Assembly: 38th District : Questionnaires were distributed to candidates this month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Business Environment

Q.: Do you believe businesses are leaving California due to a hostile business environment? If yes, how would you make California more attractive to business?

Blatt: Yes. I would promote legislation that would reduce the cost of operating a business in this state including, but not limited to, reducing the amount of fraudulent workers’ compensation claims.

Boland: Yes. Reduce excessive regulation. Encourage local governments to set up one-stop shopping for permits for new businesses. Stop increasing taxes. Cut waste and extravagance out of the state budget and try to reduce the tax burden on families and businesses.

Cohen: No. They are leaving because of a depressed economy. However, workers’ compensation is problematic. The high cost of providing health insurance for employees is another reason. There is too much “red tape” for businesses to deal with.

Cutler: Yes. Deregulation is the main answer, but in a thoughtful and intelligent manner, one which will allow the marketplace to police itself. In addition, tax incentives and tax credits would help retain businesses now leaving the state.

Government Contracts

Q.: Do you think state government contracts should be awarded on a “Buy American” basis, with winning bidders being those who promise to use specific percentages of American workers to produce goods and services?

Blatt: Yes. In these difficult economic times, the last thing we need to do is export jobs and businesses to other countries.

Boland: Yes. This question pertains only to bidders who promise to use American workers. The question does not ask what percent of a product is made from American-made products.

Cohen: No. I believe in open competition/bidding conducted on a level playing field. Foreign firms who win contracts will face much backlash if they do not utilize sufficient American workers.

Cutler: No. We have already learned through the failure of farm subsidies and our welfare programs that government intervention in the free marketplace does not work. A “Buy American” policy would merely eliminate incentive for American firms to clean up their act and join the world marketplace as competitive entities.

Employee Insurance

Q.: Do you support requiring California businesses to provide health insurance to employees or contribute to a fund to provide health care for the uninsured? Blatt: No. Many of our state’s small businesses, and those just starting up, cannot afford any increased costs.

Boland: No. This would be an unfair burden on businesses and would cause many small businesses to close or move out of California.

Cohen: Yes. But if all the parties would agree to work together, our state will lead the nation in the development of a cost-effective health-care system for all residents. Efficiency in providing health care will result in lowered expenditures by businesses and employees.

Cutler: No. The entire health-care issue can be solved by empowerment by the people. Instead of restricting businesses even more, it is up to labor unions, the employees themselves, private charities and the consuming populace to influence businesses to provide adequate health-care mechanisms. If consumers would direct their buying power toward those companies that are socially responsible and away from those that are not, businesses would only too gladly change their ways.

Health Care

Q.: Do you support state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s proposed $34-billion plan, financed by a state payroll tax, for health care for California workers, people with pre-existing medical conditions and the unemployed? Blatt: No. Although health care is a vital need for all Americans, any increases in taxes at this time will inhibit economic revitalization.

Boland: No. Same as above.

Cohen: I favor making health care more affordable for the unemployed and people with pre-existing medical conditions. I am not in favor of a payroll tax.

Cutler: No. Same as above.

National Health System

Q.: Do you support a national health-care system in which the federal government would establish fees, pay all the bills and collect taxes to cover the cost? Blatt: No. I support the establishment of a national health-care system, but only one which will see business and government working together to provide the most efficient system possible. We do not need a new federal bureaucracy.

Boland: No. Government-run health care would be a disaster.

Cohen: No. I oppose any system where the federal government is sole administrator; too centralized.

Cutler: A qualified no. I think a national health-care system would be acceptable if it were voluntary. Unfortunately, I have never seen the government, at any level, run a business more efficiently than the private sector.

Air Quality

Q.: Should state and federal air quality rules be eased to reduce the financial burdens on California industry?

Blatt: No.

Boland: Yes.

Cohen: No.

Cutler: Yes. See my answer to first question.

