The State Senate Debate, Part 3

April 26, 2008

Some people do live blogging of debates, but they don’t have a huge honking camera to schlep around and a 17″ laptop. So this coverage is kinda like the Olympics on NBC. Just pretend it is in real time!

TRANSPORTATION
My question to the candidates would have been, “Given that the number one issue for North Bay residents is congestion on 101, what would you do to address it considering we are in a budget crunch?”
Wouldn’t you know — the very first question the moderator asked was about congestion and transportation with a particular interest in SMART. What has each candidate done to get SMART through?

Leno supports SMART as it would reduce 5300 truck trips. He has attended fund raisers for SMART, but he is also interested in the “complete streets” program and wants to work on developing a new mindset amongst the public.

Migden supports SMART, but is concerned with issues of noise abatement and effects on Eel River. She has brought dollars in for Doyle Drive. She is interested in wireless buses and live near work initiatives. Migden says, “SMART is as smart idea.”

Nation says that he actually wrote the bill that created the SMART district. He is on the SMART campaign committee (SMART is due to be on this November’s ballot). Nation has brought in 25-35 million dollars in support of SMART and 10s of million for 101. Nation introduced an idea that he devised with engineers to expand 101 while saving 50% of the costs.

HELPING THE PARTY

The next question had to do with what each of the candidates will do to increase democratic office holders in California in concert with grassroots groups.

Migden has been doing this all her life. She understands that Northern California is outnumbered by Southern and Central California. There is a chance that we can replace Tom Mcclintock (R-Thousand Oaks).

Nation has walked door to door for candidates in the central valley. In 2004, he worked 4 weeks for the Kerry campaign going door to door in Oregon and Ohio even though he was going through his own election. He gives money to campaigns including to the opponent of Tom Delay.

Leno works with Howard Dean’s organization Democracy For America (he is endorsed by Marin DFA).

STATE REVENUE OPTIONS

Candidates were asked about three options for bringing in revenue to deal with the budget crisis.

1. Re-instating Car Registration Fees
2. Sales Tax increase
3. Split Roll Tax for corporations

Nation believes in broadening the sales tax and the split roll tax on property, but he also favors a green car tax to encourage people to purchase greener cars. Rebates for getting greener cars would not only be based on the value of the car, but the MPG of the car. The program would be extended over several years so the most people can take advantage of a 2k rebate.

Leno along with Jackie Speier have worked to reinstate auto registration fees but it was vetoed by Schwartzenegger. Leno is taking the fight locally and calling for San Franciscans to be able to decide whether they should pay the fees or not. Let the people decide. The republicans and the Governor have vowed not to raise the vehicle registration fee, but the people have to let them know that we need this. Leno favors a sales tax for a limited time. Every five years split roll can reassess property and he also favors a windfall profit tax for oil companies.

Migden says that these revenue options are politically not viable. We need to restructure and eliminate tax credits for obsolete jobs and tax loopholes.

HEALTH CARE

Leno is firm on single payer health care, which promises 1/3 savings. We need to educate citizens and we got time. In the meantime, we need to promote wellness and deal with the issue of childhood diabetes.

Migden is also for universal single payer health care as it is a fundamental right.

Nation teaches Health Care policy at Stanford University and he favors health plans favored by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama with John Edwards’ idea that there would be a public back up system for those who cannot afford the private sector solution. His concern is to have a system that will not break the bank. SB 840 (the single payer bill that Leno supported) would not have provided one single person health care as it had no funding attached. Nation is not interested in political exercises, suggesting that SB 840 was simply that.

With that this portion of the debate is over! Next up will be the segment where candidates will get to ask each other questions. Our moderator promises us it will be exciting.