League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc.
Albany County, NY November 2, 2010 Election
	John McEneny Answers Questions Candidate for Member of the State Assembly; District 104

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of New York State and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What measures do you support to save existing jobs and create new jobs in New York State?

We are in a National Recession. I support Banking Reform Favoring consumers and small businesses, and State Power for Jobs programs for cheaper energy. I was the first Chair of the Assembly University/Industry Task Force which is a proven job creator – eg. Nanotech at SUNYA. I support effective Enterprise zones (or the equivalent) as well as retaining programs for displaced workers, light rail, and improved transportation infrastructure.

2. How do you think New York can best deal with upcoming unsustainable deficit budgets?

We must act earlier in the fiscal year if the trends warrant it. I support the creation of an independent state budget office similar to the Federal Government Accounting Office (GAO). We must keep lobbying for a fairer share of aid from Washington.

3. What reforms would you propose to address inadequate campaign finance rules and enforcement in New York?

I support public financing of campaigns and informed summaries of candidates, sent out by the Board of Elections as California does.

4. What reforms would you support for the redistricting process?

I support an independent redistricting commission, however, I want more than a “sound bite”. I need to see specifics and I want the anti-urban “block on boarder/town on boarder” provisions eliminated. I want to see rules for such a commission defining appropriate boundaries the public can understand – eg. municipal boundaries, geographic boundaries and respect for neighborhoods, commuting patterns on local residents. We spend too much time asking who and not enough time on how.

5. Would you support a cap on property taxes and, if so, how do you think school districts can deal with the decrease in revenue?

I support the concept of a cap on property taxes – I believe we need a circuit breaker and a fair formula before the “cap” will make sense or be equitable. Across the board anything often locks in injustice. I also believe many school districts could merge administrative functions in order to cut costs.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 29, 2010 13:26
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.