Campaign ‘94: Issues and Answers

Two candidates are running in the Nov. 8 election to represent the 68th Assembly District. They are Democrat Irv Pickler, an Anaheim councilman, and Republican Curt Pringle, the incumbent, of Garden Grove. Here’s how they stand on four issues.

“Three Strikes” Crime Law

Pickler: “I support “three strikes” legislation. I am also strongly in favor of the recently approved “one strike” law that will jail child molesters and rapists. One offense is too many, and criminals such as these are normally repeat offenders who will commit the crime again and again if given the chance, and that is a chance that we simply cannot take.”

Pringle: “I strongly favor, and voted for, the “three strikes” law. This law correctly focuses law enforcement efforts against the relatively few repeat offenders who commit a hugely disproportionate amount of crime. Additionally, contrary to opponents’ rhetoric, I support the present “three strikes” law that puts criminals behind bars regardless of whether a third felony is violent or not. I do not believe we should wait for the individual to commit another violent felony against society before getting locked up for life.”

Measure to Curtail Benefits to Illegal Immigrants

Pickler: “There’s no question that something needs to be done to stem the tide of illegal immigration into this country. But most of our problems with immigration have much more to do with not enforcing existing laws than it does with passing new laws. Denying (non-emergency) medical care to non-citizens would instantly create an underclass of people that our communities would have to absorb one way or another, therefore putting a huge burden on our local resources. And at a time where we are cutting city budgets rather than adding to them, I wonder where we are going to find the money to deal with a problem that isn’t going to disappear if this law is enacted, especially since our own governor has had to resort to suing the federal government for money we can’t expect to see any time soon.”

Pringle: “Illegal immigration is one of the chief causes of the explosive growth in welfare programs that is bankrupting California. Our overburdened prison and public education systems are also strained by illegal immigration. Illegal is illegal, and the taxpayers of California cannot afford to pay for benefits to those here illegally. I have supported the proposal embodied in ‘Save Our State’ when they were voted on in the Legislature, and I strongly support the SOS initiative. It is outrageous that the Legislature did not pass this law, forcing the public to sponsor this initiative to stop these benefits.”

Single-Payer Health Initiative

Pickler: “I support universal health care for all Americans. However, I would like to see what happens on the federal level in terms of health care reform before California votes on its own version of a single-payer plan.”

Pringle: “There are changes to be made in health care, but the single-payer initiative is definitely not the answer. It is full of massive increases in income and payroll taxes, and would turn all Californians’ health care over to the government. Despite the huge tax increases in this initiative, studies show this system running a $30-billion deficit in just a few years. To lower costs and increase access to health care, I would support tort reform to lower legal costs and tax-deductible medical savings accounts to empower consumers to seek quality, private health care in the free market.”

Future Uses For El Toro Marine Corps Air Station

Pickler: “I have long favored converting El Toro into a commercial airport. We face the reality of base closures here in California, and that means we have to find ways to make use of the property to keep the economy strong. The first step is to ensure that the land is environmentally safe after the many years of military use; cleanup will be necessary. The payoff in terms of jobs is substantial--around 20,000 for the county. Also, John Wayne Airport has become far too crowded to accommodate much more air traffic. In short, a commercial airport at El Toro makes sense for Orange County.”

Pringle: “I would support the development of a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station if this proposal is economically feasible. This means I would like this airport to be financed, built and run at no cost to the taxpayers. Orange County needs additional airport capacity to support economic growth into the 21st Century. I believe that a privatized airport at El Toro would provide the airport needed for our economy without being a burden to the taxpayers.”

Source: Individual candidates; Researched by ERIC BAILEY / Los Angeles Times