Platform : Where Would You Cut the Federal Budget?

RUBEN JAUREGUI-Accounting firm principal and chairman of government relations committee, Latin Business Assn., Los Angeles

I would favor cuts in defense, foreign aid and in nonessential federal employment before cuts should be taken in education, Medicare or the environment.

Especially in education, I think our people would suffer substantially [if there were budget cuts], especially given the climate in the country as regards Hispanic immigrants. History is repeating itself in terms of immigrants being the target and I think that education is an area that is the most needed by the Hispanic community.

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ANNE FALOTICO- Principal, Los Angeles High School

Los Angeles High School submitted an Academic Decathlon team most of whom were recent immigrants to the United States. They were given the privilege that every American has of public education. They came through with flying colors [in this] academic decathlon, as they have [in] the past. Our students at Los Angeles High School are mostly recent immigrants. The public schools have always been the reservoir for Americanization of our immigrant population.

I’m not sure that I agree with [the] premise that something has to give. We will not have cities if we cut our education budget. We are the people who keep cities thriving and beneficial for our future.

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BONNIE FAHERTY- Nurse, lecturer at UCLA School of Nursing

Speaking just for myself, I guess balance would be my word--where you have perspective about what’s appropriate rather than having the crisis of the month and throwing money at [it]--and I’m not talking about health care necessarily.

I am also appalled at what a lot of government contractors and corporate executives get by with. The salaries that are paid to some of these top executives are just mind-boggling and the justification for it is that they have to be competitive. I don’t really buy that--we know that most of our new jobs are coming from smaller companies.

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JOEL R. REYNOLDS- Senior attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council, Los Angeles

There are numerous, substantial federal subsidies to big business that we not only don’t need to provide but are ultimately counter-productive-- subsidies that amount to literally tens of billions of dollars which, when compared to the amounts of money proposed to be saved by cutting clean air, clean water and safe drinking water programs make absolutely no sense.

Among the many examples is the 1872 Mining Act, essentially a giveaway to the mining industry, valued at about $1 billion over five years. Mining companies [should] have to pay their share for access to our natural resources.

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MARK STURDEVANT- Manufacturing company vice president, Paramount. An organizer of the Reform Party of California

We need to spend more time on preserving human rights and stop this madness of trying to preserve endangered rats. Micromanaging education by the federal government creates an out-of-touch system. Let the local schools be more dependent on the community for their support financially and socially. When people are paying the bill, they will demand good service. The other direct benefit of being resourceful and self reliant is local pride.

On Medicare, make sure that the money goes to the recipient so that they will hold health-care providers accountable for their services rendered.