Issues
Stop Illegal Immigration
I am proud to be a leader in the fight against illegal immigration in the State Assembly. My record is strong and my direction is clear:
We must complete the border fence, increase the number of border patrol agents, and deploy the National Guard to secure our border. By securing the border and enforcing existing laws, we secure our citizens.
Illegal immigration is a burden on taxpayers and a threat to national security. At the state level the job of a legislator is to stop the benefits that draw illegal immigrants into California, while pressuring the federal government to secure the border.
To accomplish this, I have:
- Introduced legislation to outlaw driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, reversing the disastrous policy signed into law by Governor Davis.
- Authored a bill demanding the federal government reimburse California for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants, or take them out of our hands and into federal prisons.
- Consistently voted against taxpayer funded benefits such as welfare and in-state college tuition.
Improve Public Safety
I bring the experience gained over the course of a 31 year career in law enforcement to my duties in the State Capitol. This includes service as a Volunteer Fire Captain, Police Officer in Corona and California Highway Patrol Commander in Indio. I am a graduate of the FBI national academy, one of the foremost law enforcement training venues in the world. My experience allows me to present a different viewpoint from my colleagues - from the perspective of someone who has served.
In the assembly I have introduced tough on crime solutions addressing child safety, street racing, drunk driving, airport security and many others. In the Senate, I will be the first full time law enforcement officer to serve since 1994.
Reduce Traffic Congestion
We all realize that by keeping our freeways moving improves our quality of life and gives us more time for our families, our work, and our leisure activities.
We must continually improve our transportation system. Traffic congestion relief is one of my top priorities. As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee on Transportation, I have fought for funding on local and regional projects. I have also passed legislation increasing the money available for railroad track/road crossing separations, a huge problem in Riverside County that causes thousands of traffic delay hours each year.
I oppose efforts to use gasoline taxes for anything other than building transportation projects. In the Senate, I will continue to fight for private/public investment opportunities to stretch local, state, and federal dollars.
Fight Taxes and Runaway Spending
I oppose raising taxes to support more government spending. I signed a pledge not to raise taxes and am consistently rated as one the most fiscally conservative legislators in the state. In the Assembly, I authored legislation to give homeowners a billion dollar tax break and voted against taxes disguised as fees.
The state budget is unbalanced because the Democrats, who are in control of our state government, spend more than the state takes in. This year, I am authoring legislation to reinstate a Gann type spending cap that will tie government growth to the Cost of Living Index. I believe government has a duty to the taxpayers to manage their money as efficiently as possible.
Education
California's future lies in the hands of the children attending our schools today. Unfortunately, the bulk of our education dollars are spent on the education bureaucracy rather than in the classrooms where the kids are.
I have introduced legislation to allow school districts to "contract out" to private enterprise services such as school bus transportation, food service and computer installation and repair that would save an estimated $300 million per year.
I have also fought successfully for school funding equalization to bring our less sufficiently funded school districts and community colleges up to fair funding levels.