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LWV League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation

Smart Voter
Nassau, Suffolk County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
State Senator; District 8


The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Nassau County and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Education Finance, Redistricting

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. Public education is financed through property taxes and state funds. What other means of raising revenue would you support?*

Answer from Adam E. Small:

We need to, first and foremost, attack the issue of Medicaid waste and fraud. State taxpayers are losing $12 million a day due to Medicaid fraud and abuse. I support strengthening the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Secondly, New York pays $4.7 billion dollars a year in interest on its debt. We need to make immediate efforts toward paying down our debt by using budget surpluses and implementing a "pay-as-you-go" policy for future capital projects.

Answer from Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.:

Ensuring the best possible education for our children is one of the most important responsibilities the state has. I have co-sponsored legislation to create the Office of Medicaid Inspector General. It is estimated that by fighting fraud and waste, New Yorkers will save nearly $2 billion. I fully support these dollars being used for education. The Senate continues to advocate for a blue ribbon commission to study and recommend alternatives to property taxes.


2. Legislative districts have been determined on a partisan basis. Would you support establishing an independent commission as a more open and ethical way to create the districts? Please explain.*

Answer from Adam E. Small:

I strongly support an independent, bi-partisan commission to re-evaluate the process of legislative redistricting. For too long, in Albany, the goal of incumbents has been to protect their districts to ensure re-election as opposed to the intended goal of creating a fair and balanced election process for all political parties and especially for the voters.

Answer from Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.:

Over the years there have been many legal challenges to the current system. The courts have repeatedly upheld the drawing of legislative districts, which comply with Federal Law. The process is conducted in open public meetings held throughout the state. I fully support the open process.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 
  • Original answers for a published Voters Guide were limited 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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Created: January 4, 2007 09:46 PST
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