Oil Exploration

Q.: Barring a national emergency, would you ever support opening up more of the California coastline to oil exploration? If so, under what circumstances? Blatt: No.

Boland: No.

Cohen: Never! Never! Never!

Cutler: Yes. But obviously oil companies should not be allowed to freely rape our coastline.

Education Support

Q . : Do you support giving state money to parents to allow them to enroll their children in schools of their choice, public or private? Blatt: No. Public education is the bedrock of our society. Vouchers in any form will weaken and eventually destroy public education.

Boland: Yes.

Cohen: No.

Cutler: No. I strongly support a choice-based educational system, but handing out money to subsidize it is not the answer.

College Tuition

Q.: Should tuition at state universities and colleges be increased to help offset state budget deficits? Blatt: No. Affordable tuition is an essential element to providing all Californians quality educations, which in turn provides the state with a quality work force.

Boland: Yes. In these tight budgetary times, fee increases are probably necessary, but not the full 40% requested in the governor’s budget, and only if the fee increase is coupled with other budgetary reforms.

Cohen: Yes. I will never vote (as an elected official) to increase tuition at state universities and colleges above the cost-of-living adjustment.

Cutler: Yes. It is wrong for taxpayers who have no vested interest in state universities to have to foot the bill for others. If students want increased services, then they and their parents should be required to pay for those services.

L. A. School District

Q.: Do you support the breakup of the Los Angeles school district into smaller districts? Blatt: No. At this time, because the district is operating with a massive deficit, I do not feel it would be financially appropriate to consider such a breakup.

Boland: Yes. This large, inefficient system has shown time and time again that it cannot function in the best interest of students and parents. It should be broken up to get control back to the local school level.

Cohen: Yes. The San Fernando Valley is large and diverse and a smaller Valley-area district would be more accountable to the community and, therefore, more productive.

Cutler: Yes. I am convinced that in most areas of government, economies of scale are nonexistent and smaller is better. Subdivision of the L. A. school district would allow for individual initiative at various schools and for each area to address its neighborhood-specific problems as they deem fit.

School Bonds

Q.: Do you support reducing the votes needed to pass a school construction bond issue from two-thirds to a simple majority? Blatt: Yes. It will promote the concept of the neighborhood school by providing schools with adequate monies to construct new campuses and classrooms.

Boland: No.

Cohen: Yes. Majority rules, not two-thirds or 67%.

Cutler: No. It is too easy for 51% of the people to spend 100% of the money. A two-thirds vote ensures that enough of the populace deems the tax increase necessary to justify the expenditure.

Death Penalty

Q.: Do you support capital punishment for any crimes? If so, which ones?

Blatt: Yes. Murder.

Boland: Yes. I am the author of AB 498, which would impose the death penalty on drug pushers who caused the death of any child to whom they provide illegal drugs.

Cohen: Yes. I support the death penalty as the law is currently written.

Cutler: Yes. Only for first-degree murder, treason during time of war and possibly for certain repeat offenders of violent crime who will not make restitution for their transgressions. I do not support capital punishment for narcotics-related crimes.

Gun Control

Q.: Do you support any form of limit on the sales of guns to individuals? If so, what? Blatt: Yes. I support a “waiting period” before the purchase of guns, and I oppose the sale of certain assault weapons and specific types of ammunition such as Teflon-coated, armor-piercing bullets.

Boland: Yes. Guns should not be sold to convicted felons or persons with a history of mental problems.

Cohen: Yes. “Saturday night specials,” assault rifles, Uzis.

Cutler: Yes. Felons and those legitimately deemed mentally incompetent should be denied the use or possession of firearms.

Police Intervention

Q.: Do you support making it a crime for a police officer to fail to intervene if he or she witnesses a fellow officer using excessive force against someone? Blatt: Yes. No person should be above the law.

Boland: Yes. I supported AB 2340, which was heard in the Committee on Public Safety last month.

Cohen: Yes. It is a shame that the Legislature has to step into a situation best handled by police departments.

