|
November Candidate Statement (draft)
Dr. Pamela J. Brown
for California Lieutenant Governor
Libertarian Party
I am an economics professor who has watched politicians wreck California.
We have historic unemployment - and massive debt.
I will use the position of Lieutenant Governor to expand jobs, reduce government spending and balance our budget.
Our officials should reduce taxes by finding the lowest-cost, best-quality services - rather than hiring protected union groups in exchange for campaign contributions.
Controlling our border to prevent illegals from committing crimes or terrorist acts and siphoning billions in state services is a top priority.
Pension costs should not be passed along to our grandchildren.
Californians should receive tax cuts, if disasters strike since that is precisely when they need their own funds the most, to rebuild and recover.
California’s farmers must have access to water resources, not tiny endangered fish.
But protecting our coastline and environment is essential so tourists want to visit, and retirees want to live in our wonderful state.
I oppose Proposition 25 – we must keep the two-thirds requirement to bring as many people as possible into budgeting decisions and prevent one party from monopolizing state finances.
Let’s provide tax credits to parents who home school or choose private schools.
We need strong eminent domain laws to protect property from being seized by governments.
I support Proposition19; adults should freely make their own choices without fear of government.
I am a gun owner and lifelong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. However, criminals using firearms should face the harshest sentences.
Had it with rhinos and socialists? I have. Help me take back our state
and our liberties.
Thank you for your support on Nov 2nd.
Pamela J. Brown, Ph.D.
Economics Professor, Candidate for Lt Governor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
California should be the world's leading economy. With its massive resource base, coastal beauty, and tech, entertainment and farming sectors, California today should be the destination of choice for citizens seeking great jobs, exciting tourism and golden retirements.
Instead, it has steadily declined. Politicians have made many promises to manage the state operations responsibly but have repeatedly failed to fulfill those promises for many years.
As your Lieutenant Governor, I will support and encourage our new Governor to block any legislation that "solves" budget gaps by burdening the voter with higher taxes.
THE BUDGET CRISIS
Our budget crisis is not new. It has worsened at an alarming rate for decades without fiscal solutions or careful management.
As a trained economist and your Lieutenant Governor, I will work with the Governor to make our state dynamic, well managed and prosperous again.
We must create jobs immediately, protect the environment, and make California competitive and business-friendly.
'UNION POWER' MEANS LESS TAXPAYER (CONSUMER) POWER
California labor unions have a sweet deal – they are protected from competition thanks to decades of favors enacted by the California legislature. They earn much higher salaries and pension payouts than any of the workers performing identical jobs in the private sector. In effect, they are able to annually exploit taxpayers (the consumers) because they are deliberately sheltered from competitive entry and peaceful supply-and-demand mechanisms – free trade – that we all expect every day from private businesses and private services (from restaurants to dry cleaning, veterinary care, dental services etc.).
For decades these labor cartels have used YOUR taxes to pay for political campaigns, and they have steadily increased their wages and benefits through lobbying.
Every time a Democratic member of the State Assembly or Senate votes to increase taxes or state spending, it directly benefits him or her -- because part of that spending increase flows DIRECTLY to many of those same politicians . . . through union-dues contributions.
Republicans, including the current governor, have proven ineffectual in challenging this abuse of power – like Charlie Brown gearing up to kick Lucy’s football.
Only a Libertarian Party candidate will stand up to this massive conflict of interest and breathtaking abuse of taxpayer dollars, and successfully implement the government reforms needed.
Public labor union cartels should be challenged and eliminated - so that our young people may exercise entrepreneurship in the public sector. At the same time, Californians enjoy much lower taxes.
Civil servants work for us, we don’t work for them. When they are fat and happy, WE are the ones “exploited.” It is unfair, inefficient, and unjust that they protect themselves from competition.
At my college campus this spring, the teachers union (AFT) urged we "celebrate" the 'passing of the torch' to the newly elected union leadership.
Union bosses should not be engaged in routine bouts of self-congratulation nor "celebrating" decades of protectionism.
They should be doing the perp walk -- for price fixing, collusion and influence peddling - all of which have left us with mediocre educational performance and permanently ruined state finances.
This is America, where we value free trade - not 'forced' transactions and protected trade with an entrenched bureaucracy -- without options, competition, or choices.
90% of the US economy thrives without compulsory unions. So can our state services. Citizens will enjoy significantly improved education, prison management, and other state services through outsourcing and increased competition - a process that brings out the best in us, as numerous empirical studies on state and national institutions and economic performance have shown.
THE PUBLIC PENSION 'TSUNAMI'
Excessive public pension and benefits programs are producing unsustainable budgets and demand immediate review and reform.
