Candidate Promise Tracker

Background

Name: Cruz M. Bustamante

Party: Democrat

Age: 50

Birthplace: Dinuba, California

Residence: Elk Grove, California

Political Experience:

Lieutenant Governor, State of California - 1999-2003
Elected First Latino Speaker, California State Assembly - 1996
Assemblymember, 31st District - 1993-1998
District Representative, Assemblymember Bruce Bronzan, 31st AD - 1998-1993
District Representative, Congressional Member Richard Lehman - 1983-1988
Intern, Congressional Member B.F. Sisk - 1972

Education:

California State University, Fresno
BA, Interdisciplinary Studies

Fresno City College

Tranquility High School

I am running for Governor to provide voters a positive alternative on the second half of the recall ballot. There needs to be a candidate who will protect a woman's right to choose, our fragile environment, our public education system, and access to health care.

Solving the state's budget crisis, protecting education funding and providing health care to all Californians.

See attached chart.

The recall proponents said the current budget deficit is the justification for an immediate election, and that Gray Davis was not forthright with voters about the deficit before the last election. Ironically, I am the only candidate - including those who support the recall - to detail how I would address the $8 billion budget deficit.

As Speaker, I worked with both sides of the aisle to implement important policy changes. I intend to do the same if elected Governor. If, however, Republicans in the Legislature are unwilling to raise taxes to balance our budget, I will take the issue directly to the voters.

See attached chart for details of my proposed revenue increases.

Education

Education is the best investment we make with our public dollars. An educated workforce is critical to a growing economy. While we have made important strides in past years, I intend to improve our educational system by maintaining adequate funding even in difficult fiscal times in order to maintain smaller class sizes and recruit qualified teachers. I intend to roll back the increase in community college fees in order to ensure access to higher education.

Health Care

There are millions of uninsured children and working poor adults in California. The largest corporation in the history of the world - Wal-Mart - doesn't provide health benefits that its employees can afford. As part of their corporate plan, Wal-Mart encourages its underpaid employees to apply for state subsidized health care, welfare, and food stamps. I support SB 2 (Burton), which would crack down on employers like Wal-Mart by requiring them to either provide affordable health insurance or pay into a state health insurance pool.

Abortion

I support a woman's right to choose.

Public Safety

I support a budget that contains adequate funding for local law enforcement personnel. They are the front line personnel who maintain public safety on our streets.

Gun Control

I support banning the sale to civilians of "assault weapons," 50-caliber "sniper" rifles, and low-quality "Saturday Night Special" handguns; equipping firearms sold in California with state approved safety locks; requiring background checks and licenses for gun sales; requiring handgun buyers to obtain Handgun Safety Certificates, and other gun safety measures.

Energy

The energy crisis California faced these past two years proved that deregulation failed. I support re-regulation of the energy market to guarantee the California has reliable sources of power at reasonable prices.

Environment and Transportation

Our children and grandchildren must be guaranteed clean air and water. I support banning drilling for oil and gas off the coast of California. We must preserve our natural resources - our mountains, lakes and forests - for future generations. Our transportation plan must include such things as expanding public transportation and rapid transit and efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

Promise

"In spite of a national recession, our economy has grown from the 7th largest to the 5th largest in the world."
"But there's more to do - on our schools, our environment, our economy, and on energy."

Highlights

Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…

• Announced an estimated $35 billion budget deficit in December, and a $38 billion deficit in May.
• Said in his State of the State Address that his 'most immediate priority' is jobs.
• Tripled the vehicle license fee in June.
• Signed a 'compromise budget' on Aug. 2nd
• Appointed President Clinton's budget chief to lead the effort to fix the budget.
• Signed legislation reforming the state's workers' comp system.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

Promise

"I will do everything humanly possible not to cut one penny from public safety. If we can increase it, we will."

Highlights

Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…

• Proposed an overall increase in prison funding in his budget plans.
• Vetoed an early-release prison bill.
• Proposed to preserve funding for local law enforcement programs in his May budget plan.
• Signed a 'compromise budget' with some cuts to prisons and local law enforcement programs.
• Signed gun safety legislation in September.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

Promise

"My fellow Californians, together we've increased education funding by 30% -- and student achievements scores are up three years in a row. But there's so much more to do."

Highlights

Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…

• Proposed significant cuts to education in his January budget plan.
• Approved nearly $2.6 billion in mid-year (2002-2003) cuts to education.
• Reduced proposed January cuts and protected class-size reduction and accountability programs in his new May budget plan.
• Signed a 'compromise budget' with cuts to education similar to those proposed in his May budget plan.
• Announced in September $1.7 billion in bonds to upgrade overcrowded schools.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

Promise

"I believe we must continue protecting our coastline, our air, water."

Highlights

Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…

• Signed a "polluter pays" bill increasing fees for air and water polluters.
• Announced funding for coastal conservation and parkland improvement.
• Proposed some reductions to environmental programs in his budget plans.
• Signed a 'compromise budget' with additional cuts to environmental programs.
• Signed coastal protection and air pollution bills.
• Signed the electronic waste recycling bill.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

Promise

“I won’t be completely satisfied until every child in the state of California has access to quality, affordable health care.”

Highlights

Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…

• Proposed to protect children's health care coverage in both budget plans.
• Requested federal aid to insure more children statewide.
• Approved cuts to the Healthy Families outreach program.
• Proposed and approved cuts to Medi-Cal programs.
• Signed a 'compromise budget': children's health care coverage was protected and proposed cuts to Medi-Cal were reduced.
• Signed a landmark bill (SB2) that will require many businesses to provide health insurance to their employers.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.

Promise

"...No governor ever spent as much money as we spent this year in real dollars, accounting for inflation, on transportation improvements. We will continue to do that for the next two to three years."

Highlights

Since he was re-elected, Governor Davis has…

• Said in his State of the State Address that he "will direct his agencies to accelerate freeway and public transit projects by one year."
• Proposed an estimated $1.5 billion in cuts to transportation.
• Signed a 'compromise budget' with cuts to transportation.

For a more in-depth look at this issue, click here.