west and another well justified reason for companies to leave the state or to reconsider relocating or establishing a new business here in the "Golden State".

Locally Managed Education / Accountability In Our Schools With nearly 700,000 students, the Los Angeles Unified School District is too large to effectively manage the schools of the San Fernando Valley. The Valley needs its own, locally controlled school district to effectively provide for the needs of San Fernando Valley students. We need to encourage charter schools and demand a quality education and safe environment for our students.

As the son of an LAUSD teacher and principal, I know the stifling effects of bureaucracy and the "dance of the lemons" whereby low performing teachers are reassigned to different classes or schools rather than removed from the classroom.

Living Within Our Means California's tax rates are ridiculously high. We are among the highest in the nation for business and the worst for personal income taxes. We have the highest state sales tax in the nation and Valley residents pay 9.75% sales tax + an 18% increase from last year. Your DMV registration fees have almost doubled. The DWP has evolved into the piggy bank of the City of Los Angeles where tax increases are disguised as hikes in water, electricity and sanitation fees.

Taxes, fees or any other forms of increased financial burden on San Fernando Valley residents need to be halted at all costs. The passing of Proposition 30 last year resulted in the highest top rate in the nation for personal; income tax. This year the state tax rate is 9.30% if your taxable income is over $48,942 and could be as high as 12.30%. California's top earners are facing a combined 51.9% federal and state income tax + the highest in the nation + and is resulting in many folks leaving the state.