Issues in the 56th Assembly District

Here are the positions of Democrat Bob Epple and Republican Phillip D. Hawkins on selected issues. They are candidates in the 56th Assembly District, which includes Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, and portions of Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk and South Gate.

The Economy and Jobs

Both candidates think that the state must reduce the cost of doing business in California through such actions as reducing employer payments for Workers’ Compensation and streamlining the process of obtaining permits from public agencies.

Epple advocates job retraining and a partnership between business and schools for high-tech education.

Hawkins says that with reduced costs, business will create more jobs, which will deter crime by giving people work and increase state revenues through a broader tax base.

Welfare Reform

Epple advocates more job opportunities for working mothers, including better training, as an alternative to welfare. He opposes Prop. 165, Gov. Pete Wilson’s initiative to reduce welfare benefits. Epple argues that the initiative will not save money and is an attempt by the governor to obtain dictatorial powers over state spending cuts.

Hawkins supports Prop. 165, calling it a step toward eliminating welfare fraud, getting people back to work and restoring welfare to its original mission as a temporary assistance program. He said the reforms will free money for such things as schools and rail transit.

Abortion

Epple favors a woman’s right to choose and thinks that government should not be involved in abortion decisions.

Hawkins opposes abortion except in cases of rape and incest.

School Vouchers

Epple opposes vouchers, contending that they would “destroy the independence of private schools,” while at the same destroying the “academic integrity of public schools” by taking money from public education.

Hawkins supports school choice but wants to leave it up to the voters to decide the voucher issue in a ballot initiative.

Workers’ Compensation Reforms

Epple wants caps on vocational rehabilitation costs and the number of medical evaluations permitted in Workers’ Compensation cases. In cases of stress disabilities, he wants the majority of the stress related to the job, not the 10% currently required, and says the stress must have physical manifestations.

Hawkins favors eliminating stress claims altogether, or requiring that they be 50% job-related. He said the goal of Workers’ Compensation should be to get people back to work, not keep them on disability indefinitely.

Death Penalty

Both support the death penalty.