League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara, San Mateo County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Joseph Antonelli Rosas, Jr Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 24

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

Questions & Answers

1. How will you prioritize the budget choices the Legislature must make to align the state’s income and spending?

Our tax and budgetary systems have prioritized large corporations and the 1% over the 99% for far too long. The lack of pro-middle class legislation is absolutely appalling. During my first year in office I will propose the re-funding of our education system. I support and will work for the repeal of Proposition 13 for non-residential property to fund this reinvesting in our of schools. Small business also needs our help. They are suffering at the hands of the corporate funded lobbyists. Large corporations constantly try to lump themselves in with small business to justify legislation that may or may not tangentially benefit small business. Usually, it does not. I propose that we replace the existing corporation tax's single rate with a tiered rate structure, so that the amount of taxes is based on the amount of profits, and raise the corporate tax rate on the highest earners, while lowering the tax rate of the businesses that are struggling the most. This finally levels the playing field, and still requires everyone to pay their fair share.

2. What types of changes or reforms, if any, do you think are important to make our state government function more effectively?

Money has an undue influence on our political system. Not only do campaign contributions influence politicians, but all the spending on advertising for ballot measures corrupts that system as well. I have already worked countless hours for the DISCLOSE Act, which requires the top three donors of any campaign to prominently display their logos on any communications. That is only a small step, what we need to do is repeal the Citizens United decision and end corporate personhood. I have already testified in favor of AJR22 which calls on congress to amend the constitution to that effect. If I am elected, I will vote in favor of ratifying any constitutional amendment that will help stem the tide of money.

3. Fees for public higher education have gone up dramatically and funding has been cut. Is this a priority concern, and if so, what measures would you propose to address it?

Our education system is my main concern. I propose we:
Increase funding by $500 million each for UC and CSU to enable them to partially restore the 2011-12 funding reductions.
Increase community college spending by $200 million, and provide more funding for community college programs, resulting in funding of about $5,561 per student.
Increase K-12 funding by $6.1 Billion to improve educational outcomes, leaving per-pupil spending 7% below the national average, which is an improvement from our current funding level.

I will also ensure that this money goes to the students. Many college officials, including the chancellor of the CSU system, make more than the president of the United States. I will propose that we cap school officials' salaries.

I will pay for these by asking the voters to:
Raise income taxes by increasing rates on families with incomes above $500,000 by between 1 and 3%, as the Governor proposes, to pay for the state's K-14 education funding requirement and pay for other spending commitments, reducing the deficit.

And/or

Require the annual reassessment of non-residential property for tax purposes. Current loopholes allow businesses to sell property without triggering a reassessment.

4. What other major issues do you think the Legislature must address? What are your own priorities?

My priorities are to support the 99% by getting the money out of politics, ending corporate welfare, increasing farm worker safety, supporting small business, achieving full marriage equality, passing the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, maintaining or strengthening existing rent control laws, instituting single payer health care, passing "Show the Note" bill (AB 1602), increasing veteran's benefits (for both them and their families), passing humane and comprehensive immigration reform, protecting women's health rights, supporting net neutrality, restoring the wetlands at the Cargill site, putting a cap on public college tuition, abolishing the death penalty, supporting collective bargaining, ending lobbyist's revolving door, passing the Corporate Tax Transparency Bill (AB 2439), holding banks accountable for community blight, overturning Citizens United, supporting all worker's rights, passing the DISCLOSE Act (AB 1648) and encouraging everyone--individuals, companies, municipalities, etc.--to move their money from banks to credit unions.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 10, 2012 11:45
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