Campaign ‘94: Issues and Answers

Four candidates are running in the Nov. 8 election to represent the 73rd Assembly District. They are Democrat Lee Walker of Laguna Niguel; Republican Bill Morrow, the incumbent, of Oceanside; Libertarian B. Wade Hostler of Oceanside; and Peace & Freedom candidate Tonatiuh Rodriguez-Nikl of Carlsbad. Here’s how they stand on four issues.

“Three Strikes” Crime Law

Walker: “ ‘Three strikes’ is a complicated piece of legislation that is confusing and difficult to interpret. The Department of Corrections estimated 21 new prisons would be required because of ‘three strikes,’ at a cost of over $22 billion and $5.7 billion to operate each year. A more reasonable approach is the ‘one strike, you’re out’ bill sponsored by (state Sen.) Marian Bergeson. This bill mandates 25-years-to-life terms for violent rapists and child molesters. This bill is tough on crime at the first level and would dramatically deter those who are contemplating first-time assaults.”

Morrow: “I am a co-author and strongly support the ‘three strikes’ legislation. Such a law will cause people inclined to criminal behavior to think twice about committing a crime when they are assured that commission of a third felony will land them in prison for life. When repeat offenders are jailed for good, the public will be protected from their predation and can rest assured they will not be loosed upon society again. However, a better alternative to a ‘three strikes’ provision is a ‘one’ or ‘two-strikes’ law.”

Hostler: “I strongly support a limited form of ‘three strikes,’ one which exclusively targets violent criminals. I am pleased by the recent passage of the ‘one-strike’ law which targets violent rapists and sex offenders. I also support ‘truth-in-sentencing’ legislation which will force violent offenders to serve at least 80% of their sentences. When multiple rapists are released after serving only 12 1/2 years of their 25-year sentences, it is an affront to the victims and their families.”

Rodriguez-Nikl: “I oppose the ‘three-strikes’ law. It violates the freedom judges must have to ensure that the punishment is proportional to the crime. Violent crime is actually down. Crime hysteria is up and the ‘three strikes’ law feeds that hysteria. It is not a coincidence that the U.S.A. is the country of the world with the highest percentage of citizens being imprisoned and the lowest academic test scores of any industrialized country. The ‘three strikes’ law would result in filling up prisons while draining billions of dollars that can be used for social programs. I favor lighter sentences and more money for education.

Initiative to Curtail Benefits to Illegal Immigrants

Walker: “I oppose this initiative. The 15th Amendment provides that any person born in the U.S. is an American citizen. Those immigrants now in the U.S. should be provided with benefits, education and medical attention. However, new immigration from Mexico needs to be controlled. The United States should negotiate with the president of Mexico to limit the amount of money that immigrants send back to Mexico. The money is a significant part of the Mexican economy, and Mexico wants the funds. In addition, the U.S. should place stricter regulation on businesses hiring immigrants. Until these two policies change, no fence, no high walls or border patrol can halt the migration.”

Morrow: “I strongly support the ‘Save Our State’ initiative. Illegal immigration costs California nearly $5 billion a year. Taxpayers simply should not be required to pay for public health, social and education services to persons illegally present in our country. Our limited tax dollars dwindle fast in the present economic recession and budget crisis. It doesn’t make sense to provide public services to illegal aliens when such services are already insufficiently provided to our own citizens in California. The initiative forces California government to prioritize its spending in favor of Californians.”

Hostler: “It saddens me to oppose any measure which seeks to limit benefits to illegal aliens, but I must oppose Proposition 187. The reporting provisions of Prop. 187 are expensive and unworkable. The initiative also claims to target only illegal aliens, but would in fact hurt citizen children whose parents are illegal aliens. Under Prop. 187, schoolchildren must have proof not only of their legal residency, but of their parents as well. Most people believe citizen children have a right to a public education. This provision would deny them that right.”

Rodriguez-Nikl: “All immigrants, including undocumented workers, provide benefits to the economy by doing work that Americans are unwilling or unable to do. American families cannot survive by picking the food that we put on our tables. Our economy needs immigrant labor and Americans need immigrant services. That’s why they’re hired. Californians need to know that people immigrate to other places when their way of living is destroyed by big corporations, and farmers are then forced to look for a way to feed their families.”

Single-Payer Health Initiative

Walker: “I support this initiative. This plan would reduce the amount businesses would contribute to health plans, it would provide more health care for children, and would guarantee that every working family would have health coverage, including part-time employees. It would save millions of dollars in paperwork and would provide more accountability in assessment of fees.”

Morrow: “The ‘single-payer’ health plan initiative would be disastrous to California. The ‘single-payer’ means the government. Which means the taxpayer! The plan calls for the largest state tax increase in U.S. history. The state budget would go from its current $40 billion general fund to over $83 billion--overnight. Instead, we need to pass consumer-based health care reform that does not put government bureaucrats in charge, as this initiative proposes to do. We need real reform that gives individuals and families more power and freedom to make their own medical decisions. More of our tax dollars should be returned to us rather than wasted on radical social experimentation.”

Hostler: “Government should stay out of the health-care business. The examples of Medi-Cal and Medicare have amply demonstrated the inability of government to control health-care costs. Instead, the government should apply free-market incentives to the health-care system. For instance, health insurance costs should be a tax-deductible expense for those who are self-insured rather than through an employer.”

Rodriguez-Nikl: “I favor the single-payer health plan. Single-payer will save billions of dollars that under the present system are wasted by allowing insurance companies to run an inefficient system that requires an enormous amount of administrative bureaucracy. I favor full universal coverage for all with an emphasis on preventive health care. I believe that if all other industrialized countries of the world can provide health care for all their citizens, the U.S.A. must do the same for it’s citizens.”

Future Uses For El Toro Marine Corps Air Station

Walker: “I oppose a cargo or commercial passenger airport at El Toro. The impact on Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Leisure World, San Clemente, and Mission Viejo would have extremely high sound blasts on these areas. The jet noise would interfere with the learning environment in all the schools in these areas. A Reuse Authority is meeting regularly to plan uses for the base. I favor commercial building, housing, education facilities, museums, parks, and a new university.”

Morrow: “El Toro Marine Corps Air Station is vital to our national defense, and the Marines should stay there! However, so long as the Clinton Administration persists in its perilous path to close the base, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority should thoroughly study every reuse alternative. It should recommend the option that is best suited and will enhance the economic well-being and quality of life in the community. Pending the study and findings of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which may persuade me otherwise, I’m not convinced that a commercial airport is the best option.”

Hostler: “I think it is inappropriate to take a position until the federal government decides on how to dispose of the property. I can say that I would vote no on the ballot initiative on the grounds that there may be better uses of the property than an airport. An immediate commitment to build a commercial airport is premature. We should wait and see how things work out.”

Rodriguez-Nikl: “I oppose the development of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. This facility was paid with tax dollars that all Americans paid, and it would be unfair to continue subsidizing big business. If the airlines want another airport, let them build one with their own money. The facility should be converted to a park and recreation area for public use.”

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