Legislation & Issues
I’m a committed and consistent conservative. Below are some of positions on important issues. If you have a question about another issue that isn’t listed, please feel free to contact me.
Taxes
Slash the tax code. Reduce it. Simplify it. I believe in lower taxes.
California has the highest tax rates in America and it’s outrageous.
That’s one of the reasons why I authored Assembly Bill 944 that would have given a tax exemption to some National Guard troops. Of course the liberal Democrats killed it.
Spending
Cut wasteful government spending. State spending in California has doubled in the last 10 years! Are our roads twice as good? Are our schools twice as good? Is the DMV twice as helpful? Of course not.
A bloated state bureaucracy is running wild and its customers – us the taxpayers – are not getting a good enough return on our investment.
In fact, before I was in the Assembly, I was President of the Padre Dam Municipal Water district. I was proud to have been nominated as a 2005 finalist by the San Diego Taxpayers Association for their coveted “Golden Watchdog Award,” because of the waste we cut.
In the Assembly I was a primary co-author on legislation that would’ve created an independent state Auditor to cut waste in government.
To quote Thomas Jefferson: “That government is best which governs the least.”
Proposition 13
Prop 13 should not be altered in any shape or form. I will fight the liberals tooth and nail to protect Prop 13. That’s why I was endorsed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association.
Illegal Immigration
Let me be blunt: California and America must get control of illegal immigration and its border. We can no longer afford to accept excuses from the politicians.
You and I live near the border. We’re most vulnerable to the impact of illegal immigration. I do not support rewarding the actions of individuals who have entered America illegally. This action should be punished, not rewarded.
Let’s enforce our existing immigration laws and strongly oppose any legislation that would grant California driver’s licenses or other benefits to illegal immigrants. Let’s end special taxpayer funded benefits for illegal immigrants.
California’s future depends on fiscal responsibility and a secure border. We cannot be fiscally responsible when we spend over $10 billion per year on the education, incarceration, and healthcare of individuals illegally residing in the United States.
Additionally, a porous border is a threat to our national security. We can never be safe if we do not know who is entering our country, and what they bring with them.
Being an American citizen should come with certain privileges that non-citizens are not able to receive. Illegal immigrants receiving licenses or any state benefit devalues the whole concept of American citizenship. I believe if illegal immigrants are granted driver’s licenses, it will create a “slippery slope” toward other privileges of citizenship, including voting, jury duty and welfare benefits.
English as the Official Language of California
I strongly support making English the official language of California.
Divest Iran
I authored Assembly Bill 221 to divest California from Iran. Today, America’s 2 largest public employee funds – California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and California School Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) – invest billions of dollars in foreign owned companies that do business in Iran.
AB 221 would end that.
This historic bill, the first of its kind in America, has helped spark a national movement. 10 other states have followed suit with similar legislation.
There are many reasons why people support this bill. People and organizations have told me they support it because:
We shouldn’t invest in a country that the State Department calls the top sponsor of terrorism in the world. We shouldn’t invest in a country that funds organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah and might be supplying ammunitions that are being used to kill our soldiers in Iraq.
We shouldn’t invest in a country that is developing nuclear technology. We shouldn’t invest in a country who’s leader says he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
We should be socially responsible in our investing. Iran is a country where there are virtually no rights for women, and the penalty for some crimes is public stoning.
Some believe this is a peaceful way to bring a solution to conflict in the Middle East.
We have a fiduciary responsibility to protect these retirement funds. Many of these companies have assets on the ground, which could be bombed, seized, or nationalized. When that happens our portfolio will take a hit and we could be asked to raise taxes.
There are a lot of reasons why it’s a bad idea to invest in Iran.
Pro-Life
I’m 100% Pro-Life. In fact, I am a member of the statewide Board of Directors of the California Pro-Life Council – the official affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.
That’s why during debate on the Assembly Floor I offered an amendment to include parental notification in the state budget.
Traditional Marriage
I believe in traditional marriage between one man and one woman. And, I’m a husband of nearly 20 years to wife Kate.
2nd Amendment
I’m a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. I’m a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and our right to keep and bear arms.
Sexual Predators
As a father of three – Mary, Maura, and Michael – I’m concerned about the world and society our children are growing up in. I’ve authored Assembly Bill 1002 to strengthen Megan’s Law.
This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the total number and the names of school districts that annually distribute information to parents and guardians regarding the location of registered sex offenders who reside near the district's schools.
Basically, it would require schools to provide parents every fall with a “Meagan’s Map” of the sex offenders in our community.
Transportation
If you live in San Diego, you live with traffic. And, it’s awful. Every minute we spend on the freeway is a minute we could be spending at home with our family.
That’s why the first bill I ever introduced was Assembly Bill 4, to make San Diego’s Transportation Management Center 24/7. TMC’s provide communications and surveillance systems and staffing necessary for the coordinated transportation management of the state highway system.
In other words, if there is an accident or incident on the freeways, the TMC’s kick in to make sure it is cleaned up ASAP.
As a result of Assemblyman Anderson’s legislation CalTRANS agreed to make the TMC 24/7.
Other Issues
If there are other issues of concern to you please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my positions.