Currently our state has a $500 Billion unfunded liability.
Yes, that is half a TRILLION in outstanding obligations to public employee retirement funds yet to be financed by taxpayers, including our children and grandchildren.
A pension is a savings account, not a paycheck. Retirement is appropriately financed by the savings each individual has accumulated and carefully managed. It is also subject to risk. It is not a payment borrowed from others - nor a cost to be kicked down the road as debt to be re-paid by future generations, our children and grandchildren.
Public union bosses love to reap all the "upsides” of a dynamic market economy, but refuse to accept any of the risks. Unfortunately, “that’s not how it works,” to quote our President, Barack Obama.
By asking taxpayers to “back fill” dips in their Defined Benefit pension systems, unions are privatizing the gains and “socializing” the losses.
The losses are not socialized, however. There are no “socialized” losses. Someone must cover the losses. The losses don’t disappear, they are shifted from one party to ANOTHER. They are still private – but WE pay for them instead of the unions.
Just as Federal taxpayers have been forced to bail out GM union retirees, California taxpayers (with bill troubles and retirement volatility of their own) are being asked to bailout state retirees. This situation is unsustainable in a declining economy. We must EACH pay for, oversee and manage our own retirement nest eggs. This is what responsible adults in a free society do.
'Pen-mod,' or State Pension modification, should be the first priority of our next Governor, Lt. Governor and legislature. The current budget trajectory forecasts only mounting state debt over the next decade and beyond. This growing liability will burden coming generations with our retirement costs.
While most of the benefits and pensions of existing state retirees should be honored, means-testing should be introduced for some high-end retirees milking the system (and still paying union dues!), and the retirement eligibility age should be raised.
Public pension payouts and retiree benefits must immediately be reduced to levels comparable to those of private sector retirees; and wages and benefits packages must be reduced for active and newly hired state workers. But "pay for performance" should be enacted to reward high-yield performers in public service (such as teachers), and this incentive structure should be introduced to encourage excellence and compensate productivity.
If these critical changes are not made, our state will continue to bleed jobs and businesses to other states such as Texas and Florida where regional economies are more competitive and state services are provided more efficiently and at a lower cost.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
Our State government takes too much money. Many State programs far exceed what good government is intended to do: provide us with excellent police, fire and emergency services, superior roads and highway systems, and efficient courts and regulatory services.
Outsourcing and privatizing of our public-sector services are critical to an affordable budget.
Many U.S. states that have introduced competition in contracts for provision of public services, and have enjoyed substantial savings for their taxpayers as well as significantly improved quality in services over time. This is the direction in which California state government should be moving over the next 3 to 5 years.
Education choice, tax cuts, and more competitive provision of state services should be the top priorities of a new California administration.
PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
On the issue of illegal immigration: foreign workers and visitors living in California should NOT receive welfare services, free health care, public housing or subsidized (in-state) tuition at the K12s through higher education.
People freely entering America should be welcomed, but should be here to work - not receive public assistance.
Our state (and our country) cannot afford the welfare programs promised to our OWN citizens. We certainly cannot continue to be the world’s 'ATM' or ‘bank’ and extend these services and programs to anyone who enters the country. We are a nation of only 300 million; the world population is 6.5 billion.
Welfare services and educational subsidies are the responsibility of the national government from which a visiting worker originates - not the California taxpayer.
Visitors here to work should have a revenue-neutral impact (or better) on the State’s finances.
GOT RINO INSURANCE?
I am an enthusiastic Tea Party supporter. I have attended many tea party meetings and rallies over the last few years, and enjoyed meeting citizens from diverse backgrounds, all with the same concern: the growth of government intrusion and spending, and what kind of fiscal situation we are going to leave for our children and grandchildren.
I was born and raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, home of the Minuteman, Paul Revere, and the American Revolution.
I support strengthened Prop. 13 legislation, strong border protections to prevent entry by terrorist threats, immediate deportation of illegal immigrant criminals, protection of 2nd Amendment rights, and stronger free markets on the issues of healthcare, banking and energy reform.
The Libertarian Party is the party of principle. Our candidates will not compromise.
If you are considering a Republican for Governor or Lieutenant Governor, please consider voting “Libertarian” for one or both of these offices.
I will be your “RINO insurance” in Sacramento -- a loud and clear voice for the immediate reforms desperately needed in California.
If you value individual freedom, limited government, and a responsible and prosperous business community in California, I would appreciate your support in June and November.
Thank you,
Pamela J. Brown
College Educator,
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
www.CAWantsFreedom.com
http://www.meetup.com/Pam-Brown-for-Lt-Governor/
|