Cutler: No. While such acts are reprehensible, they should be treated as a workplace transgression and the officer should be suspended, demoted or fired. However, to hold officers up to a different standard of law than citizens is a dangerous precedent.

Campaign Funding

Q.: Should political campaigns be taxpayer-funded to reduce the importance of special-interest money? Blatt: Yes, as long as it does not raise taxes.

Boland: No.

Cohen: Yes. I favor a state check-off box like presidential campaigns on federal income tax returns to reduce the importance of money needed to finance a campaign.

Cutler: No. I firmly believe that people will eventually tire of the “Demopublican” money-bought victories and “vote the bums out,” despite their special-interest millions. To spend taxpayers’ money to fund campaigns is little more than robbery.

Personal Finances

Q.: Are you willing to make public your state and federal income tax returns for the last five years at least two weeks before the June 2 primary election? Blatt: I believe tax returns fall within my right to privacy, with the exception of my wife and the Internal Revenue Service.

Boland: No. The forms we are required to file with the Fair Political Practices Commission adequately disclose the financial affairs of legislators and candidates.

Cohen: Yes.

Cutler: Certainly.

Affirmative Action

Q.: In general, do you think affirmative action in employment of women and members of minority groups has not gone far enough, or has gone too far, or is about right? Blatt: About right. But, more importantly, today no person should be denied employment or advancement on the basis of sex, race, religion, ethnic background or sexual orientation.

Boland: About right. I support actively encouraging qualified women and minorities to move into the work force and be promoted. I do not support a quota system.

Cohen: About right. I oppose quotas and reverse discrimination in hiring and promotion.

Cutler: I am dead set against affirmative action, as I feel that it is one of the most destructive devices in the struggle of minorities and women to legitimize themselves in all facets and levels of the workplace.

Abortion Rights

Q.: Do you support a woman’s unrestricted right to an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy? Blatt: Yes.

Boland: No. I support abortion only in the cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.

Cohen: Yes.

Cutler: Yes.

Abortion Funding

Q.: Do you support state funding of abortions for women who cannot afford them? Blatt: Yes.

Boland: No.

Cohen: Yes.

Cutler: No.

Parental Consent

Q.: Do you support requiring minors to notify their parents or a judge before having an abortion? Blatt: No.

Boland: Yes.

Cohen: No.

Cutler: No.

Terminal Illness

Q.: Do you support the so-called “right-to-die” initiative on the November ballot that would allow doctors to end the lives of people who are terminally ill in a “painless, humane and dignified manner?” Blatt: Yes.

Boland: No.

Cohen: Yes. If the patient or closest relative agrees, there should not be a controversy.

Cutler: Yes.

Welfare Benefits

Q.: Do you support Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposal to reduce welfare benefits for a family of three by 10% immediately, to $597 a month, and by another 15% for families with able-bodied adults who were not working?

Blatt: Yes, but I prefer the welfare reform proposal recently announced by the Assembly leadership as it is a fairer program.

Boland: Yes. Studies show that California is a “welfare magnet” that attracts people from other states to our welfare system. No working family should have to support, through their taxes, people who are able, but unwilling, to work.

Cohen: No. I also oppose the reduction in dental benefits for poor people. Welfare needs to be reformed by mandating new residents get the same benefits as at their previous state of residence.

Cutler: Yes. I will vehemently support any measure designed to cut or stop the economically and morally bankrupt welfare system.

B-2 Bomber

Q.: President Bush has urged that production of the B-2 bomber--which is assembled at a Palmdale plant--be cut from 75 to 25. Do you support this reduction? Blatt: No. There should be a gradual reduction in the number of B-2s built, accompanied by steps to help workers and the industry adjust to the shift to a peacetime economy.

Boland: No. The effect of this cut on facilities would be terrible in an already devastated economy.

Cohen: The B-2 helped put me through college.

