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LWV League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
Nassau County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
Smart Voter

Harvey Weisenberg
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 20

 
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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Nassau County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

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

The federal government's share of school funding is woefully inadequate, particularly with regard to students with disabilities or for those struggling to learn. Federal mandates (NCLB, IDEA, ETC.) are not adequately funded, thereby passing the burden to local taxpayers. Other possible revenues include income tax, utility tax, etc. While having some merit, these alternatives shift the burden and take away a citizen's right to decide locally through school district budget votes.

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.*

I would support the creation of an independent commission only if citizens can be assured beyond any doubt that this "new" commission would actually be non-partisan. For instance, who would appoint members to the commission? How would the commission be funded? Those are important questions when determining whether any entity is truly "independent." I will not support the creation of another layer of publicly funded bureaucracy as a "quick fix" empty gesture.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 18, 2006 18:28
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