senior-spectrum.com

Candidate: Marc Valdez
Ballot Designation: Air Pollution Scientist
Party: Democratic

1. What do you consider the most pressing issue facing California's senior citizens?
Keeping the cost of health care from skyrocketing.

2. Do you favor or oppose amending the rates of the following taxes:
Property tax - favor increasing property tax, through Proposition 13 repeal, with safeguards to prevent rapid increases of taxes as property values inflate, and the option of using low- or deferred-payment home equity loans to pay taxes (the goal isn't to cause hardship for anyone, only to stabilize the currently income-tax-heavy financial structure of state taxes).

State income tax - Reduce income taxes as property taxes rise, particularly on large corporation landholdings (effect most noticeable for the rich). Remember, Proposition 13 aided large corporations even more than it did suburban homeowners, and Proposition 13 repeal will affect large corporations the most.

Vehicle license fee - Allow to remain unchanged at current tripled rate (come on, it's not that big a hit!)

Gas tax - remain unchanged.

3. Do you favor or oppose putting new restrictions on older drivers?
Better enforcement of current laws probably sufficient.

4. When putting together the state budget for the next fiscal year, would you change current levels of funding for any of the following programs:
In-Home Supportive Services
Adult Protective Services
SSI/SSP benefits
Foster Grandparents Program
Brown Bag Program
Senior Companion Program
California Commission on Aging

No reason to change current levels of support for all these programs.

5. If elected, how will you improve California for seniors and all other residents?
Stabilizing the state's financial system will benefit EVERYONE in California, young and old.