Cutler: Yes. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, I feel that the use of such a bomber is extremely limited, certainly not enough to justify the enormous cost.

Personal Automobile

Q.: What make and model car(s) do you drive? Blatt: 1992 Cadillac Seville.

Boland: 1989 Lincoln Town Car.

Cohen: 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.

Cutler: Honda Civic. I will proudly buy Japanese until the American auto industry decides to design and build cars that are comparable in quality and price.

Thomas or Hill?

Q.: Who do you think more likely told the truth, Anita Hill or Clarence Thomas? Blatt: Anita Hill.

Boland: Clarence Thomas. I cannot substitute my judgment for that of the U. S. Senate, which considered all of the charges in open hearings.

Cohen: Anita Hill.

Cutler: I do not have enough information to make such a judgment.

California Life

Q.: What single change would most improve life in Southern California? Blatt: The Legislative and Executive branches of our state government must set aside partisan politics and work for the common good of the state.

Boland: An improvement in the economy and employment prospects.

Cohen: An effective mass-transit system, development of the Palmdale Airport, both of which would lead to new business development, jobs and improved quality of life.

Cutler: Cutting government spending and thereby reducing taxes. This would stop the flight of businesses and revitalize California.

Public Figure

Q.: What public figure do you most admire? Blatt: No one figure comes to mind.

Boland: President Ronald Reagan.

Cohen: Sports--Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky. Government--former Gov. Pat Brown, Harry Truman, Teddy Roosevelt.

Cutler: Mr. Gorbachev and Mr. Yeltsin for their courage in dissolving the Soviet empire.

Literary Influence

Q.: What, if any, book have you recently read that influenced your view of public policy? Blatt: “Reinventing Government” and “Den of Thieves.”

Boland: “In Search of Excellence.”

Cohen: “The Effective Executive” by Peter F. Drucker, “Reform and Reality--The Financing of State and Local Campaigns” by Herbert E. Alexander.

Cutler: E. F. Schumacher’s “Small Is Beautiful.”

CONTENDERS James Blatt, 43, of Northridge is a self-employed attorney who specializes in criminal law. Blatt, a Democrat, also has served as a prosecutor. This is the first time he has sought public office. A native of Pennsylvania, Blatt has lived in the district he seeks to represent since 1975.

Paula L. Boland, 52, of Northridge was elected to the Assembly two years ago. A Republican, she is a longtime San Fernando Valley resident who owned and operated a real estate brokerage firm before her election. Boland is the vice chairwoman of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety.

Howard Cohen, 29, of North Hills is an unemployed public affairs consultant. A Democrat, he led the successful effort to rename his community, a southern portion of Granada Hills, North Hills. Cohen holds a master’s degree in public administration from USC and has worked in city government.

Devin Cutler, 25, of Canoga Park is a business and finance professional who works in the television industry. A Libertarian, Cutler is seeking public office for the first time. He is running his own campaign and said he has not decided how much he will spend in his election bid.

Assembly District 38 Overview: Although reapportionment changed the boundaries to include portions of Ventura County as well as northern San Fernando Valley communities, the primarily Anglo district remains a Republican stronghold in which Democrats often vote for GOP candidates. In the 1988 presidential election, 61% of the voters chose George Bush, although only 49% are registered Republicans. Where: The district includes all of Casatic, Gorman, Granada Hills, Lake Hughes and Val Verde, and portions of Chatsworth, Mission Hills, North Hills, Northridge, Saugus and Sylmar in Los Angeles County, and the communities of Fillmore, Piru and Simi Valley in Ventura County. To find out if you live in the district, call the Los Angeles County registar-recorder’s office at (213) 721-1100. Demographics

Anglo Latino Black Asian 72% 16% 3% 9%

Party Registration

Demo GOP Others 40% 49% 11%

Candidates: Democrat James Blatt, attorney Howard Cohen, unemployed Republican Paula L. Boland, assemblywoman Libertarian Devin Cutler, business